Technology/R&D
Leveraging GIS For Pipeline Integrity In High-Consequence Areas
As oil and gas pipeline companies struggle to do more with less, the industry must rely on technology to squeak out efficiencies. Geographic information systems (GIS) have been a part of pipeline operations for decades. However, when outdated methods and resource-intensive data collection processes are used in an integrity management program, the results can become overly expensive, highly inaccurate or even non-compliant.
Chevrons Secret Weapon in Productivity: An AutoCAD Search Tool
Chevron’s Richmond, CA refinery is huge in terms of both size – 2,900 acres – and people with over 1,700 workers making it the largest of Chevron’s refinery Richmond’s largest employer.
Rolls-Royce To Power Kazakh-China Gas Line
Rolls-Royce has announced a $175 million contract to supply Asia Gas Pipeline LLP (AGP) with equipment and related services to power the flow of natural gas through Kazakhstan’s Line C Gas Pipeline, part of the vast 1,833-km Central Asia-China Gas Pipeline network.
Overcoming Inspection Challenges With EMAT Robotic ILI Tools
Many sections of piping were previously constructed or are operated in ways that do not allow the use of inline inspection (ILI) tools of a traditional design. For more than 10 years, Diakont has focused on the development and deployment of tooling to support the inspection of these pipeline sections that were previously considered “unpiggable.”
Five Key Challenges In The Oil And Gas Industrial Control System
An Industrial Control System (ICS) is comprised of many disparate components, including hardware and software technologies, the system infrastructure--from the communications network to the physical plant--the human element for tasks that require manual intervention, and the environment.
Brand New Strategy For ROSEN
ROSEN, which began as an engineering company for oil and gas industry inspection, is today a worldwide provider of cutting-edge solutions in all areas of the integrity process chain.
Accelerating Benefits Of Shale Plays With Bundled Technology
With energy independence, energy exporting through LNG, billions of dollars in economic benefit, and more than 4 million jobs hinged to the development and deployment of the shale play natural gas reserves, one would think a national plan would materialize to capitalize quickly on the pending benefits.
Energy Reforms Would Open Mexicos Petroleum Industry To Global Investment
In a bid to fulfill a campaign promise, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has proposed a change to the constitution to allow private companies to share in the development, transportation and refining of Mexico’s vast energy resources, which are reserved exclusively to Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX). The changes would revert the constitution to its 1940 position, maintaining national ownership of all hydrocarbons but overturning 1950s-era changes that prevent any private interest participating in the energy industry.
Should I Build Or Buy My Cybersecurity Solution?
Cybersecurity analysts at energy companies are facing Big Malware – often more than 100,000 unknown and potentially malicious files crossing their network thresholds daily. Only a small subset of these poses significant danger, but which ones? An increasing number of companies are coming to the conclusion that an automated malware analysis solution is the answer, but how do you get started?
U.S. Shale Development Points To Far-Reaching Effect Worldwide
Ten years after the shale revolution first took off in the North Texas Barnett Shale formation, large-scale shale development primarily remains a phenomenon unique to the United States.
ESI Selected By OPA To Implement Synthesis
Energy Solutions International (ESI) was selected by the UK’s Oil and Pipelines Agency (OPA) and its operations and maintenance contractor, Costain Group Plc, to implement the Synthesis solution across the 1,243-mile fuel pipeline and terminal network known as the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS).
MSC Unleashes Safety Report On Pipeline Boring Practices
The Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) released “Recommended Practices for Pipeline Boring,” the seventh in a series of content-rich guidance documents developed by the coalition’s various subject-specific committees.
Innovative Monitoring System Measures Tension On Subsea Risers And Pipelines
Through a collaboration between NASA and Astro Technology Inc., a first-of-its-kind fiber-optic monitoring system was recently installed on two oil platforms off the coast of West Africa. The installation marks a milestone in the organizations’ efforts to adapt aerospace technology for use in the oil and gas industry.
Americas Repiping The Flanagan South Story
Aside from the scale, engineering, design, construction and safety challenges, any of which could define a pipeliner’s career, what really motivates Enbridge’s Flanagan South Pipeline executives Jerrid Anderson and Mark Sitek, is the idea they are part of a larger socio-economic movement across North America. They’re helping to allow domestic energy to fuel more of the load, backing out imported oil.
Technology And Natural Gas Go Hand In Hand
In late July, the natural gas industry mourned the passing of George P. Mitchell, who pioneered key technologies applied to natural gas extraction, which today are changing global energy markets. Mitchell – his vision, ingenuity and commitment - is a prime example of the ability for research and subsequent deployment of lessons learned to transform an industry, create economic value and ultimately shape the course of history.
Barrier Seal Breakthrough Improves UK Gas Grid Compressor Reliability
Many countries rely on their natural gas grid almost as much as they do their electrical grid, which makes it socially as well as economically imperative for network operators to strive for the utmost in system reliability.
