Technology/R&D
Halliburton Develops Non Intrusive Pipeline Inspection Method for Unpiggable Lines
Halliburton’s technology team have been developing InnerVue non-intrusive diagnostics technology for several years. Advances in computing power and experience gained through numerous data collections in the field have moved the technology to a point where it can now be considered as an alternative for traditional intrusive ILI techniques.
What's New July 2021
Vermeer Vermeer expanded its horizontal directional drilling (HDD) fluid management equipment line with the new R600T reclaimer. The new 600-gallons/minute (2,271-liters/minute) mud recycling system can pair with maxi rigs pumping between 300 and 600 gal..
Companies Merge Technologies to Enhance Pipeline Integrity
Pipetel Technologies and Intero Integrity Services merged in January, combining the two inline inspection companies, each with a track record of innovation in the space of unpiggable pipeline inspection.
Using RTUs in Monitoring Pipelines in Extreme Conditions
In remote locations, communications may be slow, intermittent or unreliable. The RTU is the device at the edge – sitting between the control room and the field instruments – that provides a low-latency response to changing site conditions and performs data filtering.
Reassessing Value Placed on System Pressure Tests
Since the cost of failures during the construction of offshore pipelines is significant, over time, an extensive quality management regime has been developed. One such measure is to pressure test the whole pipeline system when the build is completed.
Tellurian’s Reduced-Emission Pipeline Should Play Role in Cleaner Energy Future
A longtime partnership with Baker Hughes should help Tellurian Inc.’s Driftwood Pipeline place a natural gas pipeline with 99% reduced carbon dioxide emissions in service in 2026.
STEP Advances Supercritical CO2 Power Cycles for Gas-Fired Generation
Power cycles using supercritical carbon dioxide as a working fluid show promise for many power generation applications, including high-efficiency waste heat recovery on pipeline gas turbines.
Mountain Valley Pipeline Announces Plan to Offset Carbon Impacts
Mountain Valley Pipeline announced plans that would make it one of the first interstate natural gas transmission pipelines to acquire carbon offsets for its operational emissions.
SwRI Develops Novel Technique Supporting Pipeline Transport of Heavy Crude Oils
Southwest Research Institute scientists and engineers used internal research funding to develop “EZ Flow,” a process for treating heavy crude oils, making pipeline transportation more cost-effective and less energy intensive than current techniques.
Midcoast Energy Starts Commercial Operation of Expanded CJ Express Pipeline
Siemens Energy technology will help increase the CJ Express pipeline’s transmission capacity from the East Texas supply areas to Gulf Coast demand centers to approximately 1 billion cubic feet per day.
Remote Telemetry Units Aided in China-Russia Crude Oil Pipeline Construction
This article examines how TBox-MS Remote Telemetry Units were used in the extreme conditions of the China-Russia crude oil pipeline, which set a new record by constructing more than 800 kilometers of pipeline in 180 days, in a high latitude, extremely cold environment.
Tokyo Gas to Start Methanation Pilot Program by End-March
Tokyo Gas Co Ltd, Japan's biggest city gas supplier, said on Wednesday it would start a demonstration test of methanation, a technology to help decarbonize city gas, in Japan by the end of next March.
U.S. Natural Gas Companies Put Hydrogen to the Test
At least two dozen U.S. energy firms, including Dominion Energy Inc and Sempra Energy, have started producing hydrogen or testing its viability in natural gas pipes to take advantage of existing infrastructure as the world prioritizes lower-carbon fuels.
T.D. Williamson Performs First SmartPlug Pipeline Isolation in Offshore Nigeria
Isolating the 267-km (165-mi) natural gas pipeline off the shore of Nigeria enabled the safe change-out and leak testing of platform valves without depressurizing the system.
New Technology from Onboard Dynamics Can Reduce Fugitive Methane Releases
This mobile, fully integrated solution will provide operators of natural gas pipelines a tool to safely minimize their greenhouse gas emissions during routine pipeline maintenance.
