Integrity

Seismologists Detected Blast-Like Waves Near Broken Baltic Sea Pipeline

Nordic and Baltic seismologists said that they had detected blast-like waves on Sunday when a Baltic Sea gas pipeline ruptured but that the data was not strong enough to determine whether explosives were involved.

Finland to Restrict Access to LNG Port After Gas Pipeline Damage

Finland on Friday was tightening access to key parts of the country's Inkoo port, where a vessel to import LNG was installed last year, as part of efforts in the wider region to intensify security at energy installations.

U.S. Supports Finland, Estonia as It Probes Baltic Gas Pipeline Burst

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday the United States would support Finland and Estonia as they probe damage to a gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable under the Baltic Sea.

Nordics, Baltics Tighten Security at Energy Installations After Baltic Sea Pipe Burst

Norway and Lithuania tightened security at onshore energy installations following Sunday's gas pipeline gas leak in the Baltic Sea, while Finland recommended energy operators to be more aware of security.

'Outside Activity' Likely Damaged Gas Pipeline, Telecoms Cable, Finland Says

A subsea gas pipeline and a telecommunications cable connecting Finland and Estonia under the Baltic Sea have been damaged in what may have been a deliberate act, the Finnish government said on Tuesday.

AMPP Launches Industrial Coating Application Training Program

(P&GJ) — This program is a flexible and comprehensive solution for training industrial sprayers and abrasive blasters, designed to attract and train those new to the workforce or provide needed training to experienced individuals seeking to gain industry-recognized credentials.

Energy Transfer Pipeline Rupture Sparks Twin Explosions in Garland County

(P&GJ) — In Garland County, Arkansas, emergency teams swiftly responded to a gas pipeline rupture on Oct. 4. Energy Transfer owns the pipeline, and their crews promptly shut down one end of the line while addressing the situation at the other end.

Keystone Pipeline Back to Normal Operations After Brief Maintenance Shutdown

TC Energy's 600,000 barrel-per-day Keystone oil pipeline returned to normal operations on Wednesday after briefly being shut down for maintenance on Tuesday, two industry sources said.

Israel Suspends Chevron's Tamar Gas Field Amid Hamas Attacks

Israel has suspended production at the Tamar gas field off its southern coast and will seek alternative fuel sources to meet its needs, the energy ministry said on Monday following three days of violence in the region.

Explainer: What Is Stopping the Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Restarting?

A crude oil export pipeline from Iraq to Turkey is ready to resume operations, which have been suspended for the past six months, but flows have yet to restart.

Repairing Finland-Estonia Gas Pipeline May Take Months, Operator Says

Repairing a subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia that was shut on Sunday due to a suspected leak could take months or more if a puncture is confirmed, Finnish gas system operator Gasgrid said.

Gas Pipeline Between Finland and Estonia Shut After Suspected Leak

A subsea gas pipeline connecting Finland and Estonia was shut early on Sunday after an unusual drop in pressure probably caused by a leak, Finnish gas system company Gasgrid and Estonian operator Elering said.

LNG Custody Transfer System Provides Transparency

(P&GJ) — With the skyrocketing cost of fuel, the value of any mistakes made while loading and unloading liquid natural gas (LNG) carriers is increasing. This makes it even more important for plant and instrumentation managers to have access to the most accurate measurement tools.

Non-Contact, Drone-Based Technology for Movement Assessment

(P&GJ) — Based on its R&D experience, Skipper NDT decided in 2019 to address pipeline geolocation and strain assessment using UAS. This effort has provided a 2.2-kg and a 160-cm wide embedded system that can be easily mounted on any UAS.

Residual Stress in Predicted Failure Pressure Calculation—Part 2

(P&GJ) — An objective was to determine residual stress values corresponding to target probabilities, such as the 90th percentile. Every reference reviewed reported maximum stress levels, but only one-third of the references presented other residual stresses as they vary with position in the pipe.

