Monitoring

Value of Routing Studies for New Natural Gas Pipelines

(P&GJ) — When natural gas pipeline owners announce their preferred route for a new pipeline, permitting bodies and other stakeholders inevitably ask, “Why here?” By conducting a methodical routing study that produces data-driven and experience-tested route alternatives, owners obtain supporting data and documentation they can use to formulate a response and help obtain buy-in.

US Pipeline Regulator Probing 60-Barrel Leak on Colonial's Line 3

Top U.S. pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline on Wednesday shut its Line 3 for unscheduled maintenance in response to a "product release" at its Witt delivery station near Danville, Virginia. PHMSA is monitoring the estimated 60-barrel leak on the company's Line 3 pipeline in Virginia, a source told Reuters on Thursday.

Identifying Pipeline Exposure via River Scour Monitoring Technology

(P&GJ) — Erosion and scouring, among other sources, can lead to pipeline exposure when pipelines cross bodies of water. Even if these pipelines were adequately covered at one time, they are at risk for partial or full exposure due to water actions.

Predictive Corrosion Modeling – Rise of the Machines

(P&GJ) — Pipelines play an important role in the international transportation of natural gas, petroleum products and other energy resources. To ensure pipeline operational safely, instrumented inspections and assessments are completed on a recurring frequency.

Methane Emissions Problem Requires Better Monitoring

(P&GJ) — In 2021, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured methane in the atmosphere at 1,900 parts per billion. That was a record high and almost three times the level of methane present in the preindustrial age.

Cybersecurity Update: Aligning Industry Standard’s Best Practices

(P&GJ) — Cybersecurity, both interpersonally and geopolitically, has been protested over the past few years, sparked by stories of basement hackers breaking into government agency websites, nation-states warring on the dark web and hacktivists acting in the name of civil disobedience for political and social change.

Volatus Aerospace Acquires Over 300,000 Miles of Pipeline Right-of-Way Surveillance

(P&GJ) — Volatus Aerospace has acquired Synergy Aviation Ltd., which patrols and inspects more than 500,000 km of pipeline, stretching from the British Columbia coast to the Manitoba/U.S. border.

API Summarizes Enhanced Pipeline Leak Detection Standards

(P&GJ) — Leak prevention, mitigation and detection are critical to ensure pipelines operate safely and reliably to protect the public, workers, the environment and pipeline assets.

Sweden Sends Diving Vessel to Investigate Nord Stream Pipelines After Leak

Sweden sent a diving vessel on Monday to the site of Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea that ruptured last week following blasts in the area, to probe an incident that has added new tension to Europe's energy crisis.

Mobiltex Data Finalist for P&GJ Award for Maintenance Technology

Mobiltex Data’s CorTalk RMU1-LITE remote monitoring unit is a low cost, high reliability device intended to remotely monitor AC/DC potentials (both on and instant-off) on a CP protected structure.

Being Certain of Flow Measurement Meter Uncertainty

For many years, the oil and gas industry has widely believed that the production test separator gives the most accurate flow rate measurements. However, realistically, it’s unlikely to be used because of the sheer size of a separator, which creates mobility issues such as the need to lift it with cranes and a requirement for ruggedized equipment for shocks and vibrations.

Looking for ways to improve system uptime, enhance plant safety and reduce maintenance costs?

Several key factors can impact system performance, including: design and maintenance best practices, unintuitive operation, and undiagnosed operational issues can all impact system performance.

Oceaneering Freedom AUV System Achieves TRL 6 for Pipeline Inspection

Oceaneering said on Monday its Freedom AUV, following an extensive testing and qualification program, has achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 on a 1-9 scale, as assessed by an expert industry group with representation from TotalEnergies, Chevron, and Equinor.

Kellas Midstream Installs Real-Time Methane Monitoring Sensors at Teesside Gas Terminal

Kellas Midstream, the BlackRock and GIC backed company responsible for transporting 40% of the U.K.’s domestic gas production, has deployed continuous emissions monitoring at its Teesside Central Area Transmission System terminal in partnership with Project Canary.

