Integrity
Balticconnector Gas Pipeline Set to Resume Commercial Operations on April 22
The Balticconnector subsea gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia, which was damaged in Oct. 2023, will resume commercial operations on April 22. The damage had previously affected energy security and raised concerns in the wider region.
Motiva Restarts Two CDUs at Port Arthur Refinery After Power Outage
Motiva Enterprises restarted two crude distillation units (CDUs) overnight at its 626,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas refinery, the nation's largest, after a power outage on Wednesday, people familiar with plant operations said on Thursday.
Mexican Pemex Crude Output Reduced After Platform Fire, Source Says
Mexican Pemex crude oil production is down some 20,000 barrels per day following a fire at an offshore platform on Saturday that left several injured and at least one dead, a source at the state energy company said.
U.S. Coast Guard Clears Louisiana Waters After Main Pass Oil Gathering Pipeline Integrity Test
The Unified Command completed a line integrity test on the Main Pass Oil Gathering (MPOG) company's pipeline system near Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans, the U.S. Coast Guard said on Monday.
Pipeline Integrity Specialist PipeSense Opens Advanced Testing Facilities
PipeSense, a leading provider of advanced continuous pipeline monitoring technology, has unveiled its latest investment with the opening of two cutting-edge testing facilities in Houston, Texas, and Clearbrook, Minnesota.
AMPP Unveils New Guide to Enhance Pipeline Safety Through Corrosion Control
AMPP unveils a comprehensive guide to enhance pipeline safety through corrosion control, aligning with the latest PHMSA regulations. Developed by industry experts, the guide offers practical strategies for U.S. gas transmission operators and valuable insights for international counterparts, all aimed at safeguarding pipeline integrity.
Trans Mountain's Expanded Pipeline System to Begin Operations on May 1
Trans Mountain's expanded oil pipeline system will start commercial operations on May 1, the Canadian company said on Wednesday.
Pipeline Movement, Landslides Navigated with Technology
Bearing the responsibility of ensuring the continuous flow of energy resources through vast networks of pipelines, the custodians of pipeline integrity face an ever-present challenge: geohazards.
Common Challenges with Field-Applied Liquid Epoxy Pipeline Coatings
Coatings are an incredibly important part of maintaining safe pipeline operations and asset integrity, including being a first line of defense against corrosion and corrosion-induced failures.
Editor’s Notebook: Nord Stream’s $20 Billion Question
It has been more than two years since the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines and still nobody knows for sure who were the perpetrators – or if they do, they are not saying so publicly.
Using Integrated Approach Toward Geohazard Threat Management
In a recent advisory bulletin (ADB-2022-01, Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Earth Movement and Other Geological Hazards), PHMSA highlighted the importance of proactive integrity management, to reduce the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by earth movement or other geological hazards, collectively referred to as “geohazards.”
SONATRACH and Huawei Launch Smart Fiber Sensing Solution for Oil, Gas Pipelines
This innovative solution integrates advanced fiber optic sensing technology to enhance pipeline security, intelligence, and operational efficiency.
Nord Stream Sues Insurers in London Over 2022 Pipeline Explosions
Nord Stream is seeking more than $436 million from its insurers over explosions in 2022 which ruptured pipelines designed to transport Russian gas to Germany, court filings show.
Leak Shuts Down CDU and Coker at TotalEnergies Texas Refinery, Sources Say
The coker and small crude distillation unit (CDU) were shut by a leak on the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at TotalEnergies' 238,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, people familiar with plant operations said on Monday.
Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
TC Energy's Keystone oil pipeline resumed service on Thursday after going offline and temporarily restricting a major conduit of Canadian oil to the United States, which sent oil prices higher.
Denmark Ends Probe Into 'Deliberate' Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts
Denmark has dropped its investigation into the explosions in 2022 on the Nord Stream pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany, police said on Monday, becoming the second nation to do so after Sweden closed its own inquiry.
Gasgrid Confirms On-Track Progress for Balticconnector Pipeline Repair, Targeting April Completion
Finland's Gasgrid on Thursday said preparations for the repair of the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia were on schedule and estimated that commissioning could take place in April.
