Safety

Common Challenges with Field-Applied Liquid Epoxy Pipeline Coatings

Coatings are an incredibly important part of maintaining safe pipeline operations and asset integrity, including being a first line of defense against corrosion and corrosion-induced failures.

Protection in Renewal Biogas Systems for Increased Pipeline Reliability

Biogas is a renewable fuel generated through the anaerobic fermentation of organic matter. Biogas is a mixture of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide, accompanied by trace elements dependent on the feedstock and production method.

Leak Shuts Down CDU and Coker at TotalEnergies Texas Refinery, Sources Say

The coker and small crude distillation unit (CDU) were shut by a leak on the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at TotalEnergies' 238,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, people familiar with plant operations said on Monday.

U.S. Coast Guard Investigates Oil Spill Off Huntington Beach, California Coast

The U.S. Coast Guard on Friday were trying to identify the source of an oil spill off the coast of Huntington beach, California, the agency said.

Xcel Energy Says Its Facilities Likely Started Texas Fire, Faces Negligence Allegations

The Minneapolis-based utility, which provides power and natural gas to parts of Texas and seven other U.S. states, disputed "claims that it acted negligently in maintaining and operating its infrastructure."

Denmark Ends Probe Into 'Deliberate' Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts

Denmark has dropped its investigation into the explosions in 2022 on the Nord Stream pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany, police said on Monday, becoming the second nation to do so after Sweden closed its own inquiry.

Iran's Main Gas Pipeline Hit by Sabotage, Oil Minister Says

Two explosions along Iran's main south-north gas pipeline network on Wednesday were caused by sabotage, the Iranian oil minister told state TV, without naming any suspects.

Phillips 66 Shuts Section of Oklahoma Panhandle Pipeline After Fire

Phillips 66 said it has shut a section of a natural gas pipeline it operates in the Oklahoma Panhandle after fire and rupture that occurred on Tuesday morning.

Saudi Aramco's Capacity Cut and Pipeline Incident Trigger 11% Drop in Saipem Shares

Shares in Italian energy contractor Saipem plunged by 11% on Tuesday after damage caused by an incident involving one of its pipe-laying vessels and a decision by Saudi Aramco to drop its oil capacity expansion plans.

Solving Sulfide Stress Cracking in Sour Service

Nearly every oil country tubular goods (OCTG) manufacturer and producer is looking for solutions to sour service. It’s a perpetual issue that’s been hampering the oil and gas industry for as long as pipes have been underground.

QatarEnergy Pauses Red Sea LNG Shipping Amid Attacks, Seeks Security Advice

QatarEnergy, the world's second largest exporter of LNG, has stopped sending tankers via the Red Sea although production continues, a senior source with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Monday.

New Alternatives for Noise Reduction in Gas Pipelines

Natural gas pipeline pressure reduction applications pose significant design challenges for engineers. Since flow varies considerably through these stations, control valves are required to throttle over a wide range, with large pressure drops at times, which create the potential for high noise.

Optimizing Emergency Response Through Alarm Management

With the implementation of the PHMSA Control Room Management (CRM) Rule in 2012, pipeline operators and control room managers have become familiar with the fundamentals of alarm management.

Fuel Theft Crisis Persists in Central Mexico as Nine Bodies Found Near Pipeline

(P&GJ) — Central Mexico authorities have discovered nine men's bodies in vehicles near a fuel pipeline. Although the circumstances surrounding the deaths are still being probed, officials said there are signs suggesting a possible connection to fuel theft.

Texas Explosion Likely Caused by Gas Leak Injures 21

At least 21 people were injured Monday in an apparent gas leak explosion at the Sandman Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas, the city's fire department said.

Two Dead After Fire on Vessel at Port of Houston, Texas

Two crew members are dead and one injured after a fire on a vessel at Port of Houston, Texas, on Monday, according to local media reports.

U.S. DOT Invests Nearly $15 Million to Improve Pipeline Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is awarding $14.8 million in grants to fund projects and activities to improve pipeline safety.

Bunge Halts Operations at Indiana Soy Plant Due to Damaged Gas Pipeline

A soybean processing facility in Decatur, Indiana, operated by global grain handler Bunge stopped operations last week following damage to a natural gas pipeline that feeds the site, the company said in a statement to Reuters on Wednesday.

Crucial Role of Testing Labs in Pipeline Emergency Response

(P&GJ) — Emergency situations, like explosions due to pipeline ruptures, often happen instantly and without warning. Pipeline managers know about the risks that come with the job, but the aftereffects of pipeline ruptures and leaks are often secondary to protecting human life.

At Least 40 Dead in Liberian Gas Tanker Explosion, Says Official

At least 40 people have died following the explosion of a gas tanker in north-central Liberia, the West African country's chief medical officer, Francis Kateh, said on Wednesday.

Freeport LNG Settles with EPA Over Safety Failures Following June 2022 Texas Blast

Freeport LNG, which operates the second-largest U.S. liquefied natural gas export plant in Texas, agreed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to settle safety violations related to a June 2022 blast that caused some $275 million in damage to the facility.

BP's Olympic Pipeline Leaks Over 25,000 Gallons of Gas in Washington State

(P&GJ) — Emergency teams worked to address a gasoline spill in northwest Washington State on Dec. 12 after a pipeline segment failed over the weekend that released approximately 25,660 gallons (97,100 liters) of gasoline due to a small tube malfunction.

LaPorte, Texas, Issues Shelter in Place After Altivia Plant Leaks Toxic Gas

Altivia Chemical was working to contain a toxic gas leak from its LaPorte, Texas, plant on Monday, as the city's emergency management agency ordered some nearby residents and five neighboring facilities to shelter in place out of caution.

US Coast Guard Investigates Source of 1.1 Million Gallons Oil Leak in Gulf of Mexico from Underwater Pipeline

The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday said it was still looking for the source of a leak from an underwater pipeline off the Louisiana coast in the Gulf of Mexico that it estimated had released more than a million gallons of crude oil.

EACOP Unveils 897-Mile Heated Oil Pipeline with Advanced Environmental Safety Technology

Due to pump its first crude oil in 2025, the EACOP integrates a sophisticated fiber-optic network for continuous online connectivity, ensuring real-time monitoring via satellite along its entire length.

Proposed PHMSA Leak Detection Changes Run into Opposition

(P&GJ) — While the CEQ’s proposed NEPA changes would affect how all federal agencies review potential GHG emissions for various industry energy construction projects, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) wants to restrict methane emissions for already-installed pipelines, as well as new ones.

INGAA Responds to Winter Storm Elliott Report, Emphasizes Need for Enhanced Infrastructure

(P&GJ) — The recently released Winter Storm Elliott Report sheds light on the proactive measures taken by members of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) to uphold system integrity during the severe weather event.

Clearwater Paper Suspends Idaho Operations Due to Regional Natural Gas Pipeline Incident

(P&GJ) — Clearwater Paper Corp. temporarily halted some operations at its Lewiston, Idaho, facility on Nov. 9 due to an incident affecting the regional natural gas system, causing disruptions to gas deliveries in the mill and surrounding areas.

Recordkeeping on Colorado Pipeline Safety Deemed Lacking

(P&GJ) — Officials in Colorado consider the state’s regulations of the pipeline industry to be among the strongest in the nation: that Colorado’s regulations of pipelines promote safety within the industry, enhance the environment, and protect the lives and properties of Coloradans.

INGAA Releases Key Safety Initiative Work Products

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and its member companies have released their “Integrity Management – Continuous Improvement (IMCI) 2.0” program work products.