March 2019, Vol. 246, No. 3

Over-pressure protection equipment, or systems, are critically employed to ensure a single point of failure cannot result in exceeding the system MAOP.

To explain the value of corrosion management systems (CMS), how they work, and what programs and platforms are available to help organizations improve corrosion control programs, three experts in oil and gas pipeline corrosion management share their knowledge and experience with CMS. They are Michael Ames, Chapman Engineering; Gerry Koch, DNV GL; and David Kroon, Aegion Corporation.

A Voluntary Information Sharing (VIS) advisory group, working with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), voted to recommend a new, industry-wide safety reporting program in which employees, in a “no-fear” environment, would report pipeline operational and infrastructure risks and hazards. Reports would be “de-identified” and centralized. The goal is that potential problems would be found and corrected before they worsened, possibly becoming emergency situations.

The Liquid Pipeline Roundtable (LPR) is a member group of Human Resources professionals representing companies who operate pipeline systems that transport crude oil. The purpose of the LPR is to enhance professionalism and increase the effectiveness of the Human Resources departments within the liqu..

Internal and external corrosion, as well as third-party damage such as dents and gouges, are the main causes of pipeline failures worldwide. When such damage is detected by direct inspection, or in-line inspection methods, a decision to replace, repair, or accept and monitor must be made.

P&GJ recently sat down with Adrian Chapman to discuss his new role as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Southern Gas Association, and the outlook for SGA and the energy industry.

A growing number of proactive companies are going beyond traditional techniques that have only slowed corrosion. They are turning to a new category of tough, chemically bonded phosphate ceramics (CBPCs) that can stop carbon steel corrosion, extend equipment life, and minimize the cost and production downtime required to recoat, repair, or replace equipment.

The use of corrosion resistant alloys (CRA) is increasing in the pipeline industry.

The United States recently implemented significant trade tariffs against Chinese products, totaling over $250 billion. As a result, its trade negotiations with China have waxed and waned over the past several months.

Whenever the subject of internal corrosion in pipelines comes up, it rekindles some unpleasant memories from my extensive time as a pipeline company spokesperson. Being part of an emergency response team for over 12 years was rewarding in many ways, but there was always an uneasy feeling when the phone would ring in the middle of the night.

Finland, Estonia and Latvia Sign Deal for Single Gas Tariff Zone Gas transmission operators of Finland, Latvia and Estonia signed an agreement on to set up a single gas transmission tariff zone for the three countries from the start of 2020. The agreement fulfills a goal ..

Tellurian’s Driftwood LNG Receives FEIS for Export Facility, Pipeline Tellurian said U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued the final environmental impact statement for Driftwood LNG, a 27.6 mtpa export facility and an associated 96-mile Dr..

US Court Stays Ruling Against Dominion Atlantic Coast Pipeline   A U.S. appeals court has stayed a previous court decision against Forest Service permits that allowed Dominion Energy Inc to build the $7 billion Atlantic Coast natural gas pipeline across national forests and the Appalachian Trail.  ..

Exxon, Plains, Lotus Order Pipe for Wink-to-Webster Project  ExxonMobil, Plains All American Pipeline and Lotus Midstream formed the Wink-to-Webster Pipeline LLC Joint Venture and have ordered nearly 650 miles of domestically sourced 36-inch line pipe.   The new common-carrier pipeline system will..

Bangladesh Imports First Oman LNG after Pipeline Completed   Bangladesh has imported its first LNG cargo from Oman Trading International, its long-term supplier of the super-chilled fuel, after construction at a domestic pipeline was completed.   The LNG tanker Cape Ann, with a capacity of 135,000..

Magellan plans to source barrels into the Longhorn Pipeline Magellan Cancels Plan for Short-Haul Oil Pipeline in West Texas   Magellan Midstream Partners LP has canceled plans to develop a stand-alone crude pipeline in West Texas, the area of t..

Tallgrass, Kinder Morgan to Develop Rockies Crude System   Tallgrass Energy and Kinder Morgan agreed to jointly develop a solution to increase existing crude oil takeaway capacity in the growing Powder River and Denver-Julesburg basins and to add incremental capacity to the Williston Basin and port..

Regulators Reject France-Spain Gas Interconnect   French energy regulator CRE and its Spanish counterpart CNMC have rejected a project by France and Spain’s grid operators to build a gas pipeline across the Pyrenees, CRE said in a statement.   The French regulator said the $502 million (442 millio..

Open Season Launched for ACE Pipeline System in Louisiana   Phillips 66 Partners, Harvest Midstream and PBF Logistics commenced an open season for the ACE Pipeline System after agreeing to jointly develop the 400,000 bpd Louisiana project.   The ACE system would provide crude oil transportation se..

WBI Energy Expanding Transportation from Bakken   WBI Energy plans to construct 67 miles of new pipeline, compression and ancillary facilities to transport natural gas from core Bakken production areas in western North Dakota to an interconnection point with Northern Border Pipeline.     This proj..

FERC Begins a Likely Skein of Mandatory Rate Cases FERC’s initiation of what amounts to a wholesale review of interstate pipeline rates threatens to shake up the industry and maybe its customers. The commission is in the early stages of reviewing the rates of about 130 pipeline and storage companie..

The United States’ infrastructure is crowded with underground pipelines that will need to be replaced. When the time came to replace a critical but vintage, PG&E 30-inch gas line in the East Bay Area of Oakland, Calif., there were issues that Senior Gas Engineer Joshua Hampton needed to resolve.  T..

CDI CDI introduced the SoniTrack XLR, an acoustic geophone pipeline pig tracking system that includes a computer-controlled audio amplifier. This allows an operator to easily listen for pigs moving within a pipeline over several miles. In addition to industry-standard head..

