Inspection

Novak: Russia Needs Permission for Its Ships to Probe Nord Stream Ruptures

Russia needs permission for its vessels to conduct investigations into explosions that damaged Nord Stream pipelines in the Baltic Sea, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

Volatus Aerospace Acquires Over 300,000 Miles of Pipeline Right-of-Way Surveillance

(P&GJ) — Volatus Aerospace has acquired Synergy Aviation Ltd., which patrols and inspects more than 500,000 km of pipeline, stretching from the British Columbia coast to the Manitoba/U.S. border.

German Attorney General Launches Investigation into Nord Stream Blasts

Germany's attorney general has launched an investigation into the blasts that hit the Russian Nord Stream pipeline network, allowing German investigators to collect evidence, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Swedish Police Probe at Nord Stream Leak Site Strengthens Suspicion of Gross Sabotage

Suspicions of gross sabotage on the damaged Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea have strengthened following a crime scene investigation in the Swedish exclusive economic zone, the country's security police said on Thursday.

Nord Stream Operators: Authorities Won't Allow Us to Inspect Damaged Pipelines

The operators of two Baltic Sea gas pipelines that linked Russia and Germany until they both sprang major leaks last week said they were unable to inspect the damaged sections because of restrictions imposed by Danish and Swedish authorities.

Sweden Sends Diving Vessel to Investigate Nord Stream Pipelines After Leak

Sweden sent a diving vessel on Monday to the site of Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea that ruptured last week following blasts in the area, to probe an incident that has added new tension to Europe's energy crisis.

Mysterious Gas Leaks from Russian Pipelines to Europe Raise Sabotage Fears

Europe was investigating leaks in two Russian gas pipelines that churned up the Baltic Sea on Tuesday and raised concerns from Copenhagen to Moscow about sabotage on infrastructure at the heart of an energy standoff.

Williams Inks Multiyear Pipeline Services Deal with Eversource

(P&GJ) — The deal covers natural gas pipeline services in Connecticut and other locations over a period of three years with a two-year optional extension. Specifically, Williams will be tasked with the installation, maintenance, repair and other services associated with the natural gas distribution systems under the agreement.

Cheniere to Form JV to Construct 43-Mile Gas Pipeline in Texas

Top U.S. LNG exporter Cheniere Energy Inc. will form a joint venture with units of Whistler Pipeline LLC to construct the ADCC natural gas pipeline, WhiteWater Midstream LLC said on Monday.

Natural Gas Pipeline Explosion Sparks Fire in Louisiana Waters

The U.S. Coast Guard said on Thursday that it was responding to a natural gas pipeline explosion at Lake Lery, Louisiana, and there have been no reports of injuries, casualties or pollution at this time.

Mistakes Pipeline Companies Make with PHMSA-Required Substance Testing

One element of PHMSA regulation that cooperators are sometimes falling short of during PHMSA inspections is the content and application of their required drug and alcohol testing plans. For businesses eager to avoid monetary fines and other difficulties that come with noncompliance, a practical consideration of the most common mistakes is worthwhile.

Case Study: Improved Efficiency of Integrity Programs Using EMAT Technology

Various inline inspection (ILI) tools exist for different line operating conditions and defect morphologies. To address these varying conditions and morphologies, operators often need to run multiple ILI tools receiving results in separate or combined reports.

Oceaneering Freedom AUV System Achieves TRL 6 for Pipeline Inspection

Oceaneering said on Monday its Freedom AUV, following an extensive testing and qualification program, has achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 on a 1-9 scale, as assessed by an expert industry group with representation from TotalEnergies, Chevron, and Equinor.

US Offshore Oil Output to Restart After Pipeline Fix

A damaged oil pipeline component that disrupted output at several offshore U.S. Gulf of Mexico platforms was repaired late Friday, a Louisiana official said, with producers moving to reactivate some of the halted production.

ROSEN Group Secures 5-Year Contract for Pan Malaysia In-Line Inspection

ROSEN Group has won three packages for five years each to provide pipeline in-line inspection services for approximately 200 pipelines for a Petronas group of companies that includes Pan Malaysia.

Identifying, Minimizing Sinkhole in Pipeline Rights-of-Way

Kentucky and Pennsylvania have several areas within their borders susceptible to karst formations, including sinkholes and surface depressions. These states also have substantial resources available for pipeline companies to review when attempting to identify locales with sinkholes as well as areas that are prone to karst formations.

Dealing with Lack of Universal Sleeve Manufacturing Specifications

Full encirclement steel sleeves have been a popular repair solution for more than a century and are widely used by pipeline operators.

Getting Creative with Vegetation Management in Pipeline ROWs

Vegetation management is one of the critical aspects of maintaining rights-of-way (ROWs) for pipelines. Results of regularly scheduled inspections are among the key determinators for the implementation of specific maintenance efforts to control vegetation.

Challenging Tethered ILI of a Crude Pipeline in the Caribbean

In most cases, inline inspections (ILI) follow a basic principle: what goes into the pipeline at one end must come out at the other. Sometimes, it is not that simple.

API, AOPL Report Shows Strengthened Pipeline Safety Performance

The Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) today released their annual 2021 Pipeline Safety Excellence Performance Report, which found that the safety of liquids pipelines increased across several key indicators.

27-Day ILI Run: A Case Study of a Low-Pressure, Low-Flow Gathering Line

In 2011, a customer, who was in a difficult situation, approached Pipesurvey International (PSI). The customer had a pipeline that ran from the Q1 Field in the North Sea 52 miles (81 km) off the coast of The Netherlands, to an offshore terminal that needed an in-line inspection (ILI).

US Tells Buyers of CPC Oil to Be Wary of Suspicious Non-Russian Origin Papers

The U.S. Treasury told buyers to be cautious if they think certificates stating crude from the Caspian Pipeline Consortium is not of Russian origin have been falsified.

Extending Our Capabilities to Integrity and Beyond

In-line inspection (ILI) has long been the go-to method to prove the integrity of pipelines but what happens after the inspection report has been delivered?

Safer Operations with Geospatial Analytics

Geospatial analytics has come a long way from its inception in the early 80s. Today’s high-resolution satellites can survey each square foot of the entire earth’s surface and can do so daily.

After Ida, U.S. Pipelines Offline, Being Assessed

Oil and gas pipeline operators on Monday checked for damage after Hurricane Ida hit major energy hubs as a Category 4 storm on Sunday and caused widespread power outages.

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.

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.

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.

Canada’s Pipetel Merges with Intero Integrity Services

Intero Integrity Services, backed by First Reserve, announced announce the completion of a merger with Pipetel Technologies, an innovative service provider to the gas utility industry specializing in robotic inline inspection of challenging pipelines.

When Pipelines Strain Assessment Exceeds Capacity

There are many advantages of combining multiple inspection technologies to effectively build a picture of the pipeline condition and how it changes over time.