News

Heinz Watzka (© 2015 Frank Nürnberger)
Heinz Watzka (© 2015 Frank Nürnberger)

Pipeline Technology Conference announces new chairman of the Advisory Committee

The Pipeline Technology Conference, ptc, has developed into the largest pipeline conference in Europe in 11 years. In 2016, 540 delegates from 52 countries and 62 exhibitors have participated at the 11th ptc.

The Niger Delta was heavily polluted due to the exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources (Watch_The_World / Shutterstock)
The Niger Delta was heavily polluted due to the exploitation of Nigeria's natural resources (Watch_The_World / Shutterstock)

Oil Militants in the Niger Delta throttle Nigeria's Oil Production

Nigeria continues to feel the pinch of its main export pipelines being shut down and Royal Dutch Shell apparently considers the risk from further militant attack too great to reopen.

Russia plans second pipeline to China and wants to start first gas supplies in 2018 ( © WindVector/Shutterstock.com)
Russia plans second pipeline to China and wants to start first gas supplies in 2018 ( © WindVector/Shutterstock.com)

Russia plans second pipeline to China and wants to start first gas supplies in 2018

The Russian energy supplier Gazprom is confident that the Russian-Chinese natural gas pipeline Sila Sibiria will be put into operation next year. China suggests that the project could not have been the last of its kind.

Allseas’ Solitaire is one of the pipelaying vessels that will construct the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline (Copyright by Allseas)
Allseas’ Solitaire is one of the pipelaying vessels that will construct the Nord Stream 2 Pipeline (Copyright by Allseas)

Nord Stream 2 Awards Pipelay Contract to Allseas

Following an international tender process, Nord Stream 2 AG has awarded a contract for offshore pipelay of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline through the Baltic Sea to Allseas. The company will undertake offshore pipelay works for both lines in 2018 and 2019.

Ireland Faces Major Decision Concerning Costly Shannon - Dublin Water Pipeline (somsak suwanput / Shutterstock)
Ireland Faces Major Decision Concerning Costly Shannon - Dublin Water Pipeline (somsak suwanput / Shutterstock)

Ireland Faces Major Decision Concerning Costly Shannon - Dublin Water Pipeline

Ireland's farmers and public representatives are meeting to determine if limited infrastructure funds will be spent on rural projects throughout the country or on one "standout" 172 km water pipeline costing an estimated €1.2 billion.

Pennsylvania historic twin wooden covered bridges (MarkVanDykePhotography / Shutterstock)
Pennsylvania historic twin wooden covered bridges (MarkVanDykePhotography / Shutterstock)

Long-awaited Rover Gas Pipeline Gets the Green Light

Energy Transfer Partners' proposed $4.2 billion, 1147 km Rover natural gas pipeline from Pennsylvania to Ontario, Canada has been approved by the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission after a two year review.

Mishap Along the Bazman - Zahedan Gas Pipeline (Dmitry Kaminsky / Shutterstock)
Mishap Along the Bazman - Zahedan Gas Pipeline (Dmitry Kaminsky / Shutterstock)

Mishap Along the Bazman - Zahedan Gas Pipeline

Two Iranian workers died last week while trying to inspect the new Bazman - Zahedan gas pipeline in Sistan Baluchistan, Iran.

The incident occurred when workers were attempting to pig the new pipeline -- final tests before the pipeline goes into service. Fortunately for the other workers there was no gas in the pipeline during the time of the incident.

US Army releases land for pipeline in North Dakota
US Army releases land for pipeline in North Dakota

US Army releases land for pipeline in North Dakota

The US Army has given permission to carry the last section of the Dakota Access oil pipeline leading over one of their sites. End of January, President Trump revived the two controversial pipeline projects Keystone-XL and Dakota Access, which had been stopped by Trump’s predecessors, Obama.

IPLOCA Announces Regional Meeting to be Held in Conjunction with 12th Pipeline Technology Conference
IPLOCA Announces Regional Meeting to be Held in Conjunction with 12th Pipeline Technology Conference

IPLOCA Announces Regional Meeting to be Held in Conjunction with 12th Pipeline Technology Conference

The regional meeting will take place at the Estrel in Berlin on 2 May 2017. Along with the large annual IPLOCA Convention, the association regularly hosts regional meetings. This regional approach allows guests to engage at the local level and discuss common issues and concerns. The meeting includes presentations from IPLOCA and invited guest speakers.

Human Error Behind Growing Number of Pipeline Accidents (Leonid Eremeychuk / Shutterstock)
Human Error Behind Growing Number of Pipeline Accidents (Leonid Eremeychuk / Shutterstock)

Human Error Behind Growing Number of Pipeline Accidents

New data compiled by the National Energy Board in Canada suggests that human error is increasingly a factor in pipeline leaks and that pipeline operators are not paying pipeline safety the attention it deserves.

