Environment
Strategic Considerations In Performing Pipeline Hazard Analyses
The term “hazard analyses” is intended to cover a number of team-based assessment methodologies, including hazard identification (HAZID), hazard and operability (HAZOP), “what-ifs” and checklists. The collective intent of these methodologies is to minimize risk to acceptable or “practicable,” levels.
What the Oil Boom Means And Doesnt Mean For Energy Security
When we graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1968, the American oil industry was in the midst of a boom. Domestic crude production had increased every year for nearly a decade, and Texas was the world’s swing oil producer, providing our nation with important strategic flexibility.
IEA Economist: Shale Gale Will Result In 20 Years of U.S. Dominance
IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol synthesized the agency’s 2013 World Energy Outlook and his own analysis to suggest that for the next 20 years, low energy costs caused by the early and plentiful development of shale gas and energy infrastructure will give the United States a large competitive advantage over other nations when it comes to attracting and developing business.
Transportation Department IG: PHMSA Oversight Of One-State Pipelines Inadequate
WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal agency responsible for making sure states effectively oversee the safety of natural gas and other pipelines is failing to do its job, a government watchdog said in a report released Friday.
Kinder Morgan To Invest $1 Billion To Expand CO-2 Network
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. announced it will build and operate a new, 213-mile, 16-inch pipeline to transport carbon dioxide (CO-2) from the company’s St. Johns source field in Apache County, AZ to the Kinder Morgan-operated Cortez Pipeline in Torrance County, NM.
API Considers New Voluntary Recommended Practice For Pipeline Safety
An American Petroleum Institute (API) advisory committee released a draft "recommended practice" describing a safety management system (SMS) for natural gas and liquid pipelines at a meeting sponsored by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) in February. The API was taking comments through April 11 and will approve RP1173, in some form, later this year.
Computing Risk: Leak Detection Strategies
Kalamazoo River, Mayflower, Grand Marsh, Bonga Field, Little Buffalo – all places that suffered pipeline spills in the last several years. The recurrence of significant incidents has many countries spending more and more time investigating the pipeline industry’s safety practices. This resurgence comes at a time when oil and natural gas initiatives around the world are putting pressure on new pipeline development.
Genesis Energy To Build $150 Million Terminal In Louisiana
Genesis Energy, L.P. plans to invest $150 million to construct a crude oil, intermediates and refined products import /export terminal in Baton Rouge, LA. The terminal will be located on 90 acres of land near the Port of Greater Baton Rouge and connect to the port’s existing deepwater docks on the Mississippi River.
Rail Transportation Of Oil: A Growing Congressional Safety Concern
Both House and Senate committee leaders with jurisdiction have begun to show impatience with what they view as out-of-date federal regulations on railroads carrying oil produced in the Bakken, Eagle Ford and Marcellus shale regions.
Rebels Blow Up Three Gas Pipelines In Pakistan
Separatist rebels from Pakistan's resource-rich Baluchistan province last month blew up three gas pipelines, cutting supplies to the country's most economically important province. The Times of India credited the report to Ayub Bajwa, emergency manager for Sui North Gas Pipelines Limited in Islamabad.
Editor's Notebook: Don't Feed Them Cake
This is a story of how a boneheaded, albeit well-intentioned, PR decision destroyed years of image building in one fell swoop.
Remote Pipeline Monitoring: Reducing Risk Of Third-Party Damage
On July 30, 2004, a natural gas pipeline operating at a pressure of 70 bar ruptured. The accident occurred at Ghislenghien industrial park, near Ath, Belgium about 30 miles southwest of Brussels, Belgium. Twenty-four people died as a result of the explosion and subsequent fire (mostly firefighters and the police), and 120-plus were hospitalized, most with severe burns.
Developments Toward Unified Pipeline Risk Assessment Approach
A certain amount of standardization in any process can be beneficial to stakeholders. In the case of pipeline risk assessment, standardization establishes process acceptability. This leads to consistent and fair regulatory oversight as well as minimum levels of analysis rigor.
Energy Underpins Russia-Ukraine Standoff
International tension resulting from Russia’s occupation of Crimea, territory universally recognized as belonging to Ukraine, has many facets, but Russia’s dominance of the energy market in Europe and Ukraine informs the dynamic.
Pipeline Corrosion Issues Related To Carbon Capture, Transportation And Storage
For the foreseeable future, fossil fuels will remain the dominant source of the world’s primary energy production. There is growing concern that the use of these carbon-based fuels produce greenhouse gases, principally carbon dioxide (CO-2), which adversely affects the global climate and environment. One way to mitigate the problem is to use carbon capture, transportation, and storage (CCTS) techniques and systems.
