April 2022, Vol. 249, No. 4

Archive

Editor's Notebook

Trans Mountain by the Numbers

With Canada’s announcement that the government will no longer fund the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, many who criticized the country’s purchase of the project in the first place are now wondering if it should be completed at all, regardless of who pays for it.

Projects

Projects April 2022

Nord Stream 2 Owner Considers Insolvency After Pipeline Halt, Sanctions, Energy Transfer Eyes Permian Gas Pipeline, Starts Gulf Run, Gas Pipeline in Ukraine Damaged by Fighting, Local Governor Says and more.

Government

New FERC Pipeline Policies Proving Worrisome

The potential impact of Europe’s new need for U.S. LNG is now reverberating inside and outside FERC as that body attempts to implement its two new policy statements setting out new roadblocks to the approval of pipelines and LNG terminals.

Features

With Leases a Key, Can the Bullishness Return?

At the November 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Scotland, President Joe Biden urged all the world’s largest nations to step up to the climate change challenges in this decade with “action and solidarity.”

BP’s Argos Platform Pushing Digital Boundaries in GOM

When it arrived at its offshore home on the Mad Dog Field in Green Canyon Block 780 at the end of 2021, BP’s Argos floating production unit (FPU) became one of the most digitally advanced platforms in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico.

INGAA’s New Foundation Chair Brings Much Experience to the Position

When it comes to experience in pipeline construction, INGAA Foundation’s new chair, Marty Jorgensen, has it in spades – about 40 years’ worth.

Engineering Renewable Natural Gas Solutions

Environmental regulations across the globe are mandating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and methane is a particularly high-profile target due to its high global-warming potential (GWP).

European Markets Looking to Canada, but More Pipe Needed First

When Justin Trudeau became Canada’s prime minister in 2015, the Syrian civil war had reached its violent peak and refugees were streaming across the Atlantic.

Short-Term Energy Outlook Heavily Influenced by Russia’s Invasion

EIA’s March Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) addresses heightened levels of uncertainty resulting from a variety of factors, including Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine.

ICGB Nears Completion on Greece-Bulgaria Pipeline

The construction of the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector is progressing actively, and the linear part of the pipeline is close to completion, joint venture company ICGB AD said recently.

CPCM – An ILI Methodology to Assess the Effectiveness of CP

The role of cathodic protection (CP) is to mitigate damaging corrosion from the surface of the structure being protected.

Rule Adds Protocols for Pipelines Near Sensitive Waterways

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to the Federal Register in December that designated the Great Lakes, coastal beaches and marine coastal waters as “Unusually Sensitive Areas.”

Using Motion Cameras to Evaluate Flow-Induced Vibration

Piping vibration issues is an area of concern for the oil and gas industry, because it may cause severe plant production interruptions, impact plant integrity, compromise workers safety and/or impact the environment.

MVP Preparing to Weld Final 20 Miles, Targeting Summer 2022 In-Service Date

The total project work for Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is nearly 94% complete and on track for a summer startup after state agencies approved construction permits in December.

Engineer’s Role in Hazardous Area Classification

Hazardous area classification is not a new technique to address the risk associated with flammable gas, vapor, liquids and dust. It involves evaluating a location or process for hazards of fire or the probability of incident.

A Case Study: Distortion, Buckling of 52-Inch Gas Pipeline Related to High Temperature

Pigging as a means of cleaning in-service hydrocarbon pipelines is a critical activity that requires stringent precautions to be followed by the pipeline operator.

Salt Water Disposal Facility Takes PPI Honor for Piping Systems Division

To process the extremely hot and corrosive saltwater from oil and gas drilling operations, the Gondor Saltwater Disposal (SWD) facility, in McKenzie County, North Dakota, used a network of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe that required almost 700 couplings even though the system had fewer than 1,800 feet of pipe.

Application of Pipeline Cleaning Robot in Liquefied Natural Gas Pipelines

Pipelines used to provide gas for the production of LNG use many butt-jointed valves. Similarly, when welding the valves, debris for grinding and welding spatter slag and dust will remain inside the pipes.

Tech Notes

Advanced Cameras Measure Infrared Absorption from Methane

With ESG (environmental, social, governance) being today’s hot three-letter acronym, the industry is clearly focused on re-establishing itself as a clean-capable energy provider.

What's New

What's New April 2022

News from Vermeer, NDT Global, Sensirion, Fine Tubes, NevadaNano and Ralston.

Business

People in the News April 2022

People Avangrid Pedro Azagra Blázquez to succeed Dennis Arriola as chief executive officer, effective May 28, one of numerous recent changes at the Orange, Connecticut-based company that include the announced departures of its CEO and chief financial officer.   An announcement said Arriola, who wa..

Associations in the News April 2022

Associations  The American Petroleum Institute (API) said it has announced a new certification program for pipeline facility inspection to meet the natural gas and oil industry’s growing demand for inspectors, improve safety and help reduce emissions.   “The natural gas and oil industry has invest..