June 2021, Vol. 248, No. 6

Between the California towns of Paramount and Carson, about 40 miles south of Los Angeles, a pipeline that once shipped crude oil from the former to the latter is another step closer to transporting hydrogen gas instead.

Congress has told the FERC to have a new office of public participation (OPP) up and running starting with the new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2021.

The importance of physical threat awareness toward critical pipeline infrastructure has never been greater. Safeguarding against physical threats are just as important, if not more important, as cyber-threats to protecting our nation’s pipeline systems, terminals and facilities.

In the midst of winter this year, a panel of academics and energy industry experts gathered online with Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy to map out pathways for making and using hydrogen.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, apart from the three critical months of March, April and May 2020, the Colombian oil industry best knew how to face this difficult situation in Latin America. The $400 million Jobo-Transmetano, expected to go into service in December 2024, is the biggest evidence of this.

In February, Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, and Muhammadu Buhari, the president of Nigeria, agreed to fast-track the Nigeria-to-Morocco subsea natural gas pipeline project.

For the past few decades, the industry has been repairing pipelines in the same fashion. Typically, either welded steel sleeves are used on our pipe, Type A or Type B, or composite materials such as E-glass, carbon fiber and Kevlar are used to repair defects.

Remaining vigilant is the best approach when mitigating oil and gas pipeline leaks and ruptures, particularly with new legislation and other requirements that can lead to penalties and fines, not to mention the negative impact on a company’s image.

Pipelines are essentially cylindrical pressure vessels. Any medium transported must not leak out. Each built to a specific design pressure, they must be operated efficiently and effectively to ensure not just safety and environmental protection but also optimum performance.

Oil and gas pipeline operators are under enormous pressure to reduce risk across their networks while simultaneously lowering costs. This can be achieved through effectively monitoring and maintaining the integrity of the pipeline networks to minimize product loss.

South Africa’s plastic pipes market is dominated by polyvinyl pipes, according to a survey by industry lobby Southern African Plastic Pipe Manufacturers Association.

Pipelines are considered one of the safest, most reliable, most efficient and economic means of transporting large quantities of natural gas, crude and refined petroleum products. However, sulfur contaminants in the form of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and mercaptans (RSH) pose significant safety, operational, environmental and compliance problems.

Meeting global targets for climate change mitigation is one of the biggest challenges. Significant emissions are released through the combustion of gas to drive the liquefaction process, while any CO2 detached before entering the plant is frequently emitted into the atmosphere.

During the February freeze event, the wells themselves did not freeze or fail, the ancillary equipment downstream did. This distinction is important, because it can affect the manner in which the natural gas industry seeks to mitigate risks from future freeze events.

Garnegie Mellon University’s snake-like robot can now slither its way underwater, allowing the modular robotics platform to inspect ships, submarines and infrastructure for damage.

For decades now, remote terminal units (RTUs) have been a key component in the data chain from the I/O to the CEO. These devices have a longstanding track record of sitting on remote wellheads, pipelines and offshore platforms, and collecting, storing and acting upon data.

Products and technology from T.D. Williamson, OleumTech, IDEC, RegO, Unifirst and Sensirion are included in this month's What's New.

Author and industry expert Daniel Yergin is being recognized for his exceptional contributions to the oil, gas and energy industry with the highest honor of the World Petroleum Council, the Dewhurst Award, WPC announced.