Maintenance

Plugging the Leak: Tackling Methane Emissions

(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry is heavily regulated by a number of governing bodies, including the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, to ensure pipelines run efficiently and safely. However, no matter how controlled operations are, toxic vapors from fugitive emissions continue to be a problem.

TC Energy Completes Pipe Installations at Troubled Coastal GasLink Project

TC Energy said on Monday it had installed pipes across the entire route of its Coastal GasLink project, keeping the Canadian energy firm on track to complete the work by year-end.

Finland Says Gas Pipeline Likely Broken by Ship Dragging Anchor

Damage to a Baltic Sea gas pipeline earlier this month is believed to have been caused by a ship dragging a large anchor along the seabed, but it was too early to tell if this was an accident or a deliberate act, Finnish police said on Tuesday.

Maintaining a Focus on Physical Security in a Cyber-focused World

(P&GJ) — In today’s technology-driven world, where cyber-threats dominate headlines and organizations invest significant resources in safeguarding their OT and IT infrastructure from digital threat vectors, the importance of facility physical security can sometimes be overlooked. However, it remains an essential component of enterprise risk mitigation.

Shell to Complete Maintenance at Prelude LNG by Mid-November

Shell is expected to complete maintenance at its flagship Prelude LNG facility off Australia by mid-November, two sources close to the project told Reuters on Wednesday.

Brazil's Ocyan to Renovate Petrobras Gas Pipeline for $317.5 Million

Brazilian oil and gas services provider Ocyan has won a contract with state-run oil firm Petrobras to revitalize a network of gas pipelines in the offshore Campos Basin for $317.49 million, Reuters reported on Monday.

Williams' Gas Pipeline in Idaho Ruptures, Company Challenges Explosion Allegations

The rupture occurred when an excavator operator accidentally damaged a 22-inch gas pipeline near Middleton. However, Williams contested the local authorities' account of the incident, asserting no ignition, fire, or explosion was connected to the occurrence.

FERC Grants Venture Global Approval for Steam Generator Modifications at Louisiana LNG Plant

The U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Thursday granted Venture Global LNG permission to proceed with the heat recovery steam generator modifications at the Calcasieu Pass LNG export plant in Louisiana.

Seismologists Detected Blast-Like Waves Near Broken Baltic Sea Pipeline

Nordic and Baltic seismologists said that they had detected blast-like waves on Sunday when a Baltic Sea gas pipeline ruptured but that the data was not strong enough to determine whether explosives were involved.

U.S. Supports Finland, Estonia as It Probes Baltic Gas Pipeline Burst

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday the United States would support Finland and Estonia as they probe damage to a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable under the Baltic Sea.

Nordics, Baltics Tighten Security at Energy Installations After Baltic Sea Pipe Burst

Norway and Lithuania tightened security at onshore energy installations following Sunday's gas pipeline gas leak in the Baltic Sea, while Finland recommended energy operators to be more aware of security.

'Outside Activity' Likely Damaged Gas Pipeline, Telecoms Cable, Finland Says

A subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia under the Baltic Sea have been damaged in what may have been a deliberate act, the Finnish government said on Tuesday.

Energy Transfer Pipeline Rupture Sparks Twin Explosions in Garland County

(P&GJ) — In Garland County, Arkansas, emergency teams swiftly responded to a gas pipeline rupture on Oct. 4. Energy Transfer owns the pipeline, and their crews promptly shut down one end of the line while addressing the situation at the other end.

Keystone Pipeline Back to Normal Operations After Brief Maintenance Shutdown

TC Energy's 600,000 barrel-per-day Keystone oil pipeline returned to normal operations on Wednesday after briefly being shut down for maintenance on Tuesday, two industry sources said.

Explainer: What Is Stopping the Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Restarting?

A crude oil export pipeline from Iraq to Turkey is ready to resume operations, which have been suspended for the past six months, but flows have yet to restart.

Repairing Finland-Estonia Gas Pipeline May Take Months, Operator Says

Repairing a subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia that was shut on Sunday due to a suspected leak could take months or more if a puncture is confirmed, Finnish gas system operator Gasgrid said.

Gas Pipeline Between Finland and Estonia Shut After Suspected Leak

A subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia was shut early on Sunday after an unusual drop in pressure probably caused by a leak, Finnish gas system company Gasgrid and Estonian operator Elering said.

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.