August 2018, Vol. 245, No. 8

Global energy trends and forecasts entering the second half of 2018 continue to support a generally bullish outlook for oil and gas production and infrastructure construction to meet growing demand and evolving patterns of interregional trade.

Five years ago, few would have predicted that Mexico would be capable of overhauling its oil and gas sector, much less through a downturn. Yet since the constitutional reform of 2013, Mexico has dramatically revivified its upstream sector.

First signals from President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s staff and advisors are that the new administration will not seek to backtrack on energy reforms that allow foreign firms to win E&P contracts in Mexico.

The pipeline SCADA operator has one of the most critical jobs in the industry and should be given all the help available to keep pipelines safe and operational. To this end, more than 25 years ago, a major oil company determined that SCADA-embedded operating procedures and safety features were needed.

There are various technologies available in the market for pipeline leak detection and loss monitoring. While leak detection system cannot reduce the probability of a leak, using the appropriate system for a pipeline can significantly reduce the risk of a leak and rupture.

European energy policy is largely determined by Brussels and implemented by individual member states, but integral to improving European energy security are joint plans to turn Italy into Southern Europe’s energy hub.

Technology has not only helped re-energize the natural gas sector of the global energy economy, but also led to safety advancements, such as methane-detection systems continuously monitor and alert operators to a significant leak.

NACE International’s president for 2018, Jeffrey Didas, discusses corrosion education and other issues of importance to the organization in its 75th anniversary year.

A often-cited study concluded more than a decade ago that the total estimated direct cost of corrosion in the United States was $276 billion annually – roughly 3% of GDP. NACE International's 2016 study dug deeper to examine the impact of corrosion on four major industries: energy, utilities, transportation and infrastructure.

Traditional SCADA systems used pipeline operational control are vulnerable in at least three main areas: operational information, production data and control logic. The more openly this data flows, the more cost-effectively the plant can be run, so there is much to be gained by securing the data exchange.

After struggling to find qualified new hires, Consumers Energy worked in partnership with third-party union training provider Power for America to offered the Utility Military Assistance Program – a three-week unpaid training program for military veterans and active reservist/guard members.

As the subsea industry continues to evolve to help meet the demands of oilfield operators, there is now an even greater requirement for ground-breaking sealing technology.

Three brief case studies highlight the challenge, solution and outcome where innovative pigging solutions have been successfully deployed to meet major offshore operator’s requirements.

Gauge pigs provide insight into some conditions inside the pipe, but not all of them. They’re not intended to measure pipeline cleanliness or indicate if debris has built up to the point that it will impair the inspections tool’s data-gathering capabilities.

Performing direct assessments to verify a pipeline’s MAOP is not new, but as federal regulations become more stringent, the volume of digs will increase significantly, and operators need to keep up with the pace.

Maintaining control of an In-Line Inspection (ILI) tool’s speed is one of the most critical elements in successfully assessing the condition of a pipeline. Success is defined as receiving an intact tool at the conclusion of the inspection and acquiring data of sufficient quality to achieve the vendor’s sizing and accuracy specifications.

Many of the world’s most vulnerable pipelines are in developed and municipal areas, where it can be difficult to locate miles of gas pipelines in these regions. And where locations exist, the data may not be in an easily retrievable and shareable format.

As the new administration offers additional insight into its policies, it appears that Mexico will continue to offer a business-friendly environment when Andrés Manuel López Obrador takes office as its new president on Dec. 1.

Cushing Bottleneck Could Increase U.S. Oil Discount WTI prices have already been depressed at Midland, Texas, as surging Permian Basin production overtakes pipeline capacity to Gulf Coast markets.  Now, oil traders and analysts are concerned that an emerging bottleneck at the key storage hub in Cus..

Tunnel, Trench Offer Options for Replacing Pipeline   A 65-year-old pipeline that carries crude oil beneath a waterway connecting two of the Great Lakes could be replaced with pipes buried in a tunnel or partially enclosed in trenches that would pose virtually no risk of leakage but require years ..

By Stephen Barlas, Contributing Editor, Washington Trump Wants Orders Delaying Coal, Nuclear Plant Closings Energy Secretary Rick Perry is taking a second bite of the apple as he prepares recommendations requested by President Trump aimed at delaying retirement of electric generation facilities wh..

Aerial view of The Underwater Centre Subsea training and trials facility The Underwater Centre, located in the Scottish Highlands, has secured funding from industry and public bodies and will begin operating as a not-for-profit company. The rest..

Koos-Jan van Brouwershaven as chief executive officer, and Wijnand Tutuarima will joined its Board as chief financial officer. Van Brouwershaven comes from sister company Heerema Fabrication Group (HFG), where he was chief executive officer, a position he will retain. Ralph Wu was named Trelleborg’..

A big goal of transmission companies is to reduce risks and improve the safety of affected communities through an integrity program that ensures construction quality of the pipeline, monitor the longevity of pipeline materials, educate the public, and apply damage prevention systems to avoid third-p..

An offshore drilling company from Norway is using energy chains from igus to help provide a reliable power supply under extreme conditions for automated drilling operations on platforms. Robotic Drilling Systems AS in Stavanger, Norway – a central city in the European oil industry developed robots ..

Novarc Technologies introduced the Spool Welding Robot (SWR), a collaborative welding robot that increases productivity on the shop floor and reduces costs for the pipe shop while significantly improving the weld quality.  The SWR is capable of storing and ..

Alliance Sensors Group expanded its sensor product by adding the LRL-27 Series of long-stroke LVIT position sensors. These are contactless devices designed for factory automation systems and a variety of heavy-duty applications such as robotic arm position f..

BJM Pumps added the KB220 pump, which can pump up to 810 gpm. The pumps are  available in 460 or 575 volts and offer a maximum head to 186 feet. The KB Series is designed to handle all the sand and small abrasives issues in construction, mining, sand and gr..

Hayward Flow Control added True Union Ball Check Valve of natural polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) to its TC Series. Through the addition, the series extends the range of applications and services that can be installed – higher temperature services, extreme co..

Larson Electronics released a vapor-proof LED inspection drop light for use during inspections in hazardous locations where flammable gases and vapors could be present.

The Scanreco Rocket Flex Transmitter offers original equipment manufacturers a wide range of digital control functions and operator feedback options. Designed for heavy usage, the Rocket Flex delivers 120 hours of continuous operation before charging. The h..

ALLU, Inc., launched its mobile application, which is fully integrated with the company’s online portal. The app provides timely information regarding safe operation at job sites and use of ALLU equipment. The mobile app will retrieve relevant data for spe..