March 2021, Vol. 248, No. 3

Archive

Editor's Notebook

PennEast’s Hail Mary Legal Challenge

In what is being viewed as hopeful news from the Marcellus Shale region, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal by PennEast Pipeline Company to a ruling that prevents the company from seizing land in New Jersey through eminent domain.

Global News

Global News March 2021

A collection of brief articles provides a snapshot of global pipeline-related news from this month.

Government

Biden Administration Initiates Major Pipeline Leak Regulatory Reviews

Both gas transmission and distribution pipelines face new regulations from the Biden administration on leaks from both pumping station equipment and pipelines.

Corps Initiates INGAA-Opposed Permit Changes

The Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) finalized changes to wetland pipeline digging permits opposed by the INGAA.

Projects

Projects March 2021

A collection of brief articles provides updates on current pipeline projects from around the world.

Double E Pipeline Project Attracts $175 Million in Commitments

Summit Permian Transmission received $175 million in commitments from three leading commercial banks to finance the development of its Double E Pipeline Project, the company said.

Features

US LNG Exports: Uneven Pathway from Oilfields to Terminals

Analysts believe a second wave of global LNG demand is coming in the mid-part of this decade, despite 2020's severe downturn in global energy markets.

Gas Storage Ups and Downs

Coming off a year that was anything but typical, it’s no surprise that gas storage – a key indicator of natural gas prices and an important market in the U.S. energy picture – has been impacted by the pandemic, but even more so, by demand growth, cancellation of major pipeline projects and the push for electrification and green energy.

Balkans Gas Developments Still Face Structural Woes

The gas market in Southeast Europe, better known as the Balkans, is weighed down by several longstanding difficulties.

INGAA Chairman Emphasizes Climate Goals, Importance of Natural Gas

As a president and chief operating officer of DTE Midstream, David Slater is not only well suited to be INGAA chairman but is also eager to serve in the position he was recently elected to by the association’s Board of Directors.

Using Remote Monitoring to Evaluate Pipeline Lightning Immunity

While lightning itself does not cause corrosion, the damage it creates to a pipe’s walls, coatings and cathodic protection (CP) system can leave a pipeline vulnerable.

Cash Infusion Provides Push for New Central European Gas Pipe

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) acquired a 25% stake from Transgaz, the parent company of Vestmoldtransgaz, for $24.2 million (€20 million).

Life Extension of Pipelines with Crack Defects Using Composite Repairs

Composite repairs are being used widely to restore the integrity of pipelines impaired by wall thinning arising from corrosion anomalies.

Reusing Gas Infrastructure for Hydrogen Transportation

The EU’s “Hydrogen Strategy for a Climate-Neutral Europe” of July 2020 is only the latest in a series of programs designed to foster the use of hydrogen to decarbonize and integrate the energy system.

Many Benefits Occur Within Integration of the Control Room with SCADA

Implementing comprehensive control room management (CRM) with modern SCADA systems can offer utilities and pipeline operators myriad benefits, particularly when it comes to improving pipeline safety.

SBS Energy Sets Record in GOM Decommissioning Project

SBS Energy Services (SBS) completed a multiphase project to decommission 29,000 feet (8,839 meters) of 10-by-6-inch (254-by-152-mm) insulated pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) in partnership with Helix Energy Solutions, setting a new offshore snubbing unit/hydraulic workover world record.

Inhibitor Development for Extreme Conditions in Deepwater

Deepwater exploration and production has seen a higher-than-average growth in the past 10 to 15 years when compared to other sectors in the industry, brought about by high and stable production and technological advances that have driven lifting costs down to all-time lows.

EIA Expects Crude to Average Near $50 Per Barrel Through 2022

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) expects global demand for petroleum liquids to be greater than global supply in 2021, especially during the first quarter, leading to inventory draws.

Application of Distributed Fiber-optic Sensing for Pipeline Integrity and Security

Distributed fiber-optic sensing (DFOS) describes several technologies that can be utilized to convert a fiber-optic cable into an array of distributed sensors by connecting it to an optical interrogator unit (IU).

Tech Notes

Two-Part Epoxy Deemed Best for Pipeline at Saltwater Channel

Polyguard Products entered the liquid corrosion coating industry in the past decade, where two-part epoxy is a typical choice for most pipeline field coating repairs due to its ease of application and exceptional performance characteristics. Polyguard developed NHT-5600 with those things in mind.

Baker Hughes Offers Composite Flexible Pipe for Onshore Pipelines

Baker Hughes launched of its Onshore Composite Flexible Pipe to address the corrosion and cost of ownership challenges with conventional steel pipe for the energy, oil and gas and industrial sectors.

What's New

What's New March 2021

Logan Industries  Logan Industries offers marine scrubber repair and servicing at its new pressure vessel heat exchanger (PVHEX) facility in Hempstead, Texas. The facility, designed and engineered to e-produce scrubbers for the petrochemical, marine, ocean transport, chem..

People in the News

People in the News March 2021

Perrad DEKOTEC GmbH announced that Luc Perrad has been promoted to director of International Sales, replacing Michael Schad, who retired after 36 years with the company. Perrad has more than 20 years of global technical sales experience and extensive consul..

Companies in the News

Companies in the News March 2021

The Collins Companies, one of the largest privately held industrial distributors of pipe, valves and fittings (PVF) and engineered specialties serving the Northeast, announced it has acquired the assets of Niagara Controls in Buffalo, N.Y. and consolidated its management with Collins’ Niagara Divisi..

Associations in the News

Associations in the News March 2021

Slater The board of directors of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) has elected David Slater to serve as chairman of the organization for a one-year term. INGAA’s board also elected Kim Watson, Kinder Morgan’s president of North Regio..

Spotlight

Spotlight on Utilities

Routine calls for utility workers led to lives being saved due to their proper training and quick thinking.

Spotlight on South America: New Gas Pipeline to Boost Northern Peru

Gasnorp, a subsidiary of Promigas in Peru, signed a 32-year concession contract with the Peruvian state for the distribution of natural gas through the pipeline network in the provinces of Piura, Talara, Sullana, Paita and Sechura.