Maintenance
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.
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.
GE's Avitas Gains First BLVOS Approval after Shell Oil Study
Avitas Systems, a GE venture, received the first civil approval to fly an unmanned aerial vehicle with radar beyond visual line of site (BVLOS) after a successful study with Shell Oil, marking an important step toward long-range pipeline monitoring with drones.
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.
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.
Stopping Corrosion Under Insulation in Global Oil and Gas Facilities
Corrosion under insulation (CUI) is the root cause of many of the global petrochemical industry’s most serious problems including forced shutdowns, lost production, early repair and replacement, as well as safety and environmental consequences that can cost millions of dollars per incident.
Controlling and Stopping Flow in Polyethylene (PE) Natural Gas Pipelines
While there are several established ways to control and stop flow in PE pipes, new techniques have emerged and are worth considering. Here are some options and the advantages and disadvantages that should help you in evaluating the best method for your PE pipeline.
Enbridge: Petitions Against Approved Line 3 'Expected'
Line 3 pipeline opponents have petitioned Minnesota to reverse its approval of the replacement project, which Enbridge described as an expected step in the process.
Strategy Shaped by Volatility
Among major supply factors, deferred maintenance continues to challenge global production. Maintenance is especially critical in basins with aging asset infrastructure, as recently evidenced by the crack in the North Sea Forties pipeline.
Composite Sleeves Restore Gas Pipeline Integrity in Gujarat
A recent composite repair carried out in Gujarat, India, illustrates how local installers redressed pipeline damage, rapidly restoring line integrity and delivering a safe and durable solution.
Machinery Torsional Issues in Pipeline Stations
The torsional issues and problems reported for pipeline machineries, such as gas compressor trains and pump trains, can sometimes cause operational problems, even damages or failure.
Leak Detection Going to the Dogs
Dogs can perform a multitude of services including protection, therapy, rescue, and tracking to name a few. They can be trained to detect virtually anything, including pipeline leaks.
Dozens of Gas Blasts Rock Boston Suburbs, Killing at Least 1, Injuring 12
Dozens of explosions, apparently triggered by a natural gas pipeline rupture, rocked three communities near Boston on Thursday, killing at least one person, injuring 12 and prompting the evacuation of hundreds, officials said.
Preparing Pipelines for Successful In-Line Inspection
Gauge pigs provide insight into some conditions inside the pipe, but not all of them. They’re not intended to measure pipeline cleanliness or indicate if debris has built up to the point that it will impair the inspections tool’s data-gathering capabilities.
Pipeline Digs Get Assist From PMO
Performing direct assessments to verify a pipeline’s MAOP is not new, but as federal regulations become more stringent, the volume of digs will increase significantly, and operators need to keep up with the pace.
Introduction to Vibration-Based Leak Detection Technology
There are various technologies available in the market for pipeline leak detection and loss monitoring. While leak detection system cannot reduce the probability of a leak, using the appropriate system for a pipeline can significantly reduce the risk of a leak and rupture.
In-Line Inspection of Low-Pressure, Low-Flow Gas Pipelines
Maintaining control of an In-Line Inspection (ILI) tool’s speed is one of the most critical elements in successfully assessing the condition of a pipeline. Success is defined as receiving an intact tool at the conclusion of the inspection and acquiring data of sufficient quality to achieve the vendor’s sizing and accuracy specifications.
Accessible Pipeline Data Becomes Focal Point of Safety
Many of the world’s most vulnerable pipelines are in developed and municipal areas, where it can be difficult to locate miles of gas pipelines in these regions. And where locations exist, the data may not be in an easily retrievable and shareable format.
Enbridge, Baker Hughes Partner on Enhanced Inspection for Pipeline Safety
Enbridge and G.E. company Baker Hughes launched testing of new, ultrasonic phased array pipeline inspection tool sensors designed to enhance accuracy and identification of crack features and to deliver greater detail on the condition of a pipeline.
Memphis Utility Makes Big Inroads in 30-Year Replacement Plan
As the largest three-service municipal utility in the United States, Memphis Light, Gas and Water faces a myriad of repair and maintenance decisions. Among its chief concerns is the safety of its gas distribution system, particularly the 330 miles of cast-iron gas mains it began replacing in 1992 as part of a $100 million program.
- Kinder Morgan Proposes 290-Mile Gas Pipeline Expansion Spanning Three States
- Valero Plans to Shut California Refinery, Takes $1.1 Billion Hit
- Three Killed, Two Injured in Accident at LNG Construction Site in Texas
- Tallgrass to Build New Permian-to-Rockies Pipeline, Targets 2028 Startup with 2.4 Bcf Capacity
- TC Energy Approves $900 Million Northwoods Pipeline Expansion for U.S. Midwest
- New Alternatives for Noise Reduction in Gas Pipelines
- EIG’s MidOcean Energy Acquires 20% Stake in Peru LNG, Including 254-Mile Pipeline
- Construction Begins on Ghana's $12 Billion Petroleum Hub, But Not Without Doubts
- DOE Considers Cutting Over $1.2 Billion in Carbon Capture Project Funding
- Valero Plans to Shut California Refinery, Takes $1.1 Billion Hit