Using 3D Imaging To Evaluate Damaged Subsea Pipelines
Damage to subsea pipelines can cost operators millions of dollars in downtime, lost production and repairs. Common damage events such as dropped objects, anchor drag and trawler impacts can result in dents, cracks, pitting and gouges of pipeline material. Damage events compromise the integrity of pipelines and can have significant operational and financial consequences.
Commercial Robotic Inspection Solution For Unpiggable Pipelines
A self-propelled inline inspection tool has been commercially used to inspect oil and gas lines. Surveyor, a robotic tool provided by GE’s Industrial Solutions, has been used to inspect more than 35 cased crossings or terminal tank lines. The benefit of using this tool has been its capability to quantify metal loss both internal and external and the relative ease to insert and retrieve the tool into the pipeline, thereby foregoing pipe modifications for traditional smart pigs or time required for hydrotesting.
NASA Teams With Consultancy, Targeting Potential Disasters In Oil And Gas Industry
Citing the harsh conditions, complex systems and potentially catastrophic consequences of missteps within the modern oil and gas industry, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration has entered into a contract with Deloitte LLP to offer consulting services through Deloitte to the oil and gas industry, focusing on safety and risk mitigation efforts for “black swan” events, incidents of “low probability and high consequence.”
Willbros Recruiting Efforts Bring in Top Talent
As baby boomers begin to make their exodus into retirement, many companies have found themselves seeking top talent in a competitive market. But, what kind of engineers are in demand and what are companies doing to win and retain top talent in this environment?
Americas Newfound Power: What U.S. Should Do To Capitalize On Shale, Renewable Energy Revolutions
It was hard not to do a double take when the story broke last November: By 2017, the headlines read, the United States would overtake Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest oil producer. And by 2025, the U.S. could be exporting more oil and gas than it imports.
Cybersecurity For Pipeline, Gas Companies
Securing pipeline and gas companies’ critical infrastructure is an evolving process. Embracing that fact is a key element in the development of a logical program that will ensure safety, security and effectiveness. There are four logical phases in this process with defined actions that can be measured and coordinated.
New Methodologies, Technologies Help Protect Pipelines
Good practice in reducing risks to pipeline integrity, and taking quick and effective action when potential threats develop, have long been part of sound pipeline operation. However, new technology trends, including social media, are amplifying public concern around how pipeline operators manage environmental, social and economic impacts.
ABB Wins $100 Million Order In Algeria
ABB was awarded the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) pumping station at Haoud El Hamra to increase the capacity of LR1 pipeline in Algeria. The $100 million contract was awarded by Sonatrach.
Key Considerations For Managing Unstructured Data
Oil, gas and energy companies generate huge volumes of data through sensitive equipment – volumes that roughly double every two years. Increasing amounts of data and an increased focus on data protection and reliability have resulted in a surge of interest regarding unstructured data management technologies.
Emerson Opens Americas HQ For Valve Automation, Technologies
Emerson Process Management has opened its new $30 million Americas headquarters for valve automation technologies and a new, highly automated and sophisticated manufacturing facility in Houston to expand its services for the oil and gas and petrochemical industries.
Sounding The Cybersecurity Alarm
Cybersecurity. Executives now take it much more seriously than even a couple of years ago, as hackers continue wreaking devastating impact worldwide, with 40% of all attacks directed at oil and gas companies. Being victimized by exponentially more attacks aimed not only at just compromising systems, but also causing severe disruptions, stealing proprietary information and for financial gain, the time to take action was literally “yesterday.”
Automation Software Finds A Home In Pipelines
It isn’t hard to find companies that traditionally would not be involved in pipelines taking an active role in the industry. When an executive who is arms-deep in software technologies finds a special liking for the energy business, and is located about as far away from pipelines as one can be in the United States, he, too, must be a special individual.
Ecosse Subseas Next Generation Pipelay System
Ecosse Subsea System has unveiled what it considers game-changing pipelay technology. The subsea firm says it has developed and patented a rigid pipelay system which can be deployed from smaller, more readily available vessels and which will slash schedules and installation costs for pipe-laying projects.
Japan Claims to Tap Methane Hydrate Deposit
Japan reported last month it had extracted gas from offshore deposits of methane hydrate, a breakthrough experts say might lead to developing a promising energy source.
- Enbridge Plans 86-Mile Pipeline Expansion, Bringing 850 Workers to Northern B.C.
- Intensity, Rainbow Energy to Build 344-Mile Gas Pipeline Across North Dakota
- U.S. Moves to Block Enterprise Products’ Exports to China Over Security Risk
- 208-Mile Mississippi-to-Alabama Gas Pipeline Moves Into FERC Review
- Court Ruling Allows MVP’s $500 Million Southgate Pipeline Extension to Proceed
- U.S. Pipeline Expansion to Add 99 Bcf/d, Mostly for LNG Export, Report Finds
- A Systematic Approach To Ensuring Pipeline Integrity
- 275-Mile Texas-to-Oklahoma Gas Pipeline Enters Open Season
- LNG Canada Start-Up Fails to Lift Gas Prices Amid Supply Glut
- Kinder Morgan Gas Volumes Climb as Power, LNG Demand Boost Pipeline Business
