July 2021, Vol. 248, No. 7

Archive

Editor's Notebook

A Question of Not ‘If’ but ‘When’

The cyberattack on Colonial Pipelines served as the ultimate exclamation point on that pesky declaration pipeline companies had been hearing for years: Your information systems need to be better protected from malicious software.

Global News

Global News July 2021

11 EU Countries Oppose Plan to Continue Gas Project Funding, FERC Approves Enable’s Proposed Louisiana Pipeline and more

Government

Is FERC Changing Rules for Pipelines?

FERC continues to produce angst among gas pipeline developers with its two recent decisions regarding rehearing demands from pipeline opponents.

Projects

Projects July 2021

‘Critical’ Coastal GasLink Pipeline on Target for 2023, TC Energy Terminates Keystone XL Pipeline Project, Double E Pipeline Construction on Track for 2021 Startup and more

Iran Starts Pumping Oil into Goreh-Jask Pipeline

The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) began transferring oil through the Goreh-Jask pipeline, which runs from the Goreh oil terminal in the Bushehr Province to Jask oil terminal along the Gulf of Oman.

Features

Williston Basin Petroleum Conference: Talking to Two Titans in the Oil Patch

In mid-May this year, Harold Hamm found himself back in North Dakota as one of the keynote presenters at the Williston Basin Petroleum Conference, listening to another fellow energy industry billionaire Kelcy Warren, CEO of the sizable interstate pipeline operator, Dallas-based Energy Transfer Partners LP.

STEP Advances Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles for Gas-Fired Generation

Power cycles using supercritical carbon dioxide as a working fluid show promise for many power generation applications, including high-efficiency waste heat recovery on pipeline gas turbines.

How MEA Revisited Strategic Imperatives to Maintain Its Mission

Since March 2020, businesses have been closing, pivoting, or returning to a new normal. MEA Energy Association, a trade association serving natural gas and electric utilities across the United States, is no exception.

National Grid Studies UK Hydrogen Pipeline Network Potential

National Grid is exploring the potential of a 1,243-mile (2,000-km) hydrogen pipeline network across the U.K. Reaching a goal of delivering hydrogen power to consumers by 2030 will take an abundance of planning and work.

Norway’s Pipeline Sector Continues to Grow

Norway has benefited from North Sea oil and gas for over half a century. At the start of 2021, Norway was the world’s third-largest gas exporter and fifteenth biggest oil producer after Qatar, reported the BP “Statistical Review of World Energy 2020.”

Libya’s Civil War Stifling Growth of Pipeline Industry

The prolonged civil war in Libya continues to lock out potential investments in greenfield oil and gas pipeline projects with the National Oil Company. International oil companies are left with the option of investing in repairs and maintenance of existing oil and gas transportation infrastructure.

Validating Meter Accuracy Simplified Using Flow Conditioning

AGA Report No. 9 requires flow calibration for all applications to reduce the meter’s overall uncertainty. Because of field installation effects, AGA 9 also discusses uncertainty requirements that an ultrasonic meter manufacturer must meet once the meter is installed.

Cost of Hydrogen Gas Leaks Worth Taking into Consideration

Despite hydrogen’s widespread appeal and many benefits, it is imperative to remember that it is still a potentially dangerous gas. It is colorless and odorless, making it naturally imperceptible to humans.

Options for Internal Inspection of Difficult-to-Check Pipelines

In the second part of this article, different case studies introduce the different categories of tools for the inspection of challenging pipelines, including specialty free-swimming, umbilical and robotic.

Reassessing Value Placed on System Pressure Tests

Since the cost of failures during the construction of offshore pipelines is significant, over time, an extensive quality management regime has been developed. One such measure is to pressure test the whole pipeline system when the build is completed.

Tech Notes

Using RTUs in Monitoring Pipelines in Extreme Conditions

In remote locations, communications may be slow, intermittent or unreliable. The RTU is the device at the edge – sitting between the control room and the field instruments – that provides a low-latency response to changing site conditions and performs data filtering.

Companies Merge Technologies to Enhance Pipeline Integrity

Pipetel Technologies and Intero Integrity Services merged in January, combining the two inline inspection companies, each with a track record of innovation in the space of unpiggable pipeline inspection.

What's New

What's New July 2021

Vermeer   Vermeer expanded its horizontal directional drilling (HDD) fluid management equipment line with the new R600T reclaimer. The new 600-gallons/minute (2,271-liters/minute) mud recycling system can pair with maxi rigs pumping between 300 and 600 gal..

Business

ONE Gas’ Norton to Lead ONEOK as Spencer Retires

ONEOK, Inc. announced that Pierce H. Norton II will become its president and CEO and join its board of directors upon the retirement of Terry K. Spencer on Sept. 30 after 20 years with the company, including more than seven years as president and CEO.

People in the News July 2021

  Glaeser Scott Glaeser has joined Burns & McDonnell, where he will start up and lead a pipeline integrity practice within the Transmission & Distribution (T&D) Group. Over a career spanning nearly 35 years, Glaeser has served in a number of officer roles ..

DEKOTEC Celebrates Half-Century Presence in Spain

The Spanish sister company of DEKOTEC this year celebrated its 50th anniversary of operations in Spain.

Companies in the News July 2021

McElroy announced the addition of  F.W. Webb Company as its newest distributor to serve pipe fusion machine customers along the East Coast. The company has several locations. and its Springfield, Mass., location will serve as the main hub for McElroy machine sales.   “This is a very exciting time f..

Executive Profile

Burns & McDonnell’s Glaeser Looks to Pipeline Integrity Future

In this conversation with P&GJ, Scott Glaeser discusses ramifications of the Mega Rule, upgrading existing pipelines and cybersecurity.