Integrity
San Francisco Gas Explosion Shoots Fire that Burns Buildings
A gas explosion in a San Francisco neighborhood shot flames into the air for hours Wednesday and burned five buildings, sending panicked residents and workers fleeing into the streets. It took utility crews more than two hours to put out the fire after private construction workers cut a natural gas line, igniting the towering flames.
4 Activists Arrested Attempting to Shut Down Oil Pipeline
Four climate-change activists from the Catholic Worker movement were arrested in an attempt to shut down an Enbridge's Line 4 oil pipeline in north-central Minnesota.
Global News
Eni’s Indonesia Gas Project may Start Up in 2021 Indonesia’s deputy energy minister said Eni aims to start output of natural gas in 2021 from its offshore Merakes project, which includes construction of subsea systems and pipelines to transport production to a floating production unit (FPU) appro..
Solutions to Liability Risks from Decommissioned Pipelines
One solution to protect pipeline companies from potential risks of their decommissioned pipelines comes from re-applying technology that proven in another sector entirely – the world of hard-rock mining.
Growing Role of Digitalization in Pipeline Integrity Management
Digitalization is playing a bigger role in pipeline integrity management – in particular, relating to the threat of internal corrosion.
Expanding Pipe Lining Capabilities
Danish pipe lining system Bluelight uses LED curing of the liners for installation. Manufactured by one of the largest lining contractors in Europe, Per Aarsleff Denmark, the system has been in development for about eight years.
Mexico City Pipeline Hit by ‘Sabotage’ amid Crackdown
A major fuel pipeline that supplies Mexico City remained closed after two ruptures in a single day, the president said, as the government works to stem shortages that have frustrated motorists and triggered economic risks.
Colombia’s Cano Limon Oil Pipeline Hit by Bomb Attacks
Colombian state-run oil company Ecopetrol said Wednesday there were two bomb attacks overnight on the Cano Limon pipeline in western Antioquia province, four days after a similar attack halted pumping.
Lawmakers Urge US Agency to Bolster Pipeline Cybersecurity
Two Democratic lawmakers urged the Department of Homeland Security to better protect U.S. oil and gas pipelines from cyber-attacks, after a report they requested detailed a lack of federal oversight of the critical conduits.
Government
Change of Class Location Draws Opposition Citizen organizations and state regulators are opposing interstate pipeline efforts to convince federal regulators to provide an alternative to the class location system, which requires pipelines to take steps when there is population growth around a pipeli..
Assuring Integrity of Polyethylene Gas Pipeline Systems
To maximize benefits, gas transporters continue to push polyethylene pipe design with more demanding applications, larger diameters and higher operating pressures. The risk of rapid crack progression and variables affecting performance must be considered when increasing the diameter and wall thickness of PE pipe.
Columbia Gas’ Merrimack Valley Accident: Fallout Just Starting
Federal and state agencies immediately jumped into action to uncover causes and preventative lessons that might be learned from the fatal September explosions, but other investigations could have implications for pipeline operations far beyond Massachusetts.
Human-Centric Approach to Improving Pipeline NDE Reliability
Non-destructive evaluation is essential to assure long-term integrity of existing pipelines, and human performance is a key element of the NDE process. This article summarizes an effort to identify human performance factors that influence NDE measurements and reliability.
Replacement Projects Still Boosting Infrastructure Work
A large volume of work remains in the United States for multibillion-dollar infrastructure replacement programs, with many now underway and more destined to follow. In this summary report, P&GJ provides an overview of the current widespread activity.
APGA Chairman to Focus on Safety and Consumer Education
P&GJ talks about industry priorities and challenges with Owen Reeves, 2018-2019 chairman of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), which represents more than 70% of all publicly owned natural gas utilities in the United States.
Michigan Governor Drops Plan on Line 5 Tunnel Oversight
Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder on Monday abandoned his proposal to have the state’s Mackinac Bridge Authority oversee the construction and operation of a tunnel to house a replacement for the Line 5 oil pipeline in the Great Lakes, noting that the proposal did not have enough legislative support.
