Operations
Natural Gas Pipeline Explodes in Fort Bend County, Texas
A pipeline rupture led to an explosion on Thursday morning in rural Fort Bend County, Texas, with emergency crews extinguishing the fire shortly after the burst, according to Fox News.
Kazakhstan Seeks New Oil Export Routes After Russia Suspends Caspian Pipeline
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday told his government to diversify its oil supply routes, a day after a Russian court ordered the Caspian Pipeline Consortium to suspend activity for 30 days.
Russia Seizes Control of Sakhalin-1 Oil and Gas Project
A senior Russian lawmaker said on Thursday that Moscow would take control of the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project in which Exxon Mobil, Japan's SODECO and India's ONGC Videsh are partners, a week after taking over the neighboring Sakhalin-2.
Italy’s Snam Buys Floating Regasification Unit for $400 Million
Italy's Snam has signed a $400-million deal with BW LNG to buy a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU), the gas grid operator said on Wednesday, as Rome rushes to find alternative supplies to Russian gas.
Russian Court Orders Caspian Oil Pipeline to Suspend Operations
Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), which takes oil from Kazakhstan to the Black Sea via one of the world's largest pipelines, has been told by a Russian court to suspend activity for 30 days, although exports were still flowing.
Petroperu Requests Emergency Declaration After Pipeline Attack
State-owned Petroperu asked the government to declare a state of emergency for a major crude oil pipeline last week, after it suffered a series of cuts in an Amazonian region of the country that it described as "an unprecedented attack."
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.
PHMSA Blocks Restart of Freeport LNG Plant Citing Unsafe Conditions
U.S. pipeline safety regulator PHMSA on Thursday said it found unsafe conditions at a Texas liquefied natural gas export facility and will not allow owner Freeport LNG to restart the plant until an outside analysis is complete.
Texas RRC Approves Rule to Ready Natural Gas Industry for Weather Emergencies
The Texas Railroad Commission (RRC), which oversees the state's oil and natural gas industries, approved a proposed weatherization rule to help protect Texans during emergencies that could occur any time of the year.
Emerging Trends, Approaches in Engineering Assessments Pipeline Safety
The increased application of robust engineering assessments/fitness-for-service evaluations is expected to play out in several key ways.
Texas RRC Commissioners Assess Unusually Heavy Amount of Enforcement Fines
The Railroad Commission of Texas assessed $1,008,396 in fines with pipeline operators and excavators ticketed $476,200 for violations of the Commission’s Pipeline Damage Prevention rules, the Commission said on Wednesday.
Freeport LNG Plant Suffers Explosion, Nearby Residents Evacuated, Police Say
A explosion and fire on Wednesday hit the massive Freeport LNG liquefied natural gas plant on the Texas Gulf Coast, prompting an evacuation of nearby residents in Quintana, Texas.
US Envoy Expected to Visit Beirut Next Week Over Israel Gas Dispute
A U.S. mediator will visit Beirut next week to discuss a dispute over a maritime border with Israel, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri said on Tuesday, according to a parliament source and local media.
Norway LNG Plant Resumes Output, Boosting Gas Exports
Norway's Hammerfest liquefied natural gas plant has restarted production following a fire almost two years ago, boosting the country's gas exports, operator Equinor said on Thursday.
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.
Securing Pipeline Endpoints Against Rising Global Threats
As Ukrainians fight to hold the line against heavy shelling and missile strikes, Russia is being admonished by Ukraine’s international supporters. Moscow promises to cause as much disruption as possible to its detractors with a full-on cyber retaliation.
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.
Federal Pipeline Agencies Accepting Applications for Pipeline Safety Program
PHMSA has begun accepting applications for its new Natural Gas Distribution Infrastructure Safety and Modernization Grant program, which will offer nearly $200 million in grants annually over the next five years to improve the safety of high-risk, leak-prone natural gas distribution infrastructure.
Norway's Hammerfest LNG Plant Extends Outage until May 27
Norway's Hammerfest LNG plant is now expected to restart on May 27, four days later than the previous plan and further delaying operations since a fire in 2020, Norwegian gas system manager Gassco said.
The Cultural Divide Between IT & OT Puts Critical Operations at Risk
Cultural and technical differences between traditional IT best practices and what is possible in OT increases an organization’s risk for costly cyber incidents.
An Executive’s Guide to Industrial Cybersecurity
What you need to know to keep your operational technology secure.
5 Critical Controls for World-Class OT Cybersecurity
How to align your leadership and implement a successful operational technology (OT) security posture.
Enhancing Pipeline Security: Cybersecurity Alone Is Not Enough
Like any industrial operation, pipeline operators strive to provide safety and reliability in the delivery of their products. However, impacts from a variety of factors – from natural and environmental processes to vandalism and terrorism – threaten to disrupt the safety and reliability of pipeline systems.
Deadly Explosion Rocks Hotel in Cuba, Gas Leak Suspected
A deadly explosion hit a well-known hotel in downtown Havana on Friday, tearing a gash several floors high into the side of the building, killing at least eight people and sending another 30 to hospital, witnesses and Cuban state media said.
BP, Colonial and Phillips 66 Win 2021 API Distinguished Pipeline Safety Awards
The American Petroleum Institute (API) announced the winners of the 2021 API Distinguished Pipeline Safety Awards including a small, medium and large pipeline operator that were recognized for their commitment to safety and work to advance a zero incidents culture.
API, AOPL Report Shows Strengthened Pipeline Safety Performance
The Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) today released their annual 2021 Pipeline Safety Excellence Performance Report, which found that the safety of liquids pipelines increased across several key indicators.
27-Day ILI Run: A Case Study of a Low-Pressure, Low-Flow Gathering Line
In 2011, a customer, who was in a difficult situation, approached Pipesurvey International (PSI). The customer had a pipeline that ran from the Q1 Field in the North Sea 52 miles (81 km) off the coast of The Netherlands, to an offshore terminal that needed an in-line inspection (ILI).
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.
Engineer’s Role in Hazardous Area Classification
Hazardous area classification is not a new technique to address the risk associated with flammable gas, vapor, liquids and dust. It involves evaluating a location or process for hazards of fire or the probability of incident.
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.
- Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown
- Freeport LNG Plant Runs Near Zero Consumption for Fifth Day
- Biden Administration Buys Oil for Emergency Reserve Above Target Price
- Mexico Seizes Air Liquide's Hydrogen Plant at Pemex Refinery
- Enbridge to Invest $500 Million in Pipeline Assets, Including Expansion of 850-Mile Gray Oak Pipeline
