September 2018, Vol. 245, No. 9

Permian gas prices will remain weak for the next few years despite nearly 2 Bcf/d of additional pipeline capacity coming online by 2020. This is because the Permian, predominantly a shale oil play, has large quantities of associated gas production.

With this latest order for 11 HOS compressors, the Permian Basin customer has ordered a total of 106 high-speed reciprocating compressors from Dresser-Rand business Siemens since 2012.

As Permian Basin oil production grows, producers must find outlets for the associated natural gas. Once pipeline capacity is fully used, choices are limited. The widening price differential between Waha and Henry Hub indicates pipeline capacity is already somewhat constrained.

The torsional issues and problems reported for pipeline machineries, such as gas compressor trains and pump trains, can sometimes cause operational problems, even damages or failure.

It may not be immediately apparent, but the three natural gas metering technologies – orifice, ultrasonic, and Coriolis – have been intertwined for the past 25 years. The advantages created by progress in one technology have been applied to the others as new technologies have continued to evolve.

300 The new Dura-Bond ERW steel pipe mill in McKeesport, Penn., sits on the original site of National Tube Works, which began production in 1872. After United States Steel acquired National Tube in 1901, the company continued to expand, and McKe..

When PSE&G identified numerous joint leaks in an aging cast-iron gas main, the Newark-based utility faced the additional challenge of a crowded and complex substructure. Its permanent renewal of the 36-inch main using trenchless methods and a cured-in-place liner set a new world record.

Multiphase fluids in traditional field developments will typically free flow to gathering stations, through surface lines pushed by the natural formation pressure. However, heavy oil and extra heavy oil pose particular challenges for flow through pipelines because the increased viscosities result in high friction losses.

Among major supply factors, deferred maintenance continues to challenge global production. Maintenance is especially critical in basins with aging asset infrastructure, as recently evidenced by the crack in the North Sea Forties pipeline.

GITA’s fall GIS conference has a new name, the Pipeline Technology Forum, but its goal remains the same: timely and accurate delivery of actionable information on new technologies, regulations, best practices and value.

With total assets of $93 billion and a near-term capital investment program of about $28 billion, TransCanada is the country’s second-largest company after Enbridge and enjoys good growth prospects as forecast demand for gas rises by 29 Bcf/d, driven by LNG exports, gas-fired power-generation and industrial demand.

Despite the great overall success of the American energy industry, problems do exist and happen on a near-daily level. While rail accidents occur with more regularity, pipeline spills can actually have more devastating effects.

Dogs can perform a multitude of services including protection, therapy, rescue, and tracking to name a few. They can be trained to detect virtually anything, including pipeline leaks.

A recent composite repair carried out in Gujarat, India, illustrates how local installers redressed pipeline damage, rapidly restoring line integrity and delivering a safe and durable solution.

By: M. El-Sherik, Research and Development Center, Saudi Aramco Black powder has proved to be a serious problem for gas pipeline operations, and mitigation efforts have proven to be challenging. Gas pipeline operators employ removal and prevention strategies, separate or in combination, to mitigate..

Mark Limbruner, the current president of the Geospacial Information & Technology Association (GITA), shares his perspective after three decades in the geospatial industry.

By Joe Hollier, Editor As a kid growing up most of my friends had dogs. They ranged from pure-breeds to mutts, but they were all regular house pets. My older siblings each had their own dog. Spartacus, a large black-and-tan coonhound, was my brothers, and my sister had a beautiful collie named Shaw..

Pipelaying for Ichthys LNG Project. (Photo: Inpex) Ichthys LNG Project Commences Production Japan’s Inpex Corp. marked a key milestone in late July with the start of natural gas production from its giant Ichthys Field offshore northern Australi..

Enterprise Products to Expand Seaway Pipeline Capacity Enterprise Products Partners LP said on Wednesday it would expand its Seaway crude pipeline system capacity to about 950,000 bpd from 850,000 bpd. The partnership said it expects to add drag reducing agents (DRAs) to boost capacity on the Seaw..

FERC Pressed to Change Pipeline Approval Policies Interstate pipeline companies are fending off efforts by environmental groups to pressure the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to make significant changes to its 1999 pipeline certificate policy. Groups such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundati..

Oil and Gas engineering consultants Xodus Group earned the Silver Corporate Partner Award presented by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). The company received the recognition for its commitment to supporting engineers’ professional development and advocating the profession to students t..

Russell Audubon Companies, a provider of EPCM services, appointed Lyle Russell as senior business development representative for Capital Oil and Gas Projects, and Robert Guerrero as pipeline engineering manager. Russell has more than 24 years of business de..

Donald Thorn Donald William Thorn, 69, died Aug. 3 at his home in Perrysburg, Ohio, where he lived with his wife of 45 years, Judy (White) Thorn. He had recently retired after a lengthy career in the pipeline industry. Thorn, a native of Vina, Ala., was born to William E. and Oniece W. (Lindley) T..

Integrity Services Company NDT Global appointed Richard Matthews as its president.

The American Public Gas Association (APGA) promoted Erin Kurilla to vice president of Operations and Pipeline Safety. Kurilla joined APGA in October 2017 as the director for Operations & Safety in the Washington, office of APGA. She will replace John Erickson, who retired...

A family of robots is undertaking subsea tasks of automated drilling. Its primary piece of equipment is a “drill floor” heavy-duty, six-axis robot with a load capacity of 1,500 kg.

Fluor Federal Petroleum, the operations and maintenance contractor providing services to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) project, needed to find a way to streamline communications and save time when communicating with their employees, particularly in the event of a workplace emergency.

Emerson launched the latest version of its Smart Meter Verification software for Coriolis and magnetic flow meters.

Miller Electric introduced a technology designed to provide a more reactive arc and greater control in stick welding on transmission pipelines. Dynamic DIG technology is available on Miller Big Blue® engine drives, including the Big Blue 400 PipePro® welder/..

Emerson introduced the Branson UWS40 ultrasonic splicer for electrical and metallurgical needs on crimped, soldered or resistance-welded connections. It is ideal for rapid, repeatable production of wire harnesses for automobile, agricultural, appliance, recreation, heavy transport equipment and othe..

Ashcroft introduced redesigned differential pressure gauges that offer higher static pressure ratings, improved accuracy and all-welded construction that can withstand line pressures up to 580 psi.

Liftomatic Material Handling expanded its line of drum handling equipment to include the 3A-HD-BHDL, a below-hook drum handling system, which is fully automatic and can be used to lift 55-gallon drums from an overhead position for placement or scales, pallet..

Ideal for in heavily populated centers, the updated John Deere 190G W excavator provides customers with a “Swiss army knife” for clearing ditches, repairing sewers or potholes, loading trucks or moving Jersey barriers. The excavator features Final Tier 4 emission technology and a 173-horsepower (129..

The INNOVA 1512 monitor from LumaSense Technologies uses photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) and non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technologies to measure almost any gas that absorbs infrared light.

ControlAir introduced the new Type-3600 Stainless Steel High Pressure Regulator, which safely reduces inlet pressures from as high as 6,000 psig (413 bar) down to working pressures ranging between 0 and 225 psig (15.5 bar). The regulator is constructed of r..