Safety
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.
A Look at Government’s Role in Pipeline Safety, Maintenance
As existing U.S. pipeline infrastructure ages and new projects face increased public scrutiny, it’s important that measures are in place to ensure safe operations. Here's an overview of the role government plays in making pipelines the safest way to annually transport 16.2 billion barrels of liquid products and over 25 Tcf of natural gas.
Drones: Flights of Fancy or Future of the Energy Industry?
As wildfires again ravaged much of California and other western states, energy industry responders could hardly imagine how their counterparts dealt with similar disasters just a few years ago without drones.
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.
Insuring Against Liabilities Can Be Tricky
Despite the great overall success of the American energy industry, problems do exist and happen on a near-daily level. While rail accidents occur with more regularity, pipeline spills can actually have more devastating effects.
Fluor Federal Petroleum Streamlines Emergency Response Technology
Fluor Federal Petroleum, the operations and maintenance contractor providing services to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) project, needed to find a way to streamline communications and save time when communicating with their employees, particularly in the event of a workplace emergency.
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.
Pipe Pressure Before Explosions was 12 Times too High
The pressure in natural gas pipelines prior to a series of explosions and fires in Massachusetts last week was 12 times higher than it should have been, according to a letter from the state's U.S. senators to executives of the utility in charge of the pipelines.
Official: Pressure Sensors Focus of Gas Explosions Investigation
The investigation into the Boston-area natural gas explosions is partially focused on pressure sensors that were connected to a gas line that was being taken out of service shortly before the blasts, the head of the National Transportation Safety Board said.
California Jury Finds Plains All American Guilty in Oil Spill Trial
A California state jury found Plains All American Pipeline guilty of criminally fouling state waters or harming wildlife in a 2015 oil spill along the Pacific Coast.
More Skin in the Game: New Technology to Find, Fix Leaks
Technology has not only helped re-energize the natural gas sector of the global energy economy, but also led to safety advancements, such as methane-detection systems continuously monitor and alert operators to a significant leak.
Making Simple Smart and Smart Simple: Cost-Effective, Low-Risk Pipeline Inspection
Three brief case studies highlight the challenge, solution and outcome where innovative pigging solutions have been successfully deployed to meet major offshore operator’s requirements.
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.
Embedding Operating Procedures in Pipeline SCADA
The pipeline SCADA operator has one of the most critical jobs in the industry and should be given all the help available to keep pipelines safe and operational. To this end, more than 25 years ago, a major oil company determined that SCADA-embedded operating procedures and safety features were needed.
Worker Dies from Injuries in West Texas Pipeline Blaze
One worker died after a fire and series of pipeline explosions two days ago in Midland County, Texas, officials said on Friday. The name and age of the worker who died was not provided.
SoCalGas: Aliso Canyon Leak Costs Exceed $1 Billion
SoCalGas raised the estimated cost for the massive leak at its 2015-2016 Aliso Canyon natural gas storage facility in Los Angeles to $1.014 billion, warning the "estimate may rise significantly" due to pending lawsuits, possible fines and other costs.
Texas Investigators Probe Pipeline Blaze that Injured 7
Authorities on Thursday were investigating what caused a fire and series of natural gas pipeline explosions in Midland County, Texas, that sent seven people to hospital and shut down five lines before being extinguished.
Larson Electronics
Larson Electronics released an explosion-proof hydrocarbon gas sensor with a Class I, Division 1 and 2 (Groups B, C, D) rating for combustible environments. The device is used to test and monitor levels of toxic gas in the air.
Honeywell
Honeywell's hands-free, wearable, connected plant technology features a head-mounted visual display that responds to voice and brings live data, documents, work procedures and health and safety information into view.
Platform Simulates Pipeline Network
Elsyca V-PIMS is a graphical simulation platform for the integrity management of pipeline networks with respect to external corrosion. The platform simulates and visualizes the CP health status of the entire network based on known design information.
Chinese Pipeline Selects Rotork ELB for Increased Line Break Safety
The Rotork Electronic Line Break (ELB) is a self-contained system that continuously monitors pipeline pressure dynamics to provide early detection of pipeline breaks and initiate automatic valve actuator movement to a pre-selected emergency position.
Closer Look at Flammability, Inerting of Complex Hydrocarbon Mixtures
In the lifetime of oil and gas pipelines there are numerous events that could pose the potential of an explosion hazard. In case of air purging, flammable mixtures are created in pipelines in an uncontrolled manner. This article covers basic flammability and inerting principles and applications of mobile nitrogen unit technology has been proven safer than air purging while maintaining high operational flexibility.
‘Cradle-to-Grave’ Documentation Enhances Safety in Pipeline Projects
It’s common practice to identify and log materials when they are delivered by the manufacturer and upon installation in the ground. Two California utilities have developed an approach in which the documentation travels with the materials at all times.
Improving Your Company’s Safety Culture
Pipeline companies have a responsibility to protect the general public and the environment by managing critical infrastructure assets safely. How safe a pipeline is has to do with its equipment, control systems and procedures, as well as with the culture the company operating the pipeline and its employees exude.
TransCanada Working on Leach Xpress Pipe after W. Va. Incident
TransCanada Corp’s Columbia Gas Transmission (TCO) unit said it was working on a section of the Leach Xpress natural gas pipeline downstream of an incident in West Virginia last week.
Judge Dismisses Complaint Against Pipeline Security Company
A judge on Wednesday dismissed a complaint that North Dakota regulators filed against a North Carolina-based company that handled security for the developer of the heavily protested Dakota Access oil pipeline.
Gas Utility Customers Show Greater Satisfaction Levels
Pipeline & Gas Journal staff report In a year that saw growing efforts to improve safety through direct customer outreach and residential safety inspections, the latest J.D. Power Gas Utility Business Customers Study found gas utility customers increasingly satisfied. This represents the sixth yea..
Automating Surge Analysis Studies Saves Time, Money
For pipeline operators, automating surge analysis studies is smart business.
Communication and Control Rooms: Mandated Training For Controllers
In an effort to improve communication, PHMSA has made it mandatory to have team training for controllers and individuals that interact with the control room.
Control Room Team Training – Creating a Culture of Pipeline Safety
Pipeline Performance Group's new educational course helps pipeline companies follow PHMSA's recently amended Control Room Management regulations.
- Phillips 66 to Shut LA Oil Refinery, Ending Major Gasoline Output Amid Supply Concerns
- FERC Sides with Williams in Texas-Louisiana Pipeline Dispute with Energy Transfer
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- ConocoPhillips Eyes Sale of $1 Billion Permian Assets Amid Marathon Acquisition
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
- U.S. Appeals Court Blocks Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Pipeline Permits
- Malaysia’s Oil Exports to China Surge Amid Broader Import Decline
- U.S. LNG Export Growth Faces Uncertainty as Trump’s Tariff Proposal Looms, Analysts Say
- Marathon Oil to Lay Off Over 500 Texas Workers Ahead of ConocoPhillips Merger
- Valero Considers All Options, Including Sale, for California Refineries Amid Regulatory Pressure
