Maintenance

Non-Contact, Drone-Based Technology for Movement Assessment

(P&GJ) — Based on its R&D experience, Skipper NDT decided in 2019 to address pipeline geolocation and strain assessment using UAS. This effort has provided a 2.2-kg and a 160-cm wide embedded system that can be easily mounted on any UAS.

Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation—Part 2

(P&GJ) — An objective was to determine residual stress values corresponding to target probabilities, such as the 90th percentile. Every reference reviewed reported maximum stress levels, but only one-third of the references presented other residual stresses as they vary with position in the pipe.

At Least 15 Killed in Explosion at Illegal Nigerian Oil Refinery

At least 37 people, including two pregnant women, were burned to death after a blast at an illegal oil refinery in southern Nigeria, a local security official and community leader said on Tuesday.

Freeport LNG Asks FERC to Authorize Texas Export Plant Restart

U.S. LNG company Freeport LNG sought permission from federal energy regulators to take more steps to return its export plant in Texas to full commercial operation.

Composite Repairs Effective for Various Pipeline Defects

(P&GJ) — Composite repairs are an effective method for repairing various defects in pipes and continue to gain widespread acceptance in critical industries, like midstream oil and gas, because of the multitude of benefits they offer.

US LNG Exports Slump in September as Plant Outages Pare Output

U.S. LNG exports in September decreased slightly compared to August, primarily due to maintenance outages at key gas-processing plants. Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility operated at reduced capacity for four days, while ongoing maintenance at Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point facility in Maryland also impacted LNG exports last month.

Cheniere Energy's Gas Intake at Texas LNG Plant Down for Fifth Day

Gas flows to Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi, Texas, LNG export plant on Friday were reduced for a fifth consecutive day, according to data provider LSEG.

PLIDCO Introduces Hydrogen-Compatible Fittings for Pipeline Maintenance and Repairs

(P&GJ) — The Pipe Line Development Company (PLIDCO) has launched a new range of products for use with hydrogen pipelines in response to the emerging transition toward hydrogen and other alternative energy sources.

Peru Pipeline Workers Unearth Ancient Children's Cemetery

Peruvian workers unearthed eight bundles of funeral belongings believed to be around 1,000 years old while installing a gas pipeline in capital Lima, archaeologists said on Friday, saying the site likely marked a children's cemetery.

TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Pipeline Fined for Environmental Non-Compliance

British Columbia has fined Coastal GasLink, the natural gas pipeline being built by TC Energy, $256,810 for non-compliance with environmental regulations, the Canadian province said on Thursday.

Explosion at Gas Pipeline Near Construction Site in Romania Kills Four

An explosion killed four people and injured five more at a gas pipeline on a motorway construction site in the eastern Romanian county of Vrancea early on Thursday, a government emergency response unit said.

US Pipeline Regulator Awards $15 Million Grants to Improve Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Wednesday awarded $14.8 million in grants for pipeline safety training and technological research.

Berkshire Hathaway Maryland Cove Point LNG Export Plant Shut

The amount of natural gas flowing to U.S. energy firm Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point LNG export plant in Maryland fell to near zero on Wednesday, a sign that the plant likely shut for work expected to start on Sept. 21.

Editor's Notebook: Colorado’s Bold Initiative

(P&GJ) — The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) recently adopted rules aimed at increasing repair inspections and leak detection at oil and gas facilities throughout the state. While these new guidelines do not affect midstream directly, there are implications for the sector due to the growing emphasis on carbon-capture and related pipelines.

Turkish Minister: Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Ready to Resume Operations Soon

Iraq's northern oil export route through Turkey will soon be ready to resume operation after checks on pipeline maintenance and repairs to flood damage, the Turkish energy minister said.

Marathon Galveston Bay, Texas, FCC Expected to Remain Shut Through Late This Week

The fire-damaged, gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at Marathon Petroleum's 593,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas City, Texas, is expected to be shut until late this week, said people familiar with plant operations on Friday.

Freeport LNG Gas Intake Cut for a Fourth Day to About a Third

Freeport LNG's natural gas intake on Tuesday remained well below capacity for a fourth day, at about 695 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d), or about a third of its normal rate, according to LSEG data.

Ten Workers Killed in Gas Accident in China's Inner Mongolia Region

Ten people were killed, and three others were injured in a gas accident at a workshop in Ordos in China's northern Inner Mongolia region, state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) said on Friday, citing local authorities.

Kinder Morgan Says Idalia Caused Minimal Damage to Florida Terminals

Kinder Morgan on Wednesday said its Port Manatee, Port Sutton and Tampaplex terminals in Florida sustained minimal damage due to Hurricane Idalia, and that it was also planning to shut its Charleston area terminals later in the day.

Kinder Morgan Prepares to Close Florida Pipeline System Ahead of Hurricane Idalia

U.S. oil producer Chevron on Tuesday said it evacuated staff from three U.S. Gulf of Mexico oil production platforms while Kinder Morgan planned to shut its Central Florida Pipeline system, as the energy companies braced for Hurricane Idalia.

Oil Leak Detected in Iran's Pipeline Between Kharg Island and Genaveh Port

An oil leak has hit a transmission pipeline linking Iran's Kharg island to the country's mainland port of Genaveh, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, without specifying the magnitude of the spill.

Fatigue, Burst Tests Among Best Ways Assess Pipeline Welds

(P&GJ) — All over the world, the pipelines of large diameter and relatively thin wall thickness are used to transport hydrocarbons. These pipelines or piping systems are usually comprised of girth welded joints.

Equitrans Provides Root Analysis for 2022 Gas Leak at Pennsylvania Storage Facility

(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream Corp. has submitted information to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regarding the root cause investigation and analysis related to the Rager Mountain Storage facility incident that occurred in November 2022.

Commonwealth LNG Partners with Baker Hughes to Enhance Louisiana LNG Facility

(P&GJ) — Commonwealth LNG has signed a strategic agreement with Baker Hughes related to Commonwealth LNG's liquefied natural gas facility under development in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Tropical Storm Harold Reduces Gas Flows at Cheniere's Corpus Christi LNG Export Plant

The amount of natural gas flowing to U.S. energy company Cheniere Energy's Corpus Christi LNG export plant in Texas was on track to decline on Wednesday, a day after Tropical Storm Harold hit South Texas.

Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation

(P&GJ) — Pipeline safety regulations require performing a calculation of the predicted failure pressure (PFP) of defects as part of an engineering critical assessment. Whether to include residual stress from pipe manufacturing, and selecting the magnitude of residual stress, can significantly affect the outcome of the PFP calculation. Guidance for accounting for residual stress is inconsistent.

Bakken Success Boosts Need for Gas Capture Innovations

(P&GJ) — While one of North Dakota’s top energy officials, Justin Kringstad, readily leads the cheers for his state’s success with industry in curbing the economic and environmentally harmful practice of flaring associated gas at well sites.

API and LEPA Release Comprehensive CO2 Pipeline Safety Guide

(P&GJ) — The guide, developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, helps operators advance a zero-incident safety culture by outlining best practices for CO2 pipeline safety and emergency preparedness.

Nigeria's NNPC Destroys Dozens of Illicit Refineries, Oil Pipeline Connections

Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC has successfully dismantled dozens of illicit refineries and unauthorized pipeline connections as part of ongoing efforts to curb theft in the oil-rich Niger River delta, it said on Tuesday.

Poland Successfully Repairs Leaked Druzhba Oil Pipeline

Polish pipeline operator PERN said on Tuesday that it had restored the Druzhba oil pipeline to full functionality as expected after discovering a leak.