Technology/R&D

Hot Tapping, Plugging Fittings Comply with European Code

T.D. Williamson (TDW) released a standard offering for isolation fittings that fully complies with the new EN-13480 code, the European standard that replaces national codes in many countries.

AI Use in Improving Product Quality, Operational Processes

Artificial intelligence (AI) will be one of the most transformative technologies for business in the next 10 years. Early demonstrations of the power of AI in speech recognition and autonomous driving should remove those doubts.

Asbestos Abatement in Pipeline Repair

There are millions and millions of feet of vintage pipelines in use throughout the United States with an exterior coating that contains asbestos. There is probably an equal amount of footage existing in out-of-use, idled or abandoned pipelines.

Considering Advantages of HFI Welded Pipelines

The domestic pipeline industry has the capabilities to produce steel to the very highest standards of strength and integrity and has demonstrated this on many occasions over the years. However, whether it has enough capacity to meet all its current and future quality steel needs to produce high integrity pipelines is debatable.

DNV GL Publishes New HDD Standard for Pipelines

Oslo-based technical advisor DNV GL said it has published a new standard that reduces risk and improves quality of site investigation, engineering, planning and installation of pipelines using horizontal directional drilling (HDD).

CDI

CDI offers the SoniTrack XLR, an acoustic geophone pipeline pig tracking system that includes a computer-controlled audio amplifier. This allows an operator to easily listen for pigs moving within a pipeline over several miles. In addition to industry-standard headphone and AUX outputs, SoniTrack XL..

John Deere

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Trimble

Trimble introduced its SiteVision system, an outdoor augmented reality (AR) solution that enables users to visualize 2D and 3D data on virtually any project site with cellular or internet connectivity. Combining hardware and software in an integrated, lightweight handheld or pole-mounted solution, u..

McElroy

McElroy offers the solution for fusing large-diameter pipe up to 65-inch OD in challenging, close-quarter working environments with the new In-Ditch 1600. It is for customers who needed a machine capable of butt fusing large-diameter tie-in connections in a high-density neighborhood with many turnin..

Fecon

Fecon hydraulic coolers, designed to be mounted on compact tracked loader (CTL) and skid steer rooftops, enhance the performance of the carrier by maintaining the hydraulic fluid at optimal temperatures and viscosity.  This all-steel design weighs about 185 pounds plus mounting brackets, with adjust..

Norton

Norton Abrasives offers new Rapid Prep XHD Coarse and Medium discs. The heavy-duty, non-woven discs remove weld lines, weld splatter, weld discoloration and blend surfaces in a single step. XHD Coarse is designed for surface blending on steels, while XHD Medium works well on softer metals and alloys..

Energy Web Atlas Launches EWA Techlink to Enhance Data Offering

Gulf Energy Information, a leading provider of market intelligence and technical information for the international energy industry, today announced the availability of EWA TechLink, a new spatial research tool pairing comprehensive technical content with detailed project data.

Doosan, Skyfire Consulting Partner for Long-Range Pipeline-Inspection Project

Skyfire Consulting, a public safety drone consultancy, has announced a partnership with Doosan Mobility Innovations to launch a long-range pipeline-inspection project with a major U.S. pipeline operator.

U.S. Department of Energy Awards $25 Million to Improve Natural Gas Operations

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected 16 projects to receive nearly $25 million in federal funding for cost-shared projects to advance natural gas infrastructure technology development.

Unmanned Underwater Vehicles Have Role in Pipeline Security

Dramatic developments in the technological development and commercial application of UUVs indicates they have become much more viable within the oil and gas industry since a 2007 PHMSA report said otherwise.

Swimming in the Data Lake: Analyzing Pipeline Records Discrepancies Efficiently

In the last two decades, the pipeline transmission industry has been digitizing paper records within geographic information systems (GIS), and creating a pipeline systems of record. This effort, while being effective in creating a GIS representation of the assets, has resulted in data that does not meet the accuracy demands of the increasingly complex and stringent regulatory environment.

Honeywell Acquires Rebellion Photonics, a Developer of Gas Monitoring Solutions

Honeywell said it has acquired Houston-based Rebellion Photonics, a provider of intelligent, visual gas monitoring solutions for the oil and gas, petrochemical and power industries.

Innovation Drives World Record Natural Gas Main Renewal

Drivers along the stretch of Central Avenue crossing the Garden State Parkway by the East Orange General Hospital in New Jersey would have noticed the construction crews, excavations, equipment and vehicles in the middle of the street. What he or she would not know is that the project underway was setting a world record.

Dräger

Dräger released its X-pid 8500 portable gas measurement device to the U.S. market. The gas chromatography-photoionization detector (GC-PID) allows selective measurement analysis of pre-determined compounds, such as benzene and butadiene, providing results in as little as 30 seconds. The device allow..

Novarc Technologies

Novarc Technologies offers the Spool Welding Robot (SWR), a collaborative welding robot that increases productivity on the shop floor and reduces costs for the pipe shop while significantly improving the weld quality. It is capable of storing and quickly recounting weld data and videos for accurate ..

United Electric Controls

United Electric Controls offers a wireless gas detector that can reduce the cost of added leak-monitoring points by more than 50%. The Vanguard detector communicates using WirelessHART technology, which is currently the industry’s dominant non-proprietary wireless communication protocol. Vanguard’s ..

Allseas Installs Real-Time Pipelogger for Major Subsea Pipeline Project

Allseas installed WFS Technologies’ new Seatooth Pipelogger for the real-time measurement of process temperature on a subsea pipeline system. The pipeline system is designed to have a total gas throughput capacity of 31.5 Bcm per year.

How Rotating Equipment Enhances Efficiency in Pipelines

Today, pipeline operators face increasing challenges on multiple sides, from more complex regulatory processes to the need for safer and environmentally friend operations. Baker Hughes has introduced the NovaLT gas turbine family, which is pushing the boundaries of reliability, efficiency and operability in gas turbines range up to 27,000 Hp.

Our World Is Moving – And So Are The Pipelines

Strain assessments and pipeline movement assessments allow operators to identify and mitigate threats presented by geohazards.

Krohne

Krohne now offers PipePatrol, a comprehensive suite of software modules for multi-product pipelines for oil, gas, chemical or refined products.  The software is configured in eight modules, covering leak detection, theft detection, stress monitoring, line b..

Allseas Selected Pipe-Logger for Major Subsea Pipeline Project

Allseas installed WFS Technologies’ Seatooth Pipelogger for the real time measurement of process temperature on a subsea pipeline system. The pipeline system is designed to have a total gas throughput capacity of 31.5 Bcm per year.

Tube Tech International Launches Next-Generation Cleaning Robot

Tube Tech International Ltd. (TTIL) launched its next-generation cleaning robot, which the company said is capable of eradicating more than 90% of heat exchanger fouling.

Clariant Opens Industry’s First HTE Laboratory

Clariant opened its next high-throughput experimentation (HTE) laboratory Sept. 5 in Houston.

Drones on Deck to Make Pipeline Inspections Safer, More Efficient

Using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to inspect pipelines is one of the most promising uses of new technologies that our industry has ever seen. Unmanned aerial vehicles, often called drones, can be launched from nearly any location, controlled remotely and programmed to operate autonomously.

Building A Holistic Pipeline Integrity Program

While new pipelines continue to be constructed the world over, the vast majority of them were laid in the 40s, 50s and 60s, often in remote or isolated areas. Today, operators are constantly facing an uphill battle of maintaining infrastructure well past its shelf life.