Special Reports

We can't get back to business as usual after the accident in Massachusetts. We have to adjust our behavior.
We can't get back to business as usual after the accident in Massachusetts. We have to adjust our behavior.

EDITORS COMMENT: We can't get back to business as usual after the accident in Massachusetts. We have to adjust our behavior

When we think of the reports about the pipeline accident in Massachusetts, we first think of those affected by the accident who suffered physical damage or even died.

Overpressured Gas Pipelines Caused a Series of Pipeline Explosions in Massachusetts, USA (iStockPhotos)
Overpressured Gas Pipelines Caused a Series of Pipeline Explosions in Massachusetts, USA (iStockPhotos)

Overpressured Gas Pipelines Caused a Series of Pipeline Explosions in Massachusetts, USA

The residents of a small part of eastern Massachusetts were shaken by an natural gas disaster. The people of Lawrence, Andover and North Andover just south of the New Hampshire border, witnessed dozens of homes explode last Thursday, while homeowners rushed to evacuate and turn off the gas.

A pipeline operated by Transneft (Copyright: Transneft)
A pipeline operated by Transneft (Copyright: Transneft)

Transneft is the Fastest-Growing Brand in the Russian Oil and Gas Sector

Transneft became the fastest-growing brand in the russian oil and gas sector (the value of the brand grew by 53% to reach 58.9 billion roubles), according to Brand Finance, a consulting company in the field of strategy and valuation of brands.

Qatar to support liquid gas terminal in Germany (Wojciech Wrzesien / Shutterstock)
Qatar to support liquid gas terminal in Germany (Wojciech Wrzesien / Shutterstock)

Qatar to support liquid gas terminal in Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel highlighted the important role of Qatar in the global LNG industry. Germany is therefore looking to Qatar to develop its LNG industry. This was announced in a speech by the Chancellor at the opening of the Qatar-Germany Business and Investment Forum held on Friday in Berlin.

Al Mahrah in Yemen (TUBS / CC BY-SA 3.0)
Al Mahrah in Yemen (TUBS / CC BY-SA 3.0)

Saudi Arabia Looks to War Torn Yemen as a Venue for Another Export Oil Pipeline

In a precautionary move designed to give Saudi Arabia more oil export options in the unlikely event that Iran closes down the Strait of Hormuz at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, the government of Prince Salman in Saudi Arabia intends to build an alternative pipeline from its borders through the Yemeni district of Al Mahrah to the Arabian Sea.

Sabotage of 780-km Oil Pipeline in Columbia Halts Operations (Free Wind 2014 / Shutterstock)
Sabotage of 780-km Oil Pipeline in Columbia Halts Operations (Free Wind 2014 / Shutterstock)

Sabotage of 780-km Oil Pipeline in Columbia Halts Operations

A bomb attack on the 780-km, 210,000 bpd Cano Limon Covenas oil pipeline in Columbia has forced Ecopetrol SA, the state - run oil company, to suspend operations.

The pipeline has been a target some 60 times this year by the National Liberation Army (ELN), the country’s sole remaining active guerrilla group, and ELN is suspected of this most recent sabotage as well.

TSOs intend to launch single German market area in October 2021
TSOs intend to launch single German market area in October 2021

TSOs intend to launch single German market area in October 2021

The joint, nationwide market area to be established in Germany will presumably start operations on 1 October 2021. This is the date the German gas transmission system operators (TSOs) have agreed with the Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), the national regulatory authority.

US-President Trump Mulls Invoking National Security Powers To Prop Up Moribund Coal Industry (Africa Studio / Shutterstock)
US-President Trump Mulls Invoking National Security Powers To Prop Up Moribund Coal Industry (Africa Studio / Shutterstock)

US-President Trump Mulls Invoking National Security Powers To Prop Up Moribund Coal Industry

The Trump administration, seeking to justify its fascination with coal, a product that is increasingly out of favor with most other industrialized countries worldwide, is arguing that gas pipelines are too vulnerable to hacking, threatening American energy security. Therefore, the United States, it is argued, need more coal in the energy mix.

The Russian issue of Pipeline Technology Journal was presented to numerous pipeline companies like ROSEN at MIOGE 2018
The Russian issue of Pipeline Technology Journal was presented to numerous pipeline companies like ROSEN at MIOGE 2018

Russian issue of Pipeline Technology Journal presented at MIOGE 2018

The project of the Russian edition of the Pipeline Technology Journal (ptj) published by EITEP (Hanover) was presented in Moscow during the MOIGE International Oil and Gas Exhibition.

Does North Korea Now Come Out of the Cold? (Zbitnev / Shutterstock)
Does North Korea Now Come Out of the Cold? (Zbitnev / Shutterstock)

Does North Korea Now Come Out of the Cold?

One of the more conspicuous developments since American President Donald Trump met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un earlier this month in Singapore has nothing to do with denuclearization but with the potential construction of a gas pipeline through North Korea and into the South. Discussions have begun to this end with Gazprom, which would deliver the gas and help in constructing the pipeline.

$800 billion energy infrastructure investment over the next 18 years in the US and Canada (tcly / Shutterstock)
$800 billion energy infrastructure investment over the next 18 years in the US and Canada (tcly / Shutterstock)

$800 billion energy infrastructure investment over the next 18 years in the US and Canada

The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) has issued an updated 2016 infrastructure report which depicts the massive changes in store for energy infrastructure in the United States and Canada. INGAA Foundation President Don Santa says "while we are now in the midst of a remarkable expansion of the pipeline network ... there will remain a need for new pipeline infrastructure.

Russian Edition of Pipeline Technology Journal agreed
Russian Edition of Pipeline Technology Journal agreed

Russian Edition of Pipeline Technology Journal agreed

The international publishers EITEP (based in Germany) and Radiofront (based in Russia) have agreed to implement a Russian-speaking edition of the globally recognized Pipeline Technology Journal (ptj). Both companies are committed to meet the high demand for top-class pipeline technology case-studies, technical articles and current international industry news in Russia.

Mega-investment: China plans a $78 billion state owned natural gas company (chuyuss / Shutterstock)
Mega-investment: China plans a $78 billion state owned natural gas company (chuyuss / Shutterstock)

Mega investment: China plans a $78 billion state owned natural gas company

China is seeking to revise ownership of its huge gas pipeline network due to the fact that more and more private and industrial customers convert from coal to gas.

Former German Chancellor Schroeder: The US pursues selfish interests (Tim Reckmann / pixelio.de)
Former German Chancellor Schroeder: The US pursues selfish interests (Tim Reckmann / pixelio.de)

Former German Chancellor Schroeder: The US pursues selfish interests

Gerhard Schroeder, the former Chancellor of Germany and current Chairman of the Board of Nord Stream 1 and 2, assailed the United States for seeking to stymie the development of Nord Stream 2.