August 2021, Vol. 248, No. 8

Archive

Editor's Notebook

Midstream Wins a Big One

The U.S. Supreme Court, in what some people including me would consider at least a minor surprise, upheld PennEast Pipeline’s authority to use eminent domain to acquire access to state property.

Global News

Global News August 2021

European Bank Halts Upstream Investments, Maintains Midstream, Congress Reverses Trump Rollbacks of Methane Rules and more.

Government

Court Adds to Democratic FERC Leverage on Pipeline Standards

A federal court decision stopping operation of the Spire STL pipeline in Missouri strengthens the hands of the Democratic leadership of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission as it considers pipeline-opposed changes to its 1999 pipeline approval policy standards.

Projects

Projects August 2021

Tellurian Applies for New Reduced-Emission Pipeline Project in Louisiana, Navigator Aims to Expand U.S. Carbon Capture Pipeline Project and more.

Enbridge Says More Permits Will Delay Line 5 Tunnel Project

Enbridge said the U.S. Army Corps’ decision to begin a tougher environmental review of the company’s proposed oil pipeline tunnel under the Great Lakes will set back construction on the project.

Features

Pipelines in Mexico: Opportunity for US Innovation, Exports and Patience

In 2021, there are very few new projects proposed in Mexico compared to what happened over the 2015–2020 period. New projects on the Mexican government’s radar are almost all related to connectivity with, and enhancing efficiency of, existing new pipelines.

Live Mapping of HAZ Softening in Pipeline Seam, Girth Welds

Modern pipeline grades, such as X70 and X80, improve many properties but come with undesirable features such as heat-affected zone (HAZ) softening in seam and girth welds.

2021 Midyear International Outlook: Pipeline Construction & Market Trends

As global markets claw their way back from the 2020 pandemic trough and energy demand continues to rise, oil and gas producers remain largely committed to fiscal restraint, prices have risen to multi-year highs and storage has yet to recover from historic lows.

Africa’s New Pipeline Projects – What to Expect During the Next Few Years

The World Bank released a special report about the future of sub-Saharan Africa, which found the region’s economic growth contracted by 2% in 2020. This was closer to the lower bound of the forecast it made last year. But it also found that prospects for recovery and growth in SSA are strengthening.

Challenges of Installing a New Pipeline

During the installation of a new pipeline, corrosion engineers must consider many different aspects of the pipeline and its corrosion protection. On the surface it may appear simple, thinking only of coatings and cathodic protection, but once construction is underway, the tasks are many.

Taking a Quantitative Approach to Benchmarking Your Team

Benchmarking is the process of comparing products, services and processes within an organization to an external standard, exploring how and why other organizations achieve higher levels of efficiency. This same methodology can be used to benchmark your pipeline integrity personnel.

A Case Study: Control Room Management as a Service

As technology has advanced and overhead costs have grown, operators have voiced their concerns about how prohibitive the costs of such a framework are becoming for daily operations. In response, a new model of CRM and related operations has emerged to reduce operator costs, improve operational efficiency, and assist with CRM compliance.

Making Digital Transformation a Reality

Unlocking the value of process data through digital transformation not only offers oil and gas operators huge benefits, but it is also an essential step for businesses to remain efficient and competitive in the future.

EIA Reports: US Oil Imports from OPEC Down; Canada Imports Remain High

Voluntary OPEC production cuts have been contributing to reduced U.S. crude oil imports from OPEC so far in 2021. Comparatively stable U.S. crude oil imports from Canada, however, have been mostly the result of longer-term trends.

EIA Reports: Gulf of Mexico Projects, Production to Grow in 2022

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasts that U.S. crude oil production in the U.S. Federal Gulf of Mexico will increase in the next two years, according to the latest Short-Term Energy Outlook.

Halliburton Develops Non Intrusive Pipeline Inspection Method for Unpiggable Lines

Halliburton’s technology team have been developing InnerVue non-intrusive diagnostics technology for several years. Advances in computing power and experience gained through numerous data collections in the field have moved the technology to a point where it can now be considered as an alternative for traditional intrusive ILI techniques.

PRCI Established Emerging Fuels Institute for Next-Generation Pipelines

EFI will provide PRCI members the opportunity to execute the research needed to ensure the safe transportation and storage of the next generation of energy, such as hydrogen, renewable natural gas and other potential gas and liquid fuel sources, that will help meet the world’s energy needs while reducing the impact to the environment.

Report Shows Pipeline Safety Improvement

Liquids pipeline incidents affecting people or the environment decreased 38% over the last five years, while total pipeline incidents were down 21%, according to government pipeline safety data.

Tech Notes

Proper Cleaning and Storage of Pipeline Pigs

Proper storage and maintenance are important to ensure the optimal performance and condition of urethane pigs.

In-Field Flow Coating Boosts Gas Pipeline Capacity

Rescue Pipeline Services LLC (RPS), based in Houston, introduces their In-Field Flow Coating (IFC) technology for existing gas pipelines.

What's New

What's New August 2021

T.D. Williamson       T.D. Williamson enhanced its Multiple Dataset (MDS) gouge vs. metal loss (GvML) classifier, resulting in the industry’s first published performance specification for gouge identification and depth sizing within a dent. MDS offers com..

Business

People in the News August 2021

CorEnergy Executives Recognized for Industry Leadership   CorEnergy Infrastructure Trust, which owns and operates or leases natural gas transmission and distribution lines and crude oil gathering, storage and transmission pipelines and associated rights-of-way, announced that two of its executives ..

Companies in the News August 2021

Peak Utility Services Group, a provider of integrated infrastructure services to the natural gas, electric and telecommunication industries, has acquired Superior Pipeline Services (SPS), a natural gas utility services contractor.    Denver-based Peak provides maintenance, repair, upgrade and insta..

Spotlight on Mexico

NG Imports Grow, Pipeline Construction Slows

According to the new quarterly report published by the Central Bank of Mexico, economic growth for 2021 will be between 5% and 7%, which compares favorably with the January edition, indicating between 2.8% and 6% growth.