North Dakota Gas Flaring is Creating Firestorm of Controversy
Recently filed class-action lawsuits by North Dakota landowners have brought renewed attention to the controversial practice of gas flaring in that state. In their suits, the landowners claim that major producers in the region, including Continental Resources, XTO and Marathon are costing those owners their share of royalties on as much as $100 million per month of value in natural gas that has gone up in flames in order to keep oil production flowing.
Industry Associations Asks Help With Oil Spill Surveillance
The global oil and gas industry needs better ways to plan for oil spill surveillance, and it’s looking to the airborne remote sensing and commercial satellite industries for help.
ONEOKs Natural Gas Pipeline Explodes In Oklahoma
According to Reuters, a natural gas pipeline with an unknown capacity, operated by ONEOK Partners, exploded near Milfay, OK. No one was reported injured.
Court Rejects BPs Gulf Spill Settlement Appeal
One of BP’s attempts to curb pay outs for what it says are “fictitious” and “absurd” claims related to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill has failed after an appeal was rejected by a U.S. court, according to Reuters.
Obama to act on Keystone in next couple of months
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama told U.S. state governors at a White House meeting Monday that he expects to decide on the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada in the next couple of months, two Republican governors said.
Growth In Domestic Crude, Natural Gas Expected To Continue For Many Years
The U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook 2014 Reference case shows that recent growth in domestic crude oil and natural gas production is expected to continue for many years.
Mexico Allows Private Participation, Ambiguities Remain
A bill for what is arguably the most liberal energy reform in Mexico to date presents an opportunity to end lethargy that has surrounded the region’s oil and gas industry for longer than necessary.
From Paper to Pixels: Online O&M Manuals Replace 3-Ring Binders
The Internet has affected many aspects of gas pipeline operations, from tracking operator qualification credentials to keeping up to date with pipeline regulations. Now one company is using the Internet to distribute and manage its operations and maintenance (O&M) manual as required by 49 CFR Part 192.605. Gone are the days of large, three-ring binders and all the associated printing and distribution headaches.
Lightning, A New Key For Pipeline Protection
In the past, it was thought that lightning strikes were random or due to an object being tall or located at a higher elevations. New discoveries are showing these are seldom the controlling factors and that geology plays a greater role. Fault lines tend to be struck by lightning more often, and it’s known that active fault zones are good for oil and natural gas exploration, but can be bad for pipelines.
Train accidents stir worries about crude transport
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — At least 10 times since 2008, freight trains hauling oil across North America have derailed and spilled significant quantities of crude, with most of the accidents touching off fires or catastrophic explosions.
Ky. gas line blast injures 2, destroys 2 homes
KNIFLEY, Ky. (AP) — An underground transmission pipeline carrying natural gas exploded early Thursday in southern Kentucky, sending two people to the hospital, destroying two homes and alarming residents who saw flames from miles away.
Emergency Valve Shutdown Solutions In Shale Plays
Production from natural gas and liquids rich shale plays in the United States is booming. In the past five years alone, shale gas reserves have increased tenfold to 25 Bcf/d. Similarly, tight oil production has risen to 1.8 MMbcf/d, more than 600% over that same period [1]. This prolific growth trend has created a dramatic need for infrastructure improvements, including transport via pipeline from the wellhead to processing facilities and beyond.
Benefits Of Network Level Security At RTU Level
New security capabilities at the remote terminal unit (RTU) level are substantially easing implementation of cybersecurity measures in SCADA systems.
Broad coalition backs Keystone XL oil pipeline
WASHINGTON (AP) — An unusual coalition of Republican and Democratic lawmakers, labor and business leaders, veterans groups and Canada's ambassador to the United States joined forces Tuesday to push for quick approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.
Keystone XL foes undaunted by State Dept. report
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — With yet another obstacle removed for the Keystone XL pipeline, opponents were pressing forward with a lawsuit to challenge the project, public protests and an effort to inject the issue into the November elections.
- Phillips 66 to Shut LA Oil Refinery, Ending Major Gasoline Output Amid Supply Concerns
- FERC Sides with Williams in Texas-Louisiana Pipeline Dispute with Energy Transfer
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- ConocoPhillips Eyes Sale of $1 Billion Permian Assets Amid Marathon Acquisition
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Marathon Oil to Lay Off Over 500 Texas Workers Ahead of ConocoPhillips Merger
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
