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There is a long tradition of energy cooperation between Europe and Asia. For decades, Russia for example has been a reliable partner for the supply of crude oil and natural gas. A number of other initiatives are currently being developed, involving Russia, Central Asia and Turkey. Europe's continuous need for energy makes the western part of the continent to an attractive market for neighboring countries and companies that offer large quantities of fossil fuels. Key projects such as Nord Stream 2, TurkStream and TANAP are technically challenging and of great geopolitical impact.

Project: Enbridge Line 3 Replacement 36-inch 1,000km Pipeline

Enbridge, a multinational energy transportation company, has selected Metegrity’s Pipeline Enterprise software as its construction quality management system (CQMS) for the largest pipeline project in North America: the Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Pipeline. The 36-inch, 1,000 km pipeline project is approaching final stages, and it has already benefitted from significant improvements to production, safety, and quality.

NDT Global, a supplier of ultrasonic pipeline inspection and integrity services, announced two major advances in pipeline crack inspection technology.

Enhanced Sizing methodology can size cracks to 100% wall thickness.

NDT Global UCx Enhanced Sizing methodology is capable of sizing the full range of crack depths up to 100% wall thickness. The removal of depth sizing limitations provides operators with more accurate data for better informed decisions regarding pipeline operations.

Legal environmental challenges have delayed the construction of Dominion Energy's $7.5 billion, 1000-km natural gas Atlantic Coast Pipeline. The pipeline would run from West Virginia into southern Virginia, moving 1.5 billion cubic feet per day. And there are new plans -- assuming the court rules to proceed -- to expand it south into North Carolina.

Wind Point Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm, announced today it has entered into definitive agreements to simultaneously acquire and merge Clock Spring and Neptune Research, two providers of high-performance repair and rehabilitation products for global critical infrastructure. The combined business will be named ClockSpring|NRI.

The recent accident in Mexico is a source of great disappointment and sadness among all of us in the international pipeline community. The illegal tapping problem has been growing uncontrollably for the last 15 years throughout the world. Some countries recognize this, whereas others do not.

Crondall Energy, the floating production and subsea engineering specialists, has announced changes to its board to enable it to capitalise on the increasing level of opportunities within the sector.

The move follows the creation last year of two distinct service offerings: consulting, provided by Crondall Energy Consultants and its affiliate Crondall Energy Subsea, and its technology arm Buoyant Production Technologies Ltd. which is focused on projects including work on unmanned production facilities and new FPSO designs. The two offerings are part of the Crondall Energy Group.

Large Transport System Operator with their technology subsidiaries from Asia and Eastern Europe (e.g. Transneft, Sinopec and others) are pushing their way into the markets in North America and Western Europe, says Dr. Klaus Ritter in his Editorial for Pipeline Technology Journal.

Mexico is currently facing a mounting crisis due to gasoline shortage. The shortage is a direct result of the government shutting down several key fuel pipelines. The shutdown was decided by the Mexican president Andres Manuel López Obrador to prevent further fuel theft by organized crime groups.

Shell has made its Final Investment Decision (FID) concerning the construction of a 37-km underwater gas pipeline from the Fulmar Gas Line to Shearwater which will be jointly constructed with Exxon Mobil and BP. The construction will include a modification of the Shearwater platform to allow production and processing of wet gas. The hub is expected to produce as much as 400 million cu ft. per day.

The consortium of companies seeking to build a 120-mile-long natural gas pipeline in Pennsylvania and New Jersey has won a federal court case over its right to eminent domain.

The ruling allowing the company to build is welcome news for the pipeline industry, which has been dealt a series of setbacks pertaining to other pipelines in the country.

Exact Tools based in Finland has launched their latest portable Pipe Cutting innovations with their Pro Series 360 model. The 280 and 450 models will follow shortly.

Standard features include a powerful 2500w 230v motor being able to cut pipe wall thicknesses of 20mm in steel and up to 50mm in plastic. 110-120v versions are also available with a 2200w motor fitted as standard.

A laser indicator light for precision cutting, new improved adjustment mechanism for straight cutting and an overload protection ‘traffic light’ system are all part of these unique new products.