DNV, Exxon Team Up to Develop Corrosion Detection Technology for Pipelines

DNV has joined Exxon Mobil in a joint industry project to develop the next generation of microbiologically influenced corrosion detection, monitoring and mitigation technology, the companies said on Thursday.

Economic and ESG Cost of Lost and Unaccounted for Gas Errors

The industry-accepted lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) natural gas storage, processing and transportation averages 0.40% of throughput. LAUF is driven by myriad factors, including pneumatic device integrity and venting, but it is dominated by persistent measurement errors.

Nigeria Takes $1 Billion Hit in Q1 Revenue Due to Crude Oil Theft

Nigeria lost $1 billion in revenue during the first quarter of this year due to crude oil theft, the petroleum regulator said on Friday, warning the practice was a threat to the economy of Africa's top producer.

RTUs Working in the Field for Oil and Gas Pipelines

The second line of the China-Russia crude oil pipeline began commercial operation in January 2018 and doubled China’s annual imports of Russian crude oil from 15 million to 30 million tons.

How to Choose a Regulator in Five Steps

Pressure regulators play a crucial role in many industrial fluid and instrumentation systems, helping to maintain or control desired pressure and flow in response to system changes.

Virginia Natural Gas to Deploy Drones to Inspect 5,500 Miles of Gas Pipeline

Virginia Natural Gas said it will use drones to perform equipment inspections across its natural gas infrastructure. The drones will begin flights across Hampton Roads conducting inspections of critical infrastructure, right-of-way assessments, and 5,500 miles of gas pipeline.

Using Motion Cameras to Evaluate Flow-Induced Vibration

Piping vibration issues is an area of concern for the oil and gas industry, because it may cause severe plant production interruptions, impact plant integrity, compromise workers safety and/or impact the environment.

Cheniere Launches Program to Monitor GHG Emissions on Natural Gas Systems

Cheniere Energy Inc. has entered a collaboration with natural gas midstream companies to implement quantification and monitoring of GHG emissions on natural gas gathering, processing, and storage systems.

Using Remote Monitoring for Evaluation in a Flash

Can lightning cause corrosion? It’s a question people don’t often consider. However, when it comes to pipelines, it’s a legitimate concern.

Extending Our Capabilities to Integrity and Beyond

In-line inspection (ILI) has long been the go-to method to prove the integrity of pipelines but what happens after the inspection report has been delivered?

Pipeline Solutions to Withstand Harsh Temperatures

Since beginning commercial operation in January 2018, the second line of the China-Russia crude oil pipeline has doubled the yearly annual imports of crude oil from Russia to China from 15 million to 30 million tons.

Texas Railroad Commission Implements Operator-led Plan to Reduce West Texas Earthquakes

In the Western Permian Basin, the Railroad Commission began implementation last week of a first of its kind operator-led response plan that addresses injection-induced seismicity to help keep residents and the environment safe.

EPIC Midstream Pioneers with Industry Leading ESG Standards for Pipeline Monitoring

EPIC’s cutting edge environmental and safety protections are possible through using fiber optics to monitor over 1,600 miles of its crude and NGL pipelines.

Study Finds Flowmeters Rebound Within Oil and Gas Industry

A new research study from Flow Research, Flowmeters in the Oil and Gas Industry, finds that worldwide revenues for all flowmeters sold to the oil and gas industry in 2019 totaled $1.64 billion.

Inspecting Deepwater Risers, Flowlines on a West Africa Flowline Loop

Effective integrity management of subsea pipelines has been especially challenging due to the difficulty of pipeline access, safety and other considerations.

University of Houston’s Falcon In-Pipeline Leak Solution

A breakthrough in leak risk detection at oil pipe flanges comes from research by the University of Houston using a Saab Seaeye Falcon robot as a development platform.