May 2024, Vol. 251, No. 5

It appears likely that the wave of midstream merger-and-acquisition activity of the past few years hasn’t reached its peak yet. In fact, to hear some insiders tell it, a full-on tsunami may not be far away.

When it comes to directional drilling in rock, operators often face numerous challenges. The hardness and unpredictability of rock formations require precise control and consistent power from the drill. Too much or too little force can lead to inefficient drilling, equipment damage and even project failure.

At the end of the first quarter of 2024, with natural gas prices depressed, the prolific Marcellus Shale gas play rolled along, albeit at a slower pace than usual with some producers cutting back production in March with a wait-and-see attitude toward prices.

The Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant-Utica Shale formations of the Appalachian Basin contain an estimated mean of 214 Tcf of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous resources of natural gas, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The EU is increasing its support for CO2 transport and storage projects with nearly $522 million allocated to initiatives in France, the Netherlands, Poland, and Norway. This funding is part of the EU’s $6.3 billion Connecting Europe Facility fund aimed at accelerating decarbonization efforts and enhancing CO2 pipeline infrastructure.

Bridger Pipeline operates a crude oil gathering system, of approximately 3,500 miles, in the Williston Basin of western North Dakota, eastern Montana and the Powder River Basin of Wyoming. The system contains many small-diameter (3-inch to 6-inch) gathering lines that are a challenge to inspect with ILI tools.

Italy plans to actively develop its gas pipelines’ network in years to come with the intention of serving as the biggest gas hub in Europe and the entire Mediterranean region.

Discover how a U.S. transmission pipeline operator collaborated with Dynamic Risk to conduct a comprehensive risk analysis for valve rupture mitigation. Learn how geospatial data and advanced analytics were utilized to prioritize high-consequence areas and optimize risk management strategies.

Latest industry developments from around the world!

Trans Mountain expansion expected to ship oil in June; Enbridge investing in Gray Oak, other pipeline assets; Croatia gains $566 million to build 4 gas pipelines; Williams delays Louisiana Energy Gateway amid Energy Transfer dispute; and more!

DNV is executing hydrogen blending feasibility studies for Enbridge and FortisBC Energy. The two individual studies will determine the percentage of hydrogen that can be safely transported through existing natural gas pipeline infrastructure.

The ambitious project involved the removal of pipelines, control umbilicals and various other subsea structures from the seabed in water depths of up to 590 feet (180 meters), each requiring precise and efficient cutting.

In process control, availability of all control elements is crucial to maintain smooth operation without unexpected final control elements failures. One of the most important final control elements used in today’s industry are valves.

Process Vision, PipeWizard, Decom, Sensirion, and more!

The oil and gas sector is at risk of failing to deliver the 28,000 skilled engineering construction workers needed by 2030 — unless it better understands what motivates new entrants, according to a report out today.

Stay informed about the latest appointments, expansions, and industry insights in this concise business column. From new executive roles at leading companies to strategic manufacturing ventures, get key updates shaping the corporate landscape. Plus, stay in the loop with association initiatives and industry events.