Inspection

Using Integrated Approach Toward Geohazard Threat Management

In a recent advisory bulletin (ADB-2022-01, Potential for Damage to Pipeline Facilities Caused by Earth Movement and Other Geological Hazards), PHMSA highlighted the importance of proactive integrity management, to reduce the potential for damage to pipeline facilities caused by earth movement or other geological hazards, collectively referred to as “geohazards.”

Coating Versatility Can Assist with Better Flow Efficiency

Corrosion control is an important factor when it comes to maintaining the integrity and safety of pipelines. Given the growing need for energy transportation it's crucial to shield pipelines from corrosion in order to ensure their longevity and prevent any leaks or failures.

Protection in Renewal Biogas Systems for Increased Pipeline Reliability

Biogas is a renewable fuel generated through the anaerobic fermentation of organic matter. Biogas is a mixture of gases, mainly methane and carbon dioxide, accompanied by trace elements dependent on the feedstock and production method.

Freeport LNG Expects Trains 1 and 2 at Texas Facility to Remain Offline Until May

Freeport LNG said on Wednesday that trains 1 and 2 at its LNG facility in Texas are anticipated to be down until May, while train 3 is now back online.

SONATRACH and Huawei Launch Smart Fiber Sensing Solution for Oil, Gas Pipelines

This innovative solution integrates advanced fiber optic sensing technology to enhance pipeline security, intelligence, and operational efficiency.

Nord Stream Sues Insurers in London Over 2022 Pipeline Explosions

Nord Stream is seeking more than $436 million from its insurers over explosions in 2022 which ruptured pipelines designed to transport Russian gas to Germany, court filings show.

Leak Shuts Down CDU and Coker at TotalEnergies Texas Refinery, Sources Say

The coker and small crude distillation unit (CDU) were shut by a leak on the gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at TotalEnergies' 238,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery, people familiar with plant operations said on Monday.

Keystone Oil Pipeline Resumes Operations After Temporary Shutdown

TC Energy's Keystone oil pipeline resumed service on Thursday after going offline and temporarily restricting a major conduit of Canadian oil to the United States, which sent oil prices higher.

Denmark Ends Probe Into 'Deliberate' Nord Stream Pipeline Blasts

Denmark has dropped its investigation into the explosions in 2022 on the Nord Stream pipelines carrying Russian gas to Germany, police said on Monday, becoming the second nation to do so after Sweden closed its own inquiry.

Scotland's Finnart Pipeline Repairs Projected to Continue Through April

Repair work on the Finnart pipeline that supplies Scotland's only refinery will take longer than expected to complete, five industry sources told Reuters, in the latest in a series of setbacks this year.

TotalEnergies Texas Refinery Operating at Minimal Rates Amid Upsets

TotalEnergies' 238,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Port Arthur, Texas, is operating at minimal production as it contends with multiple upsets, sources said on Wednesday.

Gasgrid Confirms On-Track Progress for Balticconnector Pipeline Repair, Targeting April Completion

Finland's Gasgrid on Thursday said preparations for the repair of the Balticconnector gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia were on schedule and estimated that commissioning could take place in April.

Pemex Platform in Mexico Leaked Clouds of Methane Even After UN Alert, Data Shows

State energy company Pemex released large volumes of methane from an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico last year, with leaks recurring even after a United Nations agency flagged problems there to the Mexican government, according to a Reuters analysis of previously unreported U.N. data.

Case Study: Identification, Sizing Accuracy for UTCD In-Line Inspection

One of the most pressing concerns for operators of liquid buried pipelines is the management of stress corrosion cracking (SCC). Detecting and sizing SCC in liquid pipelines is usually accomplished through ultrasonic crack detection (UTCD) in-line inspection tools.

