Will Denton visiting Dr. Uddin at CAIT Lab.
William “Will” Denton has come a long way professionally since earning his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering four years ago from the University of Mississippi.
He is the general manager of Culberson Construction, a pipeline company working primarily in the Eagleford shale in south Texas. Previously, the Myrtle native worked for a design engineering firm in Oxford, gaining knowledge of projects from design, construction and finalization.
“All of the experience gained while employed with the civil design firm, combined with my degree, have been a tremendous help in running day-to-day decision making,” Denton said. “Most of all, I believe, my education has benefited me greatly because it molded me to think sometimes outside the box to achieve a resolution by whatever means. This problem-solving ability is one attribute that makes me excellent at what I do, especially in strenuous circumstances when logical thinking is typically not present.”
For example, during a lunch conversation with one of the company men, Denton asked what his opinion was of ground-penetrating radar, a geophysical tool that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface.
“I had worked with a GPR survey several years ago while employed with a design firm in Mississippi, and had thought several times since I began in this industry, ‘Why would these gas companies not utilize GPR instead of just using line finders?” Denton said.
Denton’s colleague answered that the gas company he works for would like to use GPR, but that when they looked into it several years ago, the GPR would not show underground pipe through all subsurface soils.
“This was a concern of the gas company, so they have assigned a team to come up with a solution, but they haven’t yet been successful in changing anything,” Denton said. “My friend also said that the GPR wouldn’t work on rough surface terrain, which was another problem, being that they would want imagery along a cleared right-of-way, prior to a new pipeline being installed.”Even before this conversation, Denton had thought about trying to pitch such a concept to the gas company because it would eliminate any unknowns of whether a line is there. GPR also could potentially be faster than having to do construction with line locators.
“Anyway, my contact opened the door for me to push the issue, if I can find the technology to accommodate the ideas I have in mind,” Denton said.
Growing up near Oxford and regularly attending football games as a kid, Denton dreamed at an early age of attending Ole Miss.
“Memorable moments as a student include numerous occasions at the Grove, where I would gather with my friends and family weekly before watching the games,” he said. “These times were memorable to me because I met many friends at these gatherings, which I still have today.”
“I have been fortunate, and have made many contacts since coming into this new industry,” Denton said. “Contractors and company men alike have benefited me greatly and are key to my success.”
Denton’s former professors are not surprised by his career success.
“I congratulate Will on his impressive professional accomplishments in the industry,” said Waheed Uddin, professor of civil engineering and director of UM’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure Technology. “We are proud of him and wish him the best in all of his future endeavors.”