Operations
Monitoring Pipelines to Protect Against Theft, Leaks
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.
Options for Internal Inspection of Difficult-to-Check Pipelines
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.
Strategic Approach to Automated Leak, Rupture Detection
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.
A Different Perspective on Pipeline Repairs
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.
Fire Breaks Out at Tehran Oil Refinery
A huge fire broke out at an oil refinery in the southern part of the Iranian capital Tehran due to a pipeline leak, Iranian state media reported, saying there were so far no reports of casualties.
Colonial Pipeline Says Temporary Network Disruption Resolved
Colonial Pipeline, the largest fuel pipeline in the United States, said it had resolved a temporary network disruption, just weeks after a ransomware attack crippled fuel delivery for several days in the southeast region.
Blast at Shanghai Petrochemical Pipeline Injures Eight
Sinopec's Shanghai Petrochemical said on Saturday an explosion had occurred on a pipeline carrying raw materials for making ethylene, injuring eight employees.
Colonial Pipeline Again Experiencing Network Issues
Colonial Pipeline, the nation's largest fuel pipeline, on Friday said it was experiencing network issues, just weeks after a ransomware attack crippled fuel delivery for several days in the United States.
Physical Threats to Pipeline Critical Infrastructure Growing
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.
Colonial Pipeline CEO Acknowledges ‘Controversial Decision’ to Pay Hackers
Colonial Pipeline's CEO acknowledged to the Wall Street Journal that his company paid a $4.4 million ransom to hackers as executives were unsure how badly its systems were breached or how long it would take to restore the pipeline.
IECA Urges Congress to Give FERC Reliability Oversight on Natural Gas Pipelines
The Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA) on Wednesday sent letters to the Senate and House Committees of jurisdiction on physical and cybersecurity of natural gas pipelines.
Colonial Pipeline Hit by Network Outage Just Days After Hack Shutdown
Colonial Pipeline is having network issues preventing shippers from planning upcoming shipments of fuel, the company said on Tuesday, just after the system reopened after a week-long ransomware attack.
Registration Open for Oil & Gas Pipeline Leak Detection 2021 Virtual Congress
Senior leads of Operations, EHS and Pipeline/Asset Integrity experts will detail how they find and implement the right mix of leak detection and pipeline monitoring technologies during a virtual congress June 28 through 30.
Colonial Pipeline Recovering; Paid Almost $5 Million Ransom
After a six-day outage, the top U.S. fuel pipeline on Thursday moved some of the first millions of gallons of motor fuels after a crippling cyberattack led to fuel shortages across East Coast states.
Analysis: Cyberattack Exposes Lack of Required Defenses on U.S. Pipelines
The shutdown of the biggest U.S. fuel pipeline by a ransomware attack highlights a systemic vulnerability: Pipeline operators have no requirement to implement cyber defenses.
U.S. Energy Secretary: No Need to Hoard Fuel After Pipeline Outage
U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm said on Tuesday there are no gasoline shortages in the wake of the Colonial Pipeline shutdown and that consumers should report any instances of price gouging of motor fuel.
Colonial Pipeline Shuts Down after Cyber Attack
Top U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline has shut its entire network, the source of nearly half of the U.S. East Coast's fuel supply, after a cyber attack that industry sources said was caused by ransomware.
How Drones Assist with Pipeline Inspections
The benefits of drone technology are especially apparent in large-scale infrastructure projects with high regulatory burdens and high consequences if something goes wrong.
Enhancing Safety with Integrated Rupture Disk Assemblies
For decades, rupture disks have served the oil and gas industry as an effective, passive safety mechanism to protect against overpressure or potentially damaging vacuum conditions.
Automated Compliance Management Aids Recordkeeping
Amid growing PHMSA regulation and evolving technology, gas utilities are being called to modernize and improve business processes to meet safety and compliance goals. Going through this process will cause organizations to experience change on many levels.
Colonial Pipeline Increases Estimate of Gasoline Spilled in North Carolina
New data shows the amount of gasoline released in Mecklenburg County’s Oehler Nature Preserve exceeds Colonial Pipeline’s 1.2-million-gallon estimate.
Equinor LNG Plant Broke Rules Ahead of 2020 Fire, Watchdog Says
Equinor must fix a series of rule breaches exposed by a fire at its Melkoeya LNG plant in Norway last year for the plant to reopen, the country's safety watchdog said on Thursday.
Gazprom Helping Determine Lawful Ownership of Russian Gas Pipelines
In the absence of lawful owners, gas networks and pipelines lack proper control and maintenance. More than 70% of such facilities are in the North Caucasus, Volga and Siberian Federal Districts.
LOOP, Phillips 66 Win 2020 Distinguished Pipeline Safety Awards
The American Petroleum Institute announced LOOP LLC and Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC are the winners of the 2020 Distinguished Pipeline Safety Awards, which recognize operators who have distinguished themselves as champions of industry innovation and operational excellence.
Project Canary to Measure Greenhouse Gases from Rio Grande LNG Facility
NextDecade Corporation and Project Canary announced the formation of a joint pilot project for monitoring, reporting, and measurement of the greenhouse gas intensity of LNG to be sold from NextDecade’s Rio Grande LNG export facility in Brownsville, Texas.
Pipeline Company Recognizes April as National Safe Digging Month
Georgia’s Colonial Pipeline is reminding homeowners and contractors that safe digging must remain a priority to protect people and prevent damage to critical utility services.
Failed Fitting Led to 1,200 Barrel Oil Leak from Trans Mountain Pipeline
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada completed its investigation into a June 2020 release of crude oil at the Trans Mountain Sumas pump station in British Columbia, determining a 1-inch pipeline fitting was the source of the leak.
Tank Car Impact Tests Take Aim at Safety Concerns
Tank cars transport roughly 2 million shipments of hazardous materials (hazmat), carrying goods that are essential to North America’s economy, public health and quality of life. Railroad safety is the key to making it all work. Rail is recognized as the safest mode of transportation for moving bulk shipments of hazardous materials.
New Analysis Tool Can Help Solve Gas and Steam Transient Problems in Pipelines
Applied Flow Technology (AFT) says its new AFT xStream analysis software tool can help engineers rigorously evaluate and solve gas and steam transient engineering problems they have only been able to guess at in the past.
Evaluation of Metal Loss Corrosion with RSTRENG
Corrosion metal loss assessment is a method for evaluating the strength of corroded pipelines that includes criteria from ASME/ANSI B31G, which is a guide for the evaluation of the remaining strength of corroded pipe.

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- Sempra Wins Extension to Build Pipelines in Texas, Louisiana
- Williams’ Natural Gas Pipeline Ruptures in Alabama
- MPLX to Move Forward with Permian, Bakken Pipeline Expansion Projects
- Mountain Valley Pipeline Wins Federal Approval for Stream Boring
- Germany, Qatar Discuss Long-Term Gas Deal to Reduce Russian Dependence
- Myanmar Oil Pipeline Could Bring Cheaper Crude To China
- Canadian Company Ships Solid Oil Sands Bitumen to Chinese Refinery
- Ottawa Approves $7.7 Billion Loan Guarantee for Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
- Abandoned Oil Tanker off Yemen Coast at Risk of Exploding