Canada Regulator Clears Latest Trans Mountain Pipeline Delay of Environmental or Safety Concerns

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) said on Wednesday that it has not noted any environmental or safety concerns with the latest construction challenges to plague the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Remote Alarm Notification Helps Fuel Increased Gas Production

Accurate, real-time data is essential to succeeding in the oil and gas industry. Engineers need operational data from the field to calibrate equipment, schedule maintenance activities and coordinate with third-party logistics, to keep the flow of product moving.

Marathon Petroleum Beats Profit Estimates, Plans Maintenance Slowdown in Q1 2024

Marathon Petroleum beat quarterly profit estimates on Tuesday, supported by strong refined product margins and high refinery utilization rates, but expects to cut back plant activity sharply at the start of this year for maintenance.

Freeport LNG Faces Month-Long Unit Outage Due to Winter Storm

Freeport LNG expects one of the three gas liquefaction units at its Texas plant to be out of service for a month after it faced a technical issue during Winter Storm Heather, the company said on Friday.

Getting a Grip on Fugitive Emissions

Better tracking is needed to tackle fugitive emissions, but this is only one part of the puzzle. Fortunately, new packing sets are beginning to address a long-overlooked problem for heavy industry.

Shell Pipeline Leak Sparks Investigation by Nigeria's Oil Spills Agency

A pipeline owned by Shell's subsidiary in Nigeria has spilled crude oil in the Niger Delta following a leak, the country's spills agency and an environmental group said on Saturday.

Solving Sulfide Stress Cracking in Sour Service

Nearly every oil country tubular goods (OCTG) manufacturer and producer is looking for solutions to sour service. It’s a perpetual issue that’s been hampering the oil and gas industry for as long as pipes have been underground.

New Alternatives for Noise Reduction in Gas Pipelines

Natural gas pipeline pressure reduction applications pose significant design challenges for engineers. Since flow varies considerably through these stations, control valves are required to throttle over a wide range, with large pressure drops at times, which create the potential for high noise.

Optimizing Emergency Response Through Alarm Management

With the implementation of the PHMSA Control Room Management (CRM) Rule in 2012, pipeline operators and control room managers have become familiar with the fundamentals of alarm management.

Motiva Enterprises Initiates 45-Day Overhaul, Temporarily Shuts CDU, Coker at Largest U.S. Refinery

Motiva Enterprises is scheduled to shut the large crude distillation unit (CDU) and large coker at its 626,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Port Arthur, Texas, refinery by Monday, people familiar with the company’s plans said on Friday.

U.S. Approves $189 Million Loan for Real-Time Methane Monitoring in Key Oil-Producing Basins

Houston-based Long Path Technologies will use the loan to deploy its Emissions Overwatch System across 24,000 square miles (62,160 square km) in several states. The technology uses lasers - placed on 50-foot (15-meter) towers - to monitor areas for methane leaks.

U.S. DOT Invests Nearly $15 Million to Improve Pipeline Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) is awarding $14.8 million in grants to fund projects and activities to improve pipeline safety.

Crucial Role of Testing Labs in Pipeline Emergency Response

(P&GJ) — Emergency situations, like explosions due to pipeline ruptures, often happen instantly and without warning. Pipeline managers know about the risks that come with the job, but the aftereffects of pipeline ruptures and leaks are often secondary to protecting human life.

Oxygen Corrosion Control for Multiphase, Gas Phase Pipelines

(P&GJ) — The oil and gas industry is committed to driving greater production and transportation from existing infrastructure, and ensuring effective asset integrity and flow assurance is essential to this objective.

Smart Tech Takes Aim at U.S. Methane Emissions

(P&GJ) — It’s hardly surprising that major gas leaks hit international headlines. Known as super-emitter events, these leaks cause plumes of methane to escape into our atmosphere — sometimes for days on end. However, these leaks are often spotted by satellites orbiting our planet before they are even known about on Earth.

Canada Regulator Denies Trans Mountain Variance Due to Pipeline Integrity, Environmental Concerns

The Canada Energy Regulator said on Wednesday it denied a variance request from the Trans Mountain expansion project because the application did not adequately address concerns about pipeline integrity and environmental protection impacts.