Perspectives
Human-Centric Approach to Improving Pipeline NDE Reliability
Non-destructive evaluation is essential to assure long-term integrity of existing pipelines, and human performance is a key element of the NDE process. This article summarizes an effort to identify human performance factors that influence NDE measurements and reliability.
APGA Chairman to Focus on Safety and Consumer Education
P&GJ talks about industry priorities and challenges with Owen Reeves, 2018-2019 chairman of the American Public Gas Association (APGA), which represents more than 70% of all publicly owned natural gas utilities in the United States.
Energy Transfer, Sunoco Pipelines Rack Up Violations: Analysis
Energy Transfer LP and its Sunoco pipeline subsidiary have racked up more than 800 state and federal permit violations while racing to build two of the nation's largest natural gas pipelines, according to a Reuters analysis.
Finland Eyes Imports of Piped Norwegian Gas via Poland, Baltics
Finland could receive gas from Norway via a network of pipelines being planned through the Baltic countries and Poland, as part of an effort to reduce its dependency on gas imports from Russia.
Trio of Regions Drive U.S. Natural Gas Production Growth
Gross production of natural gas in the United States has generally been increasing for more than a decade and in recent months it has been more than 10% higher, driven by production in the Appalachian Basin, Permian Basin and Haynesville Shale.
The Well Hasn’t Run Dry for Midstream Opportunities
A recent ICF report for the INGAA Foundation projects nearly $800 billion will be invested in new oil and gas infrastructure between 2018 and 2035 Opportunities lie ahead for midstream developers, investors and energy consumers, and the true victors will be those who develop strategies now.
Permian Basin — Where Midstream Infrastructure Needs Take on Outsized Importance
An updated examination of the Permian midstream reveals extraordinary growth projections for the one-of-a-kind petroleum basin with robust buildout continuing for years to come,
Gas Remains Key to UK Energy
Gas is a key element of the U.K.’s energy mix, but the closure of Centrica’s Rough long-term storage facility last year reduced U.K. gas storage to only 14 days of capacity, compared with 87 in France, 69 in Germany and 59 in Italy.
GITA's Limbruner sees Bright Future for Sector
Mark Limbruner, the current president of the Geospacial Information & Technology Association (GITA), shares his perspective after three decades in the geospatial industry.
A Look at Government’s Role in Pipeline Safety, Maintenance
As existing U.S. pipeline infrastructure ages and new projects face increased public scrutiny, it’s important that measures are in place to ensure safe operations. Here's an overview of the role government plays in making pipelines the safest way to annually transport 16.2 billion barrels of liquid products and over 25 Tcf of natural gas.
U.S. Manufacturer Praises new Tariffs on Fittings, Flanges
A Trump Administration decision to add tariffs on Chinese-made pipe fittings and flanges has drawn strong support from a major U.S. manufacturer and supplier to the pipeline industry.
Strategy Shaped by Volatility
Among major supply factors, deferred maintenance continues to challenge global production. Maintenance is especially critical in basins with aging asset infrastructure, as recently evidenced by the crack in the North Sea Forties pipeline.
Insuring Against Liabilities Can Be Tricky
Despite the great overall success of the American energy industry, problems do exist and happen on a near-daily level. While rail accidents occur with more regularity, pipeline spills can actually have more devastating effects.
A New Mexican Administration: Taking Action
As the new administration offers additional insight into its policies, it appears that Mexico will continue to offer a business-friendly environment when Andrés Manuel López Obrador takes office as its new president on Dec. 1.
Mexico Likely To Keep Making the World’s Biggest Oil Hedge
First signals from President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s staff and advisors are that the new administration will not seek to backtrack on energy reforms that allow foreign firms to win E&P contracts in Mexico.
Italian Energy Hub Seen as Key to EU Goals
European energy policy is largely determined by Brussels and implemented by individual member states, but integral to improving European energy security are joint plans to turn Italy into Southern Europe’s energy hub.
How the Historic Energy Reform Transformed Mexico’s Oil Fortunes
Five years ago, few would have predicted that Mexico would be capable of overhauling its oil and gas sector, much less through a downturn. Yet since the constitutional reform of 2013, Mexico has dramatically revivified its upstream sector.