Canada's Frontera Stops Production After Attack on Peru Oil Pipeline
Canadian oil company Frontera Energy said it stopped production at Peru's largest oilfield after a Peruvian-owned pipeline was severed last week by indigenous protesters.
Malaysia Completes Repairs to key Sabah Sarawak Gas Pipeline
Malaysia's Petronas said production at the Kebabangan gas field is expected to return to full capacity by August 2019 after integrity testing is completed on the repaired pipeline, which is undergoing integrity testing.
Choosing and Using Composite Repair Systems
With so many repair options in the oil and gas industry, choosing the right repair with the best materials can be difficult. There are many variables when considering a composite repair, including operating pressure and temperature, defect type and severity, pipe geometry and external or internal chemical presence.
Transneft Diascan Comissions New Type of Inline Inspection Tool
Transneft Diascan has developed, manufactured and commissioned a new type of inline inspection tool that can find peeling areas in the pipeline coating.
Improving Methane Emissions from Natural Gas Transmission, Storage
Interstate natural gas transmission companies are committed to minimizing methane emissions. This article explains methane emission sources for the transmission and storage sector and the basis for emissions commitments that INGAA members have voluntarily adopted.
Another Keystone XL Setback: Environmental Study Ordered
Environmentalists cheered a federal court order that blocks a Trump administration permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, pending an environmental review.
Feds Open Criminal Probe into Natural Gas Explosions
Federal prosecutors are conducting a criminal investigation into the natural gas explosions and fires that rocked three communities north of Boston in September.
GITA's Limbruner sees Bright Future for Sector
Mark Limbruner, the current president of the Geospacial Information & Technology Association (GITA), shares his perspective after three decades in the geospatial industry.
Firefighters Sue SoCal Gas over Aliso Canyon Leak
Firefighters who worked in and around the site of a massive natural gas leak have sued Southern California Gas Co., alleging the utility knowingly let them be exposed to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals.
Canada Pipeline Blast Risks Washington Natural Gas Shortage
A pipeline explosion in British Columbia risks cutting off the flow of Canadian natural gas to Washington State, and companies are urging customers to conserve.
Minnesota Judge Tosses Charges Mid-trial Against 3 Activists
A Minnesota judge abruptly dismissed charges against three climate change activists during their trial, saying prosecutors failed to prove that the protesters’ attempt to shut down two Enbridge Energy oil pipelines caused any damage.
Gas Line Rupture Prompts Evacuation in British Columbia
A natural gas transmission pipeline ruptured in a rural area north of Prince George in the Canadian province of British Columbia, prompting precautionary evacuations, pipeline owner and operator Enbridge said.
Leak Detection Challenges on Crude Gathering, Produced Water Networks
A review of the four main leak detection methods and their abilities to overcome the unique challenges of crude oil gathering networks and produced water pipelines.
You Do Leak Detection, but Do You have Breach Detection?
Pipeline companies invest considerable effort preventing, detecting, and responding to leak incidents, but are they investing enough effort preventing, detecting, and responding to cybersecurity incidents? Since, in principle, a cyber-incident could lead to a leak incident, companies should consider breach detection as part of their overall leak prevention program.
- Trump Aims to Revive 1,200-Mile Keystone XL Pipeline Despite Major Challenges
- ONEOK Agrees to Sell Interstate Gas Pipelines to DT Midstream for $1.2 Billion
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- Another Major U.S. Oil Refinery Shutting Down as Lyondell Confirms Houston Closure
- Boardwalk Approves 110-Mile, 1.16 Bcf/d Mississippi Kosci Junction Pipeline Project
- Tullow Oil on Track to Deliver $600 Million Free Cash Flow Over Next 2 Years
- GOP Lawmakers Slam New York for Blocking $500 Million Pipeline Project
- Energy Transfer Reaches FID on $2.7 Billion, 2.2 Bcf/d Permian Pipeline
- Polish Pipeline Operator Offers Firm Capacity to Transport Gas to Ukraine in 2025
- Macquarie, Dow Launch $2.4 Billion Gulf Coast Pipeline Infrastructure Partnership