Monitoring

Learning to Manage Risk of Over-Pressurizing Gas Pipelines

(P&GJ) — According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), in 2020, the world consumed 3.7 Tcf of natural gas. In other words, nearly 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas was transported daily from production sites to homes, businesses, and power plants worldwide through pipelines spread across millions of miles. Most of these pipelines operate underground, 24/7, quietly delivering a vital service to people across continents.

ABB India Automates 81-Mile India-Bangladesh Cross-Border Oil Pipeline

(P&GJ) — ABB India has delivered integrated automation and control solutions to enable the safe operation of the 130-km (81-mile) Indo-Bangla Friendship Pipeline (IBFPL), which will carry diesel from India to Bangladesh.

What's New March 2023

Red Lion, Esco Tool, Ralston, Trimble and more.

US Pipeline Regulator Grants Over $25 Million in Funding to Improve Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on Monday announced more than $25 million in funding to improve safety nationwide after recent train derailments. The funding will provide support to state inspectors for hazardous materials shipments and pipelines inspections.

US Intelligence Suggests Pro-Ukrainian Group Sabotaged Nord Stream Pipelines -NYT

New intelligence reviewed by U.S. officials suggests that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack on the Nord Stream pipelines last year, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Pemex Deer Park, Texas Fire Broke Out in Crude Distillation Area

A Thursday night fire at Pemex’s 312,500 barrel-per-day Deer Park, Texas, refinery broke out in a crude distillation unit, said people familiar with plant operations. The sources did not know which of two Deer Park CDUs were hit by fire.

New Approach to Digital Pipeline Integrity Management

(P&GJ) — Pigging is an operation that is regularly required by pipeline operators for both cleaning and data collection (intelligent pigging). Managing pigging schedules and risks is a significant challenge to operators/pigging vendors without an intimate knowledge of the pipeline.

Nanoparticles Transform Pipeline Cleaning, Integrity Management

(P&GJ) — Oil, gas, and multi-phase pipelines can be fouled with several types of deposits or internally restrictive debris. The actual type of fouling is dependent upon several factors including: the production fluid characteristics such as hydrocarbon product, water, and gas composition; the presence and composition of common oilfield contaminants, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, mercury, arsenic, zinc, lead, iron, and manganese and operating conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, pH, flow regimes, etc.).

Focus on Integrity: Three Strategies for More Secure Pipeline Operations

(P&GJ) — The safe movement of liquids and gases across the pipeline infrastructure of the United States is critical. Whether pipelines are delivering fuels for transportation or home energy, feedstocks used to manufacture a wide variety of plastics and specialty chemicals, or any of the myriad other products that keep nations running, pipeline companies must ensure that operation continues without incident 24/7.

Nord Stream Blast Inquiries Ongoing, Say Denmark, Sweden, Germany at UN

Investigations by Denmark, Germany and Sweden into explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines have not yet concluded, the three countries told the U.N. Security Council in a letter on Tuesday ahead of a meeting called by Russia on the September incident.

Recognizing Value of Data as Pipeline Integrity Assets

(P&GJ) — Increased investment in infrastructure as a result of higher oil and gas prices, as well as growing activity in planning for future energy provision, means that many operators and utilities around the world are seeking ways to help them improve operational efficiency and access to safe and sustainable energy for the communities that they serve.

Value of Routing Studies for New Natural Gas Pipelines

(P&GJ) — When natural gas pipeline owners announce their preferred route for a new pipeline, permitting bodies and other stakeholders inevitably ask, “Why here?” By conducting a methodical routing study that produces data-driven and experience-tested route alternatives, owners obtain supporting data and documentation they can use to formulate a response and help obtain buy-in.

US Pipeline Regulator Probing 60-Barrel Leak on Colonial's Line 3

Top U.S. pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline on Wednesday shut its Line 3 for unscheduled maintenance in response to a "product release" at its Witt delivery station near Danville, Virginia. PHMSA is monitoring the estimated 60-barrel leak on the company's Line 3 pipeline in Virginia, a source told Reuters on Thursday.