At Least 15 Killed in Explosion at Illegal Nigerian Oil Refinery

At least 37 people, including two pregnant women, were burned to death after a blast at an illegal oil refinery in southern Nigeria, a local security official and community leader said on Tuesday.

Composite Repairs Effective for Various Pipeline Defects

(P&GJ) — Composite repairs are an effective method for repairing various defects in pipes and continue to gain widespread acceptance in critical industries, like midstream oil and gas, because of the multitude of benefits they offer.

US LNG Exports Slump in September as Plant Outages Pare Output

U.S. LNG exports in September decreased slightly compared to August, primarily due to maintenance outages at key gas-processing plants. Cheniere's Corpus Christi facility operated at reduced capacity for four days, while ongoing maintenance at Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point facility in Maryland also impacted LNG exports last month.

Study Finds Growth Within Thermal Flowmeter Market

(P&GJ) — Thermal flowmeters are riding the surge of gas flow measurement in both renewable and traditional natural gas applications, according to a new study from Flow Research, “The World Market for Thermal Flowmeters.”

Collaboration Helps Balance Public, Owner Pipeline Project Interests

(P&GJ) — For linear projects such as pipelines, dealing with the unexpected should be expected. The best preparation for these surprises is to partner with a team structured for close collaboration between the real estate and engineering disciplines as well as everything in between.

Challenges of Converting Pipelines to Hydrogen Service

(P&GJ) — ASME B31.8, ASME B31.4, and CSA Z662 have well-deserved international reputations as best-in-class, evidenced by their frequent reference by documents within other jurisdictions. However, the standards don't contain explicit requirements to address the design, construction and operational challenges presented by transporting gaseous hydrogen at transmission pressures.

PLIDCO Introduces Hydrogen-Compatible Fittings for Pipeline Maintenance and Repairs

(P&GJ) — The Pipe Line Development Company (PLIDCO) has launched a new range of products for use with hydrogen pipelines in response to the emerging transition toward hydrogen and other alternative energy sources.

TC Energy's Coastal GasLink Pipeline Fined for Environmental Non-Compliance

British Columbia has fined Coastal GasLink, the natural gas pipeline being built by TC Energy, $256,810 for non-compliance with environmental regulations, the Canadian province said on Thursday.

Explosion at Gas Pipeline Near Construction Site in Romania Kills Four

An explosion killed four people and injured five more at a gas pipeline on a motorway construction site in the eastern Romanian county of Vrancea early on Thursday, a government emergency response unit said.

US Pipeline Regulator Awards $15 Million Grants to Improve Safety

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on Wednesday awarded $14.8 million in grants for pipeline safety training and technological research.

Berkshire Hathaway Maryland Cove Point LNG Export Plant Shut

The amount of natural gas flowing to U.S. energy firm Berkshire Hathaway Energy's Cove Point LNG export plant in Maryland fell to near zero on Wednesday, a sign that the plant likely shut for work expected to start on Sept. 21.

How Emissions Are Measured: Gas Concentration vs. Emission Rate

(P&GJ) — The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed a rule in May that included significant measures to reduce emissions from pipelines and other midstream infrastructure.

Editor's Notebook: Colorado’s Bold Initiative

(P&GJ) — The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) recently adopted rules aimed at increasing repair inspections and leak detection at oil and gas facilities throughout the state. While these new guidelines do not affect midstream directly, there are implications for the sector due to the growing emphasis on carbon-capture and related pipelines.

Turkish Minister: Iraq-Turkey Oil Pipeline Ready to Resume Operations Soon

Iraq's northern oil export route through Turkey will soon be ready to resume operation after checks on pipeline maintenance and repairs to flood damage, the Turkish energy minister said.

Marathon Galveston Bay, Texas, FCC Expected to Remain Shut Through Late This Week

The fire-damaged, gasoline-producing fluidic catalytic cracker (FCC) at Marathon Petroleum's 593,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Galveston Bay Refinery in Texas City, Texas, is expected to be shut until late this week, said people familiar with plant operations on Friday.