Articles

The pipeline industry is at a turning point. In Europe, the course is being set for a future hydrogen backbone, existing networks are being prepared for decarbonization projects, and CO₂ transport chains are being planned. At the same time, the Asia-Pacific region is developing at a rapid pace, characterized by offshore projects and regionally…

In 2023, an oil and gas operator in the East China Sea needed to upgrade its 28 inch gas export pipeline (GEP), including modifications to the pig launcher and associated pipework on one offshore production platform. The 345-kilometer GEP transports natural gas from the offshore platforms to the onshore processing terminal and is one of the…

This study presents the development and qualification of sour‑grade API X60 steel for 16”–24” LSAW pipes for the Dos Bocas Refinery project. Production employed KR desulfurization, vacuum degassing, and strict casting controls to minimize inclusions and segregation. Two chemistries were evaluated: DOE‑1 (w/o Ni/Cu) and DOE‑2 (with Ni/Cu).…

Pipeline operators are managing more complexity using infrastructure that was designed for simpler operating conditions. Decarbonization, new products and higher expectations for safety and commercial accuracy are changing how pipelines are used. In many cases, operators cannot add instrumentation or redesign assets, but smart software and…

This paper presents an advanced pipeline monitoring system designed to detect and locate leaks and third-party interference (TPI) incidents across a wide variety of pipeline geometries and transported fluids. The system leverages Vibroacoustic Technology (VT), offering real-time asset monitoring and integrity assurance. Over the years, VT has been…

JULY 11, 1933 – JUNE 11, 2025Robert “Bob” Eiber was called home on June 11, 2025, at the age of 91 in Columbus, Ohio. Born July 11, 1933, in Cleveland to Harry and Grace Eiber, Bob lived a life defined by kindness, humility, and quiet accomplishment.He will be deeply missed as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Known for his…

As oil and gas operations transition into deeper waters and more technically demanding basins, the integrity of subsea infrastructure has never been more critical. This article examines the role of hydrostatic testing and fluid preservation as a proactive asset-protection strategy. While hydrotesting is a standard verification of mechanical…

There is a wide public acknowledgement that the path to Net-Zero requires the deployment of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) at an industrial scale. Realizing a CCUS value chain requires transporting dense CO2 by pipeline over long distances to storage or users. Currently, the CO2 pipeline landscape consists of just over 7,000…

In the technical area of the energy industry, the business processes have been adapted to the issues of planning, construction and operation. The product development of information technology for Asset Management has also been supported by technologies to support construction activities and maintenance using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).…

Pipelines form the backbone of many countries of the world – quietly transporting ty that fuels modern life. Yet, as the world advances in decarbonisation efforts, these established assets may need to accommodate alternative energy carriers. While they were designed to transport either oil or gas their future might lie in the transportation of…

Nigeria faces environmental and safety risks due to poorly implemented decommissioning of aging oil pipelines. This study addresses critical gaps in technical practices and regulatory enforcement by developing an integrated implementation strategy for Nigeria. Systematic failures were revealed by combining field surveys, laboratory analysis. The…

The global oil and gas industry is at a pivotal point in its development. Climate imperatives, regulatory scrutiny, and technological advances are forcing a re-evaluation of long-established operational practices. At the core of this shift lies methane, the primary component of natural gas, which remains both a critical commodity and a major…

The new challenges of our time, from climate change and infrastructure renewal to sabotage and external threats, require precautionary measures and process support in the event of damage. European legislation has already taken action and expects activities from operators of critical infrastructures. For this purpose, risk analysis / risk…

Hydrocarbon energy remains essential to the global economy, with pipelines being the most efficient way to transport these resources. However, rising demand, aging infrastructure, and shifting operational conditions increase the risk of failures that can disrupt supply chains. To ensure reliability, proactive risk management is crucial.…

The progressing energy transition and a fast buildup of the hydrogen pipeline backbone will play a major role in achieving net zero targets. The conversion of existing pipelines for the transport of hydrogen will play a key role in achieving the targets, which introduces new challenges for pipeline owners and operators. Pipeline repurposing…

Determining the minimum wall thickness for supercritical CO₂ pipelines requires consideration of multiple factors: internal design pressure, ductile fracture arrest, and dynamic pressure surges. While the design thickness for internal pressure can be readily calculated using ASME B31.4, the impacts of ductile fracture and surge pressures (similar…

When designing pipelines for transporting CO2 in dense-phase, the complex decom-pression behavior places high demands on the material toughness. However, due to the small number of full-scale burst test results in CO2 available to date that addition-ally encompass only a narrow envelope of geometries and material properties, it is difficult to…

Before introducing my pipeline heroe, I must first acknowledge my wider engineering inspiration: Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Celebrated for his groundbreaking work on dockyards and his pioneering steamships, including the first propeller-driven transatlantic vessels, Brunel transformed Britain’s infrastructure. His bridges and tunnels still serve the…

Cathodic Protection (CP) systems are essential to mitigate corrosion in buried pipelines; however, naturally occurring telluric currents induced by geomagnetic disturbances can significantly impact CP performance. This study presents an analysis of PSP fluctuations along an approximately 200 km section of Pipeline A traversing Gujarat and Madhya…

This year marks a significant milestone for the pipeline community with the inaugural Pipeline Technology Conference Asia (ptc Asia), taking place from 11–13 November 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ptc Asia promises to be a landmark event, offering a new regional forum for Southeast Asia’s pipeline sector and fostering collaboration among…

Submarine pipelines are externally concrete coated to ensure vertical and lateral stability on seabed without excessive movement. During operation and especially towards late life and beyond, concrete may be lost which must be compensated in the form of stabilization weights. The weight requirements are typically calculated based on concrete…

The Enbridge Gas (EG) Ontario network in Canada encompasses over 150,000 km of distribution pipelines and approximately 3,700 km of transmission pipelines. System-wide risk assessments indicate that external and internal corrosion, external interference, and geohazards are some of the most prevalent integrity hazards across the system.EG Ontario…

The advancement of pipeline leak detection has been driven by safety, environmental, regulatory, and technological factors across oil, gas, chemical, and broader pipeline industries. This article reviews the historical progression and recent advancement of on-line real-time pipeline leak detection methods from simple pressure drop analysis, to…

Pipeline operator ultimate mission is to transport hydrocarbons with the highest standards of safety, reliability, efficiency and environmental responsibility.  This mission cannot be achieved without assuring integrity of valves. Failure of a valve in a hydrocarbon network may cause a reduction in availability and reliability of the entire…

Methane emissions from pipelines and other critical assets pose increasing regulatory, operational, and environmental challenges—particularly given the growing need for rapid, credible leak detection and quantification to meet global standards such as OGMP 2.0 and EU Fit-for-55. This paper introduces AIRMO’s integrated satellite and airborne…