Identifying Pipeline Exposure via River Scour Monitoring Technology

(P&GJ) — Erosion and scouring, among other sources, can lead to pipeline exposure when pipelines cross bodies of water. Even if these pipelines were adequately covered at one time, they are at risk for partial or full exposure due to water actions.

Predictive Corrosion Modeling – Rise of the Machines

(P&GJ) — Pipelines play an important role in the international transportation of natural gas, petroleum products and other energy resources. To ensure pipeline operational safely, instrumented inspections and assessments are completed on a recurring frequency.

Methane Emissions Problem Requires Better Monitoring

(P&GJ) — In 2021, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration measured methane in the atmosphere at 1,900 parts per billion. That was a record high and almost three times the level of methane present in the preindustrial age.

Cybersecurity Update: Aligning Industry Standard’s Best Practices

(P&GJ) — Cybersecurity, both interpersonally and geopolitically, has been protested over the past few years, sparked by stories of basement hackers breaking into government agency websites, nation-states warring on the dark web and hacktivists acting in the name of civil disobedience for political and social change.

Volatus Aerospace Acquires Over 300,000 Miles of Pipeline Right-of-Way Surveillance

(P&GJ) — Volatus Aerospace has acquired Synergy Aviation Ltd., which patrols and inspects more than 500,000 km of pipeline, stretching from the British Columbia coast to the Manitoba/U.S. border.

API Summarizes Enhanced Pipeline Leak Detection Standards

(P&GJ) — Leak prevention, mitigation and detection are critical to ensure pipelines operate safely and reliably to protect the public, workers, the environment and pipeline assets.

Sweden Sends Diving Vessel to Investigate Nord Stream Pipelines After Leak

Sweden sent a diving vessel on Monday to the site of Russian gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea that ruptured last week following blasts in the area, to probe an incident that has added new tension to Europe's energy crisis.

Mobiltex Data Finalist for P&GJ Award for Maintenance Technology

Mobiltex Data’s CorTalk RMU1-LITE remote monitoring unit is a low cost, high reliability device intended to remotely monitor AC/DC potentials (both on and instant-off) on a CP protected structure.

Being Certain of Flow Measurement Meter Uncertainty

For many years, the oil and gas industry has widely believed that the production test separator gives the most accurate flow rate measurements. However, realistically, it’s unlikely to be used because of the sheer size of a separator, which creates mobility issues such as the need to lift it with cranes and a requirement for ruggedized equipment for shocks and vibrations.

Looking for ways to improve system uptime, enhance plant safety and reduce maintenance costs?

Several key factors can impact system performance, including: design and maintenance best practices, unintuitive operation, and undiagnosed operational issues can all impact system performance.

Oceaneering Freedom AUV System Achieves TRL 6 for Pipeline Inspection

Oceaneering said on Monday its Freedom AUV, following an extensive testing and qualification program, has achieved Technology Readiness Level 6 on a 1-9 scale, as assessed by an expert industry group with representation from TotalEnergies, Chevron, and Equinor.

Kellas Midstream Installs Real-Time Methane Monitoring Sensors at Teesside Gas Terminal

Kellas Midstream, the BlackRock and GIC backed company responsible for transporting 40% of the U.K.’s domestic gas production, has deployed continuous emissions monitoring at its Teesside Central Area Transmission System terminal in partnership with Project Canary.

DNV, Exxon Team Up to Develop Corrosion Detection Technology for Pipelines

DNV has joined Exxon Mobil in a joint industry project to develop the next generation of microbiologically influenced corrosion detection, monitoring and mitigation technology, the companies said on Thursday.

Economic and ESG Cost of Lost and Unaccounted for Gas Errors

The industry-accepted lost and unaccounted for (LAUF) natural gas storage, processing and transportation averages 0.40% of throughput. LAUF is driven by myriad factors, including pneumatic device integrity and venting, but it is dominated by persistent measurement errors.

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.

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.

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.