July 2020, Vol. 247, No. 7

The pipeline industry in the U.S. Northeast finally got some positive news on the permitting front, when New Jersey Natural Gas (NJNG) received the go-ahead to move forward with construction work on a controversial 30-mile (48-km) section of the Southern Reliability Link (SRL) pipeline in New Jersey.

Federal authorization for the Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project sets a 10-year deadline to start operating the gas pipeline and liquefaction plant, twice as much time as regulators have generally allowed for other U.S. LNG export terminal developers to build multibillion-dollar facilities.

To complete engine retrofits at older pipeline compressor stations, HES has come to rely on specially designed fuel injector adapters from Swagelok that provide leak-tight connections to eliminate fugitive emission worries.

Power cycles utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide (sCO2) as a working fluid show promise for many power generation applications, including high-efficiency waste heat recovery on pipeline gas turbines.

The shale play revolution stretching across the United States has created a tremendous need for supportive infrastructure and, to date, Kinder Morgan has risen to that need and expanded its natural gas pipeline network to approximately 70,000 miles (113,000 km), with more growth planned to build new – and expand upon existing – assets.

Events over the last several years have proven the inherent risks that can be present in older low-pressure gas distribution systems. As a result, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has investigated the problems and made several recommendations.

Cable crane systems provide the ideal solution when pipelines need to be built in inaccessible terrain. Pipes, construction material and equipment can be transported easily over demanding areas and can be positioned at any point of the track.

In 2016, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published revisions to the Oil and Gas Measurement Regulations (43 CFR 3170s) for conducting oil and gas operations on federal and native American lands.

Even though gas flow can be a difficult measurement to make, flow meter suppliers are continually identifying novel solutions for this task.

The purpose of codes covering higher-pressure natural gas distribution systems is to provide a basis of design for the pipeline and all the components connected to the downstream system, including valves, control valves, regulators, meters, pressure vessels and other components connected to the piping system.

With the advent of smart, electronic metering technology, such as ultrasonic meters and online gas chromatographs, the diagnostics information available at metering facilities has increased exponentially. Likewise, advancements in networking has made collecting the diagnostics data possible.

A new FERC policy on interstate oil and gas pipeline return on equity (ROE) follows a similar policy concerning utility lines but allows for the differences between the two industries.

Two separate bills passed by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will increase authorization levels for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds.

Nicor Gas, the largest natural gas distribution company in Illinois with 2.2 million customers, is one provider that has embraced new opportunities by launching a robust meter modernization program.

In February, several years of hard work paid off for the pioneers of TCP with the release of the first full-carbon, fiber-based material qualification certificate that complies to the DNV GL ST-F119 TCP industry qualification standard.

Pipeline opponents have raised their game, skillfully and aggressively scoring wins against projects on two fronts: in the courts and regulatory proceedings on both the federal and state sides.

David N. Parker, who served 13 years as president and CEO of the American Gas Association (AGA), died May 10.