Maintenance

Slam-Shut Technology for Ultra-Low-Pressure Protection

Natural gas is an abundant fuel used for both industrial and residential energy and is one of the few energy sources delivered directly into our homes. Because it’s also a flammable, potentially explosive fluid, natural gas utilities and distribution companies are required to prioritize safety and devote focus to their protection systems to prevent over-pressurization accidents, even for systems operating at extremely low-pressure levels (< 1 psi).

Cleaning Polish System After Russian Dirty Oil to Take at Least Six Months

Cleaning the Polish pipeline and storage system after it was contaminated with tainted oil from Russia in April will take at least six months, Poland’s minister responsible for energy infrastructure said on Wednesday.

Enbridge Reports Gap Opens Beneath Great Lakes Oil Pipeline

Erosion has created a gap in a key Great Lakes channel beneath Enbridge’s Line 5 oil pipeline that's wider than allowed under an agreement with the state of Michigan, the company said Wednesday.

Flow Meter Provides Dual Measurements in Single Body

The Transus Instruments UIM-4F Duo natural gas custody transfer ultrasonic flow meter consists of two independent fiscal flow measurements in a single flow meter body, enabling enhanced condition-based diagnostics in a space saving, compact package.

Emerson

Emerson released the Micro Motion 4200 2-wire loop-powered Coriolis transmitter, a new design that makes it possible to replace existing two-wire flow devices with minimal effort and without incurring additional power or cabling costs. The device can accommodate the largest line size (4-inch) of any..

Sercel-GRC

Sercel-GRC (GRC) recently sold the 1000th Spy Pro gauge for downhole ESP systems. Rated for 5,000 and 10,000 psi at 150 degrees C (302 degrees F), the device can record up to 11 parameters, used to monitor the ESP production system. This includes intake and discharge pressures, intake and motor temp..

Looking to Lessen Fluctuating Flow Problems in Measurement

Good measurement practices suggest flow measurements should occur without instabilities or pulsations in the flow. Even minor inaccuracies in the measurement of high value products can lead to significant financial exposure over extended periods of time.

Using Computational Fluid Dynamics When Equipment Fails

The importance of accurate measurement cannot be under-estimated. In 2012, the oil price was above $100 per barrel, but only a year later, as oil prices began to decline, the average price of a barrel of crude oil was $91, dropping to $42 by 2015.

Ohio Refineries Fear Michigan Line 5 Pipeline Shutdown

Operators of refineries in Ohio are worried that a potential shutdown of a Great Lakes oil pipeline in Michigan could push up their costs or even force them to close.

Energy Drone & Robotics Summit '19: AI can help build the energy operations of tomorrow

Pipeline & Gas Journal was on hand for the two day Energy Drone & Robotics Summit at the Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel in The Woodlands, Texas. The summit brings together over 1,000 energy and engineering experts in the drones, robotics and AI industries.

HiP

High Pressure Equipment Company (HiP), a subsidiary of Graco, added 3/8- and 9/16-inch O.D. valves and fittings to its ultra-high pressure family, designed to ensure safe and easy plumbing for pressures up to 100,000 psi. The new sizes of valves are available in four body styles – two-way straight, ..

Trimble

Trimble offers a new wearable hard hat-compatible device that enables workers to access holographic information on the worksite – the Trimble XR10 with HoloLens 2. In addition, an expanded set of Trimble software and services will be available to provide field-oriented workflows that leverage constr..

Mehrer

Mehrer Compression GmbH introduced a high-pressure compressor, the TRx 400. The air-cooled piston compressor offers a solution for applications that require high final pressures of up to 200 bar, combined with high suction pressures of up to 35 bar. The TRx 400 is suited for the compression of H2, N..

Michigan Governor Halts Great Lakes Oil Pipeline Tunnel

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered state departments and agencies to take no further action on legislation enacted in late 2018 authorizing construction of an oil pipeline tunnel beneath lakes Huron and Michigan. Whitmer made the move after Attorney General Dana Nessel issued an opinion st..

TANAP’s Seismic Fault Crossing Posed Challenges For Welding

The Trans Anatolia Natural Gas Pipeline transports Azeri gas from the Shah Deniz field through Turkey and Europe. Construction of the technically challenging project was complicated by the North Anatolian Fault.

Sunoco Settles Mariner East 1 Case with Pennsylvania PUC

Energy Transfer's Sunoco Pipeline subsidiary has reached a $200,000 settlement agreement with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) over an 840-gallon ethane and propane leak from Mariner East 1 pipeline in 2017.

VNG Busy Modernizing Pipeline Infrastructure

As with many other natural gas providers, Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) faces the twin challenge of replacing aging pipeline in congested areas, where rights-of-way are also frequently overflowing with multiple other utilities’ infrastructure.

Michigan Panel Approval of Line 5 Deal Ruled Legal by Judge

A Michigan panel's approval of an oil pipeline tunnel beneath the Great Lakes will remain intact even though a state law set unconstitutionally long terms for authority members, a judge ruled.

Unwanted Night Moves

Whenever the subject of internal corrosion in pipelines comes up, it rekindles some unpleasant memories from my extensive time as a pipeline company spokesperson. Being part of an emergency response team for over 12 years was rewarding in many ways, but there was always an uneasy feeling when the phone would ring in the middle of the night.

Damage Tolerance Testing of Small-Diameter Pipelines

Internal and external corrosion, as well as third-party damage such as dents and gouges, are the main causes of pipeline failures worldwide. When such damage is detected by direct inspection, or in-line inspection methods, a decision to replace, repair, or accept and monitor must be made.

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.

Subsea Bayesian Networks – Integrity and Risk Assessments

If high levels of safety and environmental protection in the subsea oil and gas sector are to be maintained, then understanding the risks involved is more important than ever. But it has never been more difficult necessary to optimize IMR activities than it is now.

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..

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.

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.

Pipeline Repairs Halt Iran gas Exports to Iraq

Gas exports from Iran to Iraq were halted late on Tuesday for several days, as Iranian authorities work to repair damages caused to the pipeline during a recent earthquake.

Keeping Up with the Times: Mechanical Grooved Couplings Still Deliver

It is not often that looking backward provides insight into the future, but examining the evolution of the world’s first mechanical coupling can give us an indication of what lies ahead.

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.