Workforce

Where PHMSA’s Voluntary Information-Sharing Program Stands

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) officials are apparently still interested in developing a voluntary information sharing (VIS) safety reporting program.

PPI Offers Overview on NDT for Plastic Pipe

The Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) published a new document, Inspection of Plastic Pipes, Fittings and Joints Using Non-Destructive Test Methods and Evaluation (TN-60), which provides an overview of non-destructive testing and evaluation techniques that have been introduced into the plastic pipe industry.

A Chat with PPI’s Energy Piping Chief

Randy Knapp, is the director of engineering at the Energy Piping Systems Division of The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc.  In this conversation, he discusses educating the industry about plastic pipes, the need for more skilled labor in the sector and what PPI sees as the its top priorities in the coming year.

PPI Provides Midstream Workforce with Chance to Learn About Plastic Pipes

As employment growth continues across much of the U.S., many companies are finding it increasingly difficult to hire people with the right skill set. The energy sector is no different, and the situation is more severe in the United States because of rapid industry growth.

APGA Chairman Intends to Re-Engage Membership

In an interview with Pipeline & Gas Journal, APGA Chairman Samual Davis Jr. discusses the challenges and goals faced by the organization in during the coming year. He also talks about strategies for effectively explaining the benefits of natural gas to the public and shares his thoughts on electrification.

Alternative to Congested Pipelines at Risk as Canada Rail Strike Looms

Canada's Teamsters notified Canadian National Railway of plans to strike Tuesday after a stalemate in contract negotiations, threatening an important shipping alternative to congested pipelines for Alberta's oil producers.

GMRC Training Committee Expands Learning Opportunities

The Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC), long known as a research think-tank, recently formalized a training committee dedicated to expanding the breadth of its existing training programs to include the midstream sector.

Mountain Valley Developer EQT Cuts Jobs

EQT Corporation has announced that it is streamlining its business to improve operational effectiveness and create a more efficient and nimbler organization.

CNOOC Halts Work at Uganda Project Due to Ebola Outbreak

Oil producer China National Offshore Oil Corp said it has halted field work at its western Uganda project over an Ebola scare and would resume operations only after getting the green light from the health ministry.

TC Energy Funding ‘Pipeline Academy’ at Louisiana Technical College

A Louisiana technical college has received a $1 million donation from TC Energy to enable students to gain hands-on pipeline experience at its new “pipeline academy.”

The Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa Awards over $200,000 in Scholarships

The Pipe Liners Club of Tulsa recently held their annual scholarship distribution meeting at the Tulsa Country Club.

State of Learning in the Gas Industry

Today, the association serves nearly 100 gas and electric utilities and provides training and eLearning courses for the electric industry. MEA’s goal is to empower the energy industry through education, leadership, development and industry connections. P&GJ visited with some top executives to discuss industry challenges and the training benefits provided by MEA.

First Pipeline Safety Bill Introduced

Two Massachusetts senators, one of them a Democratic presidential candidate, have introduced the first pipeline safety bill as Congress works to put together legislation reauthorizing the Pipeline Safety Act, which expires on Sept. 30.

5 Workers Hurt in Houston-Area Natural Gas Line Explosion

Five workers have been injured when a natural gas line exploded in a residential neighborhood southeast of Houston. The blast occurred as a CenterPoint Energy contractor was working along a line Thursday.

Blast Injures 14 on Saipem-Operated Ship in Caspian Sea

An explosion occurred Wednesday evening on the vessel “Israfil Huseynov” operated by Saipem for pipelaying in the Caspian Sea in the framework of the Shah Deniz II project.

Congress Begins to Consider Changes to Pipeline Safety Law

Stephen Barlas, Contributing Editor, Washington, D.C. Congress had its first hearings in April in both the House and Senate on reauthorization of the Pipeline Safety Act, which loses its current authority Sept. 30, 2019.  There will perhaps be some new safety requirements passed given that both De..

Letter from PRCI President Cliff Johnson: Investing in Research to Improve Pipeline Safety

Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) exists as a way for its members, who are pipeline operators, service providers and other industry stakeholders, to collectively and collaboratively, conduct research, develop, and evaluate new and emerging technologies that have the potential to improve..

Controller Alertness over the Shift

By Michele Terranova and Alicia Gibson, Pipeline Performance Group, LLC How alert are your controllers at work?  Are they wide-awake, exhibiting signs of liveliness and enthusiasm at all hours of the day and night? Being alert and vigilant on the job is essential to the controller’s job. Controller..

New AGA Chair Stresses Raising the Bar on Safety

Togerson When James Torgerson was studying accounting at Cleveland State University in Ohio, he was working full-time to pay his way, driving a tractor-trailer rig hauling steel. It was tough, but it led to a position with the Diamond Shamrock C..

CostTrax

CostTrax CostTrax, powered by EquipmentWatch, is a new software solution for construction project owners that streamlines reporting, automatically flags questionable expenses and ensures reimbursement request is 100% compliant. CostTrax is entirely web-based and requires no software download. It ca..

Pure Safety Group

Pure Safety Group Pure Safety Group (PSG) unveiled its Guardian Fall Protection S1 safety harness, which is the first in a series of innovative new harnesses designed with three levels of features for various work scenarios. All harnesses meet OSHA standards, while exceedi..

PHMSA and Advisory Group Finalizing New Safety Program

A Voluntary Information Sharing (VIS) advisory group, working with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), voted to recommend a new, industry-wide safety reporting program in which employees, in a “no-fear” environment, would report pipeline operational and infrastructure risks and hazards. Reports would be “de-identified” and centralized. The goal is that potential problems would be found and corrected before they worsened, possibly becoming emergency situations.

PPI President Discusses Growth, Challenges of Plastic Pipe Industry

PG&J talks to Tony Radoszewski of the Plastics Pipe Institute about opportunities and challenges of supplying plastic pipe to the boom-and-bust oil and gas industry.

Human-Centric Approach to Improving Pipeline NDE Reliability

Non-destructive evaluation is essential to assure long-term integrity of existing pipelines, and human performance is a key element of the NDE process. This article summarizes an effort to identify human performance factors that influence NDE measurements and reliability.

Creating a Labor Force in Your Own Back Yard

After struggling to find qualified new hires, Consumers Energy worked in partnership with third-party union training provider Power for America to offered the Utility Military Assistance Program – a three-week unpaid training program for military veterans and active reservist/guard members.

NACE President Looks to Bolster Corrosion Education

NACE International’s president for 2018, Jeffrey Didas, discusses corrosion education and other issues of importance to the organization in its 75th anniversary year.

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.

SGA Chair Caron Lawhorn on a Mission to Raise Industry’s Voice

Southern Gas Association Chair Caron Lawhorn is on a mission to give the natural gas industry a bigger voice in the national conversation on energy efficiency and sustainability.

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.

Report: US, Canada Need $800 Billion in Midstream Infrastructure Investment Through 2035

The United States and Canada will require annual average natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids midstream infrastructure investment of about $44 billion per year, or a total of $791 billion over the 18-year period from 2018 through 2035, a new study finds.