December 2025, Vol. 252, No. 12

New ultrasonic imaging nondestructive testing methods are improving how operators evaluate polyethylene joint coating bonding, offering higher accuracy and efficiency without damaging pipeline coatings.

Part 2 presents new analysis of how burial design variables—especially bedding angle, depth of cover and compaction—shape slow crack growth risk and long-term reliability in HDPE pipelines.

A new onsite proving approach allows operators to validate high-capacity custody flowmeters across their full operating range while reducing prover size, cost and operational complexity.

Satellite and aircraft methane monitoring are reshaping pipeline LDAR programs, helping operators detect leaks faster, prioritize repairs and integrate emissions data into long-term integrity and maintenance strategies.

Drone use across the oil and gas supply chain is growing, but midstream adoption still hinges on costs, methane-sensing payloads and FAA rules around beyond-visual-line-of-sight flight—especially for long, remote pipeline corridors.

As traditional gas pipelines lose access to EU funding, new financing programs from Brussels and the European Investment Bank are backing hydrogen, CO₂ and repurposed pipeline networks across Europe.

Advances in coating technologies and emerging techniques such as sputtering are reshaping how operators approach pipeline corrosion prevention, offering new options to extend asset life and improve integrity management.

Artificial intelligence and digital transformation are changing how energy construction projects are planned, built and managed. This article examines the real-world barriers, risks and opportunities shaping AI adoption—from pipeline construction to project delivery.