There are a ton of pipeline companies out there. I couldn't begin to tell the number though. The reason 798 has all but a handful of states is that the the locals gave up their jurisdiction to them and the UA was wanting it to be that way. 798 doesn't hire through regular locals unless they need the manpower, which usually doesn't happen. The hand will still go through 798 but the pipeliners will let the local know that they are looking for men in that jurisdiction to see if they have any members that want to work for them. 798 has BAs for different regions and that's all they take care of. The UA is the international but the building trades and pipeliners usually don't mix very well. 798 wouldn't put any fitters to work years ago but they would work a building trades job if they wanted to. It rubbed alot of people the wrong way, not to mention that alot of the 798 guys don't know how to fit much, tig, or run uphill stick. Don't get me wrong, they got hands that can weld just as good uphill as down, just not alot of them. It's just a different world. Don't know really how much pipeline is union vs non-union. If I gave you a number I'd be lying but I do know alot of the distribution lines are non-union because 798 has a hard on for mainlines and that's what they go for. The 12 on 12 branch is gonna be a tie-in test. You take teo pieces of 12" and run one piece into the middle of the other one at a 90 degree angle with an open butt. Some companies make the welder cut and fit the saddle while others have test pieces made up that just need to be prepped. There's work all over with utilitys expanding and updating. Alot of the work in Texas and out west is in the gas fields. Alot of collector lines, compressor stations, and mainlines are going in because of all the gas they're pumping out. The pipelines are hitting real hard right now but it's just like everything else in the pipe trades, feast or famine. I've heard that it's gonna be going hard for about 5-7 years then it'll taper off. And remember, you've got first flange, weld or 18" off that boiler. The rest is mine. LOL