Integrity
US Pipeline Regulator Awards $15 Million Grants to Improve Safety
The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Wednesday awarded $14.8 million in grants for pipeline safety training and technological research.
Berkshire Hathaway Maryland Cove Point LNG Export Plant Shut
The amount of natural gas flowing to U.S. energy firm Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point LNG export plant in Maryland fell to near zero on Wednesday, a sign that the plant likely shut for work expected to start on Sept. 21.
How Emissions Are Measured: Gas Concentration vs. Emission Rate
(P&GJ) — The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed a rule in May that included significant measures to reduce emissions from pipelines and other midstream infrastructure.
Editor's Notebook: Colorado’s Bold Initiative
(P&GJ) — The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) recently adopted rules aimed at increasing repair inspections and leak detection at oil and gas facilities throughout the state. While these new guidelines do not affect midstream directly, there are implications for the sector due to the growing emphasis on carbon-capture and related pipelines.
Turkish Minister: Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Ready to Resume Operations Soon
Iraq's northern oil export route through Turkey will soon be ready to resume operation after checks on pipeline maintenance and repairs to flood damage, the Turkish energy minister said.
Marathon Galveston Bay, Texas, FCC Expected to Remain Shut Through Late This Week
The fire-damaged, gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at Marathon Petroleum's 593,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas City, Texas, is expected to be shut until late this week, said people familiar with plant operations on Friday.
US Army Corps Holds Off Endorsing Energy Transfer’s Dakota Access Oil Pipeline Alternative
On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a draft environmental impact statement (EIS) for Energy Transfer's Dakota Access oil pipeline. The statement evaluated five alternatives, including options like abandoning or rerouting the pipeline, but it did not make any recommendations.
Non-Intrusive Pig Signallers: Cutting Costs, Emissions, and Environmental Risks
By their nature, non-intrusive pig signallers do not require a nozzle hole for any type of welded fitting, whether it be a 'counter flange' or a direct fitting like a threadolet. They are simply secured to the pipeline. Simultaneously, this approach saves costs on welding, non-destructive testing, and eliminates the risk associated with potential hydrocarbon leak paths.
Kinder Morgan Says Idalia Caused Minimal Damage to Florida Terminals
Kinder Morgan on Wednesday said its Port Manatee, Port Sutton and Tampaplex terminals in Florida sustained minimal damage due to Hurricane Idalia, and that it was also planning to shut its Charleston area terminals later in the day.
Oil Leak Detected in Iran's Pipeline Between Kharg Island and Genaveh Port
An oil leak has hit a transmission pipeline linking Iran's Kharg island to the country's mainland port of Genaveh, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Sunday, without specifying the magnitude of the spill.
Fatigue, Burst Tests Among Best Ways Assess Pipeline Welds
(P&GJ) — All over the world, the pipelines of large diameter and relatively thin wall thickness are used to transport hydrocarbons. These pipelines or piping systems are usually comprised of girth welded joints.
Equitrans Provides Root Analysis for 2022 Gas Leak at Pennsylvania Storage Facility
(P&GJ) — Equitrans Midstream Corp. has submitted information to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) regarding the root cause investigation and analysis related to the Rager Mountain Storage facility incident that occurred in November 2022.
Commonwealth LNG Partners with Baker Hughes to Enhance Louisiana LNG Facility
(P&GJ) — Commonwealth LNG has signed a strategic agreement with Baker Hughes related to Commonwealth LNG's liquefied natural gas facility under development in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
Shell Nigeria Investigates Possible Trans Niger Oil Pipeline Leak
Shell Plc's local unit is investigating a possible leak on its Trans Niger oil pipeline that traverses Bodo community in Nigeria's River state following an Aug. 18 report, a spokesperson said on Monday.
Pipeline Operator Trans Mountain Says British Columbia Fires Pose No Risk to Its Operations
Canadian oil pipeline system operator Trans Mountain said on Sunday that the British Columbia wildfires posed no risk to its pipeline operations or its expansion project.
API and LEPA Release Comprehensive CO2 Pipeline Safety Guide
(P&GJ) — The guide, developed with input from the National Association of State Fire Marshals, helps operators advance a zero-incident safety culture by outlining best practices for CO2 pipeline safety and emergency preparedness.