What's New June 2021
Products and technology from T.D. Williamson, OleumTech, IDEC, RegO, Unifirst and Sensirion are included in this month's What's New.
Using RTUs to Optimize Performance in the Oil and Gas Sector
For decades now, remote terminal units (RTUs) have been a key component in the data chain from the I/O to the CEO. These devices have a longstanding track record of sitting on remote wellheads, pipelines and offshore platforms, and collecting, storing and acting upon data.
Snakebot Slithering Its Way Toward Pipeline Inspection Mode
Garnegie Mellon University’s snake-like robot can now slither its way underwater, allowing the modular robotics platform to inspect ships, submarines and infrastructure for damage.
Gas Industry Responds to Climate Change, Readies Transition
In the midst of winter this year, a panel of academics and energy industry experts gathered online with Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy to map out pathways for making and using hydrogen.
Italy's Snam in World First with Test of 30% Gas-Hydrogen Blend in Steel Forging
Gas transport group Snam said on Wednesday a 30% blend of natural gas and hydrogen had been used for the first time to power furnaces at a steelmaker in northern Italy.
What's New May 2021
News from IDEC, Denso, Trimble, NDT Global, Endess+Hauser and Caterpillar are included in this month's What's New.
Overcoming Flexible Pipe Challenges of Pre-Salt Subsea Developments
Baker Hughes said it reached a technology milestone by finding a way to overcome flexible pipe stress corrosion cracking (SCC) tendencies in high carbon dioxide (CO2) content fields, such as those found in Brazil’s pre-salt offshore developments.
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.
PRCI Working to Ensure Sustainability Today and Tomorrow
PRCI has advanced the development of its research portfolio through the establishment of Strategic Research Priorities (SRP) that will have a key impact on our members and the pipeline industry.
Energinet and Gasunie Studying Feasibility of Hydrogen Pipeline Infrastructure
Energinet and Gasunie published a technical pre-feasibility study for transporting hydrogen via a 350-450 km (217-279 mi) pipeline from Esbjerg or Holstebro in Denmark to Hamburg in Germany.
Research Into Hydrogen Transportation by Pipeline Increasing
The research regarding hydrogen transportation by pipeline is increasing and becoming more coordinated, a presentation at the 17th Annual Pipeline Opportunities Conference indicates.
Perspective: Oil Execs, Environmentalists Could Support Hydrogen for Climate Solution
Some see hydrogen as a potential substitute for hard-coal coke in making steel. It also offers energy companies a future market using processes they know. It can be liquefied, stored, and transported through existing pipelines and LNG ships, with some modifications.
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.
Phillips 66 Opts for Pipeline Control Center Operations Pilot
Phillips 66 selected Crux OCM, a system of robotic industrial process automation (RIPA), for an oil and gas operations pilot program. The program will incorporate the company’s pipeBOT, which requires fewer manual commands for control room operations.

- Energy Transfer Wins New York Court Ruling in $150 Million Pipeline Fraud Case
- $3 Billion Natural Gas Pipeline Expansion to Add 1.3 Bcf Capacity in Southeast Region
- Trump Puts Keystone XL Pipeline Back in Discussion, Though Revival Faces Developer Resistance
- Boardwalk Approves 110-Mile, 1.16 Bcf/d Mississippi Kosci Junction Pipeline Project
- Kinder Morgan Approves $1.4 Billion Mississippi Crossing Project to Boost Southeast Gas Supply
- Enbridge Should Rethink Old, Troubled Line 5 Pipeline, IEEFA Says
- GOP Lawmakers Slam New York for Blocking $500 Million Pipeline Project
- Texas Oil Company Challenges $250 Million Insurance Collateral Demand for Pipeline, Offshore Operations
- Phillips 66 to Sell $865 Million Stake in 500-Mile Gulf Coast Express Pipeline to ArcLight
- NDT, Aramco to Launch 56-Inch Inspection Tool