Pure Safety Group Pure Safety Group (PSG) unveiled its Guardian Fall Protection S1 safety harness, which is the first in a series of innovative new harnesses designed with three levels of features for various work scenarios. All harnesses meet OSHA standards, while exceedi..

CostTrax CostTrax, powered by EquipmentWatch, is a new software solution for construction project owners that streamlines reporting, automatically flags questionable expenses and ensures reimbursement request is 100% compliant. CostTrax is entirely web-based and requires no software download. It ca..

Parker Protecting gas turbines and compressors from dust, sand, moisture, salt and other contaminants is vital to performance and reliability. The TS1000 coalescer from Parker has been specifically developed for regions such as the Middle East and other places where this c..

Emerson  Emerson’s TopWorx TV-LED Switchbox provides a local, ultra-bright LED position indicator plus an electrical signal/digital input that communicates valve position remotely to the control room or plant management system. With its 360° viewing angle, the device enabl..

Andax Andax introduced the Xtreme Shell Pipe Flange Containment System, a reusable, hard containment shell designed to fully enclose a pipe flange, manifold or any other leak point. The drain hose diverts the leak to a closed container, thereby reducing the potential dange..

John Deere John Deere introduced two G-Series motor graders to the European market through the Wirtgen Group distribution network in Germany and France. The European rollout focused on the six-wheel drive 622GP and 672GP models that feature fuel-efficient Final Tier 4 John..

EnCap Flatrock Midstream has promoted Sam Pitts to managing partner. Pitts joined EnCap Flatrock Midstream as managing director in 2014 and was promoted to partner in January. He serves on the board of directors of several EnCap Flatrock companies including Aspen Midstream,..

Delaware Basin-based midstream provider Lucid Energy Group hired Brian T. Raber as senior vice president and chief operating officer. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the midstream sector...

Craig Harris assumed the position of chief operating officer at Enable Midstream. Harris, who served as Enable’s chief commercial officer since 2016, has 30-plus years of industry experience that includes leadership roles in engineering, operations, commerci..

The Williams Companies named Scott Hallam as senior vice president over its Atlantic-Gulf Operating Area, succeeding Frank Ferazzi, who previously announced his retirement. Most recently, Hallam served as vice president and general manager, Eastern Interstates (including oversight of Williams’ Trans..

Jim Tramuto joined Houston-based government relations and communications firm Strategic Public Affairs as a senior counselor. Prior to joining the firm, Tramuto held positions as vice president of Governmental and Regulatory Strategies at Southwestern Energy, president of TECO Gas Marketing and president and CEO of Polaris Pipeline.

Plains All American Pipeline appointed Alexandra Pruner as an independent member of the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of PAA GP Holdings. Previously, she served as a partner and chief financial officer of Perella Weinberg Partners, a global independent advisory firm...

Chesapeake Utilities promoted Shane E. Breakie to assistant vice president of Chesapeake Utilities, where he will assume expanded day-to-day activities and responsibilities for the natural gas distribution systems on the Delmarva Peninsula. ..

Andrew R. Hesson was promoted to vice president of Sharp Energy, the mid-Atlantic propane distribution business unit...

NorthStar Midstream named Mac Hummel as chief executive officer. He succeeds Tim Casey, who will focus exclusively on growing NorthStar’s LNG investments. Hummel most recently served as executive vice president and president, Liquids Business Unit at EnLink Midstream. Previously, he spent over 28 ye..

AmeriGas Propane named Ann P. Kelly as its vice president of finance and chief financial officer. She succeeds Ted J. Jastrzebski, who has been serving as the principal financial officer of AmeriGas on an interim basis. Jastrzebski will continue to serve as chief financial officer of UGI Corporation..

David Lang joined King & Spalding as a partner with the Corporate, Finance and Investments practice group in the Houston office. Lang, who previously served as global head of Baker McKenzie’s LNG practice, will focus on energy infrastructure development, acquisition and disposition, with particular ..

Karen Nash has been promoted to social impact specialist by Energy consultancy Xodus Group.  She will work at the company’s London office. Prior to Xodus she was employed at Anglo American, where she led the review of all social performance issues...

Engineer Dan McKenzie joined Freese and Nichols as an Oil & Gas Group manager and practice leader. Based in the firm’s Dallas office, McKenzie has spent almost four decades in the industry and has led projects in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and the Louisiana Gulf Coast...

Tom Hoffmann and Darin Lowder joined Foley & Lardner’s Business Law Department and Finance Practice Group as partners in its Washington, D.C., office, where they are also members of the firm’s Energy Industry Team...

Richard Wilson joins ICR Integrity in the newly created role of COO. He has 30 years of operational and commercial experience in the oil and gas industry, having led a major service contractor and oil company. For 12 years, he was director of operations at S..

TransCanada Corp., the company behind the Keystone XL oil pipeline, is changing its name to TC Energy. If approved by shareholders and regulators, the name change will occur in the second quarter. The stock ticker “TRP” will not change...

PG&E Corporation provided the California state required 15-day advanced notice the company will be reorganizing under Chapter 11 bankruptcy. PG&E said it expects the move will expedite the “fair and expeditious resolution of its potential liabilities” result..

Enduro Composites sold the assets of its pipe and tank product line located in Pearland, Texas, to Endurance Composites, an Andronaco Industries company. All other product lines, including its Freeport, Texas, field services group have been retained...

Don Baldridge, president of the commercial division for DCP Midstream, has been elected chairman of the Texas Pipeline Association (TPA). TPA is the largest state trade association in the country that solely represents the interests of the intrastate pipelin..

FERC member Kevin McIntyre, 58, who served briefly as the commission’s chairman, died Jan. 2 after a battle with brain cancer, the agency said. McIntyre, a lawyer representing clients from energy industries including natural gas, oil and wind and hydropower..