Nigeria's NNPC Destroys Dozens of Illicit Refineries, Oil Pipeline Connections
Nigeria's state oil firm NNPC has successfully dismantled dozens of illicit refineries and unauthorized pipeline connections as part of ongoing efforts to curb theft in the oil-rich Niger River delta, it said on Tuesday.
Poland Successfully Repairs Leaked Druzhba Oil Pipeline
Polish pipeline operator PERN said on Tuesday that it had restored the Druzhba oil pipeline to full functionality as expected after discovering a leak.
Criteria to Consider in Selecting Water Transfer Flow Meters
(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry contains a complex number of flow applications, featuring a myriad of fluids and gases that challenge even the toughest of flow instrumentation. So, choosing the right flow meter for a water transfer application should be straightforward in comparison … right?
Sudden Decompression: When the Pressure Gets Released
(P&GJ) — While many integrity management techniques attempt to detect flaws in the early stages, the potential always exists for a defect to initiate a running fracture along the length of a pipe. Cracks can be initiated by, for example, excavation damage, corrosion, or ground movements and may not provide any early warning.
Strengthening the Bond with Reliable Structural Adhesives
(P&GJ) — Most industrial maintenance or repair procedures involve welding or the use of mechanical fasteners as these can be perceived as easy and quick. However, while these procedures might initially seem to correct the issue but may cause more harm than good.
ROSEN Conducts Research on Hydrogen Embrittlement
(P&GJ) — The ROSEN Group, together with National Gas (formerly National Grid Gas Transmission), has started researching ways to mitigate the potential for embrittlement of pipeline steel in hydrogen service.
SLB and Eni Form Partnership for New Pipeline Monitoring Technology
(P&GJ) — The alliance covers the deployment of e-vpms technology for pipelines transporting liquid hydrocarbons and produced water and enables the detection of product loss attributable to external events such as attempted product theft or accidental impact, corrosion related leak events, and land movement events caused by earthquakes or landslides.
TC Energy's Columbia Gas Pipeline Explodes Near Virginia's Interstate 81
(P&GJ) — A gas line explosion occurred near Strasburg, Virginia, in rural western Virginia, not far from Interstate 81. The incident took place on Tuesday morning and was promptly responded to by local officials, according to The Associated Press.
Developments in Custody Transfer Metering of Natural Gas
(P&GJ) — Natural gas has become an even more important energy source as the world looks to transition away from coal-fired power plants. Natural gas emits about half of the carbon emissions as coal, so it has many countries looking to adopt it as a larger part of their energy infrastructure.
Managing Lost and Unaccounted for Gas Volumes
(P&GJ) — Lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) gas is a calculated value that compares the amount of gas coming into a system (purchased) to the amount of gas leaving that system (sold or otherwise accounted for). Although LAUF is often equated to leaking pipes and equipment, leaks generally only represent a small portion of the value.
Natural Gas Connection Failure Investigated in Fatal Pennsylvania Factory Explosion
(P&GJ) — Federal safety inspectors confirmed Tuesday that natural gas seeped through a faulty connection at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory where a strong explosion destroyed one building, severely damaged another, and killed seven people
Why Flowmeter Calibration Sometimes Lacks Accuracy
(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry appears to be favoring a move toward using “newer” and more “advanced” flow measurement technologies, such as ultrasonic and Coriolis devices as an alternative to turbine and positive displacement meters.
New Leak Detection Rules for Pipelines Proposed
(P&GJ) — The federal pipeline safety agency has proposed major changes to its leak detection, based not on concerns about safety but rather in order to reduce methane emissions based on their contribution to climate change.
MVP Pipeline Foes Say Congress Can't 'Mandate Victory' for the Project
A provision of the U.S. debt ceiling bill that streamlined the federal approval process for the $6.6 billion Mountain Valley Pipeline and limited court reviews of challenges to the project violates the U.S. Constitution’s separation of powers doctrine, opponents of the pipeline have claimed.
- 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
- Enbridge Receives Approval to Begin Service on Louisiana Venice Gas Pipeline Project
- U.S. to Acquire 3 Million Barrels of Oil for Emergency Reserve in September
- AG&P LNG Acquires 49% Stake in Vietnam's Cai Mep LNG Terminal
- BP's Carbon Emissions Increase in 2023, Ending Decline Since 2019
- Texas Sues EPA Over Methane Emission Rules for Oil and Gas Sector