Iran's Main Gas Pipeline Hit by Sabotage, Oil Minister Says
Two explosions along Iran's main south-north gas pipeline network on Wednesday were caused by sabotage, the Iranian oil minister told state TV, without naming any suspects.
Pemex Platform in Mexico Leaked Clouds of Methane Even After UN Alert, Data Shows
State energy company Pemex released large volumes of methane from an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico last year, with leaks recurring even after a United Nations agency flagged problems there to the Mexican government, according to a Reuters analysis of previously unreported U.N. data.
Canada Regulator Clears Latest Trans Mountain Pipeline Delay of Environmental or Safety Concerns
The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said on Wednesday that it has not noted any environmental or safety concerns with the latest construction challenges to plague the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Marathon Petroleum Beats Profit Estimates, Plans Maintenance Slowdown in Q1 2024
Marathon Petroleum beat quarterly profit estimates on Tuesday, supported by strong refined product margins and high refinery utilization rates, but expects to cut back plant activity sharply at the start of this year for maintenance.
Freeport LNG Faces Month-Long Unit Outage Due to Winter Storm
Freeport LNG expects one of the three gas liquefaction units at its Texas plant to be out of service for a month after it faced a technical issue during Winter Storm Heather, the company said on Friday.
Getting a Grip on Fugitive Emissions
Better tracking is needed to tackle fugitive emissions, but this is only one part of the puzzle. Fortunately, new packing sets are beginning to address a long-overlooked problem for heavy industry.
Solving Sulfide Stress Cracking in Sour Service
Nearly every oil country tubular goods (OCTG) manufacturer and producer is looking for solutions to sour service. It’s a perpetual issue that’s been hampering the oil and gas industry for as long as pipes have been underground.
New Alternatives for Noise Reduction in Gas Pipelines
Natural gas pipeline pressure reduction applications pose significant design challenges for engineers. Since flow varies considerably through these stations, control valves are required to throttle over a wide range, with large pressure drops at times, which create the potential for high noise.
Optimizing Emergency Response Through Alarm Management
With the implementation of the PHMSA Control Room Management (CRM) Rule in 2012, pipeline operators and control room managers have become familiar with the fundamentals of alarm management.
Crucial Role of Testing Labs in Pipeline Emergency Response
(P&GJ) — Emergency situations, like explosions due to pipeline ruptures, often happen instantly and without warning. Pipeline managers know about the risks that come with the job, but the aftereffects of pipeline ruptures and leaks are often secondary to protecting human life.
Oxygen Corrosion Control for Multiphase, Gas Phase Pipelines
(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry is committed to driving greater production and transportation from existing infrastructure, and ensuring effective asset integrity and flow assurance is essential to this objective.
Smart Tech Takes Aim at U.S. Methane Emissions
(P&GJ) — It’s hardly surprising that major gas leaks hit international headlines. Known as super-emitter events, these leaks cause plumes of methane to escape into our atmosphere — sometimes for days on end. However, these leaks are often spotted by satellites orbiting our planet before they are even known about on Earth.
Canada Regulator Denies Trans Mountain Variance Due to Pipeline Integrity, Environmental Concerns
The Canada Energy Regulator said on Wednesday it denied a variance request from the Trans Mountain expansion project because the application did not adequately address concerns about pipeline integrity and environmental protection impacts.
- 1,000-Mile Pipeline Exit Plan by Hope Gas Alarms West Virginia Producers
- Valero Plans to Shut California Refinery, Takes $1.1 Billion Hit
- Greenpeace Ordered to Pay $667 Million to Energy Transfer Over Dakota Access Pipeline Protests
- Canada’s Canceled Oil Pipelines: The Projects That Didn’t Make It
- Diversified Energy Closes $42 Million Summit Natural Resources Acquisition
- New Alternatives for Noise Reduction in Gas Pipelines
- Missouri Loses Control Over 1.5 Million-Mile Gas Pipeline Network as Feds Step In
- Enbridge Plans $2 Billion Upgrade for North America’s Largest Crude Pipeline
- South Dakota Governor Signs Bill Banning Eminent Domain for Carbon Pipeline
- Woodside May Delay Final Investment Decision on Louisiana LNG to Q2, CEO Says