2018 Midyear International Update: Pipeline Construction & Market Trends
Global energy trends and forecasts entering the second half of 2018 continue to support a generally bullish outlook for oil and gas production and infrastructure construction to meet growing demand and evolving patterns of interregional trade.
A Conversation with Kinder Morgan's Tom Martin
An interview with Tom Martin, president of the Natural Gas Pipelines Group for Kinder Morgan, one of the largest energy infrastructure companies in North America. Martin is responsible for all commercial and operational activities of a system that includes 70,000 miles of natural gas transmission pipelines and gathering lines, plus storage, treating and processing facilities.
Why Canadians Should do the World a Favor and Build More Pipelines
But from a national interest, economic, humanitarian, and even environmental standpoint, there is a strong case for Canadian pipelines. This includes establishing a natural-gas export corridor from Prince George to Prince Rupert, completing the Trans Mountain loop and Keystone expansion, and freezing future pipeline development. The world will thank Canada for it.
Improving Your Company’s Safety Culture
Pipeline companies have a responsibility to protect the general public and the environment by managing critical infrastructure assets safely. How safe a pipeline is has to do with its equipment, control systems and procedures, as well as with the culture the company operating the pipeline and its employees exude.
Roadmap to Future Energy Infrastructure
A “new energy realism” based on advancing technologies is replacing “old energy pessimism” as government and industry leaders collaborate on future energy infrastructure.
Potential Cushing Bottleneck Could Increase U.S. Oil Discount
As the discount of U.S. crude to global benchmark Brent nears three-year highs, an emerging bottleneck at the key storage hub in Cushing, Okla., is making U.S. futures vulnerable to a drop, traders and analysts said.
Historic Perspective on U.S. Protective Tariffs
Protective tariffs occasionally have played a role in U.S. policy, but always with a less-than-desirable result going back to the late 1820s and marking the start of the nation’s Great Depression in 1930 with the now historic Smoot-Hawley Act.
Metal Import Tariffs: Unwanted ‘Help’ for Pipelines
Unsuccessful efforts to convince President Trump to halt planned tariffs on China came only a week after the energy industry protested his decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports – a decision widely regarded as counterproductive to the North American pipeline sector.
Marcellus-Utica: The Juggernaut Continues
The Marcellus-Utica has an estimated quadrillion cubic feet of natural gas, but markets and infrastructure must be developed to leverage this potential.
A Conversation with Conservation Fund CEO Larry Selzer
In an interview with P&GJ, Conservation Fund CEO Larry Selzer explains the organization's unique, dual-purpose mission to work with business and government to bring environmental protection and economic vitality together.
Texas Energy Sees Uptick in Non-Compete, Trade Secrets Litigation
Because of the broad language of the Texas Citizens Participation Act, passed in 2011, energy companies in Texas are having a tougher time winning lawsuits concerning non-compete clauses and the stealing of trade secrets.
Guest Editorial: American Energy Disrupts OPEC’s Influence
The OPEC cartel’s plan to continue its production cuts for nine more months means that two worlds — energy and politics — are once again colliding. Energy observers today are feverishly trying to anticipate what will happen with the basic cost of energy, which has the ability to upset manufacturing ..

- Repsol Ditches Plans to Develop LNG Terminal on Canada’s East Coast
- Kazakh Oil Decouples from Russian Crude But Risk Weighs on Price
- Pipeline Operator TC Energy Says Stress, Weld Fault Caused Keystone Oil Spill
- US to Sell 26 Million Barrels of Oil Reserves As Mandated by Congress
- Ukraine to Jointly Buy Gas with European Union Countries
- Company Cancels Byhalia Connection Pipeline Project
- US Intelligence Suggests Pro-Ukrainian Group Sabotaged Nord Stream Pipelines -NYT
- EIA: US Natural Gas Output to Hit Record High in 2023, Demand to Fall
- US Regulator Orders Lower Pressure on Keystone Pipeline System After Spill
- US Carbon Pipeline Faces Setback as Residents Refuse to Cede Land Rights