National Energy Board to Review Energy East
National Energy Board to Review Energy East

National Energy Board to Review Energy East

Energy East, the proposed 4,500-kilometre $15.7 billion pipeline that would carry more than a million barrels a day of Canadian crude from Alberta to refineries and an export terminal in St. John, will be reviewed once again by the Canadian National Energy Board.

Work on the troubled project has been delayed numerous times since it was publicly announced in 2013.

Bulgaria and Serbia Agree to Work Together in Constructing Pipeline Interconnector  (Argus / Shutterstock)
Bulgaria and Serbia Agree to Work Together in Constructing Pipeline Interconnector (Argus / Shutterstock)

Bulgaria and Serbia Agree to Work Together in Constructing Pipeline Interconnector

In a long anticipated move to enhance the security of supply, reduce dependency on Russia and boost regional cooperation, Bulgaria and Serbia have signed an agreement to jointly build a 150 km gas pipeline between the two countries.

The so-called Interconnector Link is expected to be operational by the end of 2020.

The 1120 km offshore/onshore Turkish Stream Pipeline To Commence Groundbreaking in 2017 (Wikipedia / Moscowjob.net)
The 1120 km offshore/onshore Turkish Stream Pipeline To Commence Groundbreaking in 2017 (Wikipedia / Moscowjob.net)

The 1120 km offshore/onshore Turkish Stream Pipeline To Commence Groundbreaking in 2017

Turkish Stream, moving in fits and starts since its inception several years ago, has been ratified by Russia's Lower House of Parliament, or State Duma, this past Friday.

The State Duma's action paves the way for Russian gas to be delivered to Turkey and ultimately to Western Europe.

Sioux Indians Secure Legal Victory in Effort to Thwart Construction of Pipeline
Sioux Indians Secure Legal Victory in Effort to Thwart Construction of Pipeline

Sioux Indians Secure Legal Victory in Effort to Thwart Construction of Pipeline

Though President Trump signed an Executive Order this week to expedite the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, James Boasberg, a Federal judge, has ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should begin with a full environmental study of the disputed crossing of the Missouri River in North Dakota.

Yokogawa Company Logo
Yokogawa Company Logo

Yokogawa Secures Another Major Contract For Its SCADA Systems

Yokogawa UK, a subsidiary of Yokogawa Electric Corporation, has received an order from the British Pipeline Agency (BPA) for a management and control system for a multi-product fuel pipeline.

This project will replace BPA’s existing pipeline management and supervisory control and data acquisition (Scada) systems.

Trump revives Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines (Shutterstock / Evan El-Amin)
Trump revives Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines (Shutterstock / Evan El-Amin)

Trump revives Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a number of executive orders to advance approval of the controversial Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. His administration takes a swift step forward to finally enable the construction of these two pipelines, which both had been blocked by former president Barack Obama’s administration.

Uganda-Tanzania_Proposed_Pipeline
Uganda-Tanzania_Proposed_Pipeline

East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) "On the Cards"

Uganda and Tanzania have selected Gulf Interstate Engineering, a Houston-based company, to design a 1,445 km crude oil pipeline from the heavy oil fields of western Uganda near Hoima to Tanzania's Indian Ocean seaport of Tanga, dubbed the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

New PHMSA Rule to Strengthen Pipeline Safety Requirements
New PHMSA Rule to Strengthen Pipeline Safety Requirements

New PHMSA Rule to Strengthen Pipeline Safety Requirements

Building on a series of deliberations over the past year designed to strengthen the regulatory environment pertaining to gas leaks and pipeline operations, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said on Friday it has passed a rule to boost safety requirements on the country's oil and refined products pipelines.

Marubeni - Itocha Joint Venture Chosen to Build PTT Pipeline
Marubeni - Itocha Joint Venture Chosen to Build PTT Pipeline

Marubeni - Itocha Joint Venture Chosen to Build PTT Pipeline

PTT, Thailand's largest energy company, has selected a Marubeni / Itochu joint venture to construct a 430 km natural gas pipeline in Thailand.

Chavalit Punthong, chief operation officer of Infrastructure and Sustainability Management Group, said the pipeline will stretch from Rayong to Nonthaburi, just north of the capital Bangkok.

New Panelists in the Proposed Energy East Pipeline in Canada "Up to The Task." (National Energy Board)
New Panelists in the Proposed Energy East Pipeline in Canada "Up to The Task." (National Energy Board)

New Panelists in the Proposed Energy East Pipeline in Canada "Up to The Task."

The often delayed and much maligned Energy East Pipeline in Canada will be given new life by the appointment of three new members of the National Energy Board charged with making a determination whether the pipeline should go ahead.

The previous Energy East pipeline panel stepped down amidst questions about a potential conflict of interest last year.