Articles

Following the shockwaves to European energy security in 2022 and the subsequent shutdown of gas delivery from Russia, the German government took strong action in securing alternative natural gas resources.An urgent requirement to replace the lost capacity resulted in the OAL project in the Baltic Sea – a 48” pipeline linking a new-build LNG…

Efficient hydrocarbon transportation depends on extensive pipeline networks requiring regular inspections for safety and efficiency. Deadlegs, parts of the system prone to corrosion, pose significant challenges. Traditional manual ultrasonic testing lacks the accuracy needed for effective corrosion assessment. Permanently installed ultrasonic…

The requirements for pipeline construction and corrosion protection are becoming increasingly demanding. For modern construction with sustainable protection, selecting the right materials is both crucial and challenging. Although compliance with product-specific regulations is often seen as a guarantee for the universal suitability of products, it…

The hydrocarbon transportation and distribution industry benefits greatly from in-service welding by reducing operational disruption costs. In-service welding is used to repair internal and external defects, such as leaks, using weld deposition or sleeves (Type A or B) and hot tapping operations. If in-service welding is not possible, then…

Quantitative Risk Assessments (QRAs) are a vital tool for managing risks on the onshore gas network. They provide objective, data-driven evaluations of potential hazards, allowing operators to prioritise high-risk areas and allocate resources effectively. QRAs support regulatory compliance, inform decision-making, and help assess the impact of…

Subsea pipelines, such as in-field flowlines, trunklines, etc., are an integral part of all offshore field developments. Pipeline damage can occur either during construction phase or during the life of field. Critical pipeline damage such as leak, rupture, or crack requires repair to be performed on an emergency basis. Repair readiness is being…

Prediction of external corrosion using data from in-line inspections (ILI) can be instrumental in making proactive pipeline integrity management decisions, especially when integrated with geospatial data. This work investigates how a relationship may be established between the presence of bending-strain areas and the initiation and or progression…

As vacation season ends and we leave behind blue waters, cold mountain air, and colorful foreign dishes, we also return to a new kind of awareness: sensing with artificial intelligence, detecting cyber threats, and anticipating maintenance.Digitalization in the pipeline sector enhances asset management and operations. Real-time data analytics and…

Along with extending the life cycle of products, the oil and gas sector has recently implemented the circular economy. Its goals are to increase longevity, manage waste more effectively, and provide an optimal design that makes it simpler to repair, reuse, or remanufacture outdated products. In order to decrease waste and increase the lifespan of…

Hydrogen, a vital energy vector, is widely accepted as essential for decarbonising the global energy system. Hydrogen has a variety of roles to play in a low-carbon economy. Hydrogen can replace fossil fuels as a zero-carbon feedstock in chemical and fuel production [2]. It can also be used to extend the scope of climate transition to sectors that…

The distribution of natural gas through Istanbul's pipelines requires the control of temperature, pressure, draft, consumption, and composition to securely reach 16 million people. The digitalization journey begins at the gas takeover points and extends to the combi boilers of residents. SCADA is integrated into all regional and central metering…

The rapid growth in digitalization and automation results in industrial plants increasingly interconnected through IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) networks. While this interconnectedness offers significant operational advantages, it also makes plants vulnerable to cyber-physical attacks. Such attacks can lead to major…

Leak detection systems are a crucial part in pipeline safety. Unfortunately, general knowledge about these systems is still limited. Due to advantages and limitations of single leak detection technologies the selection process can be difficult – especially when regulation and different operating scenarios have to be considered. Single methods…

This paper presents a pipeline monitoring system designed to detect, locate, and classify leakages and Third-Party Interference (TPI) incidents along a pipeline right-of-way using Vibroacoustic Technology. The system is ideal for retrofitting existing pipelines and focuses on real-time asset monitoring to detect activities such as excavation or…

In Professor Hopkins’ previous ptj Insights, the focus was on pipeline defects. In this ptj Insights, we will focus on anomalies. The word “anomaly” applies here since we will look at inspection devices that infer as-yet unconfirmed defects. An “anomaly” deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. The word “defect” is only used when…

Validation of ILI performance is a critical component of any in-line inspection campaign to ensure that the ILI performance specification has been achieved. This allows high confidence integrity decisions to be made using the ILI data. The issues posed by the energy transition and the introduction of Hydrogen into existing gas networks present…

Welcome to the 2nd issue of the Pipeline Technology Journal in 2024 which is addressing aspects of the climate emergency and the role the pipeline industry can play. As an integral part of the advancing global energy transition, it is expected to supply cleaner, more sustainable yet affordable energy in the near future. An emphasis on…

Subsea pipelines originating from offshore fields and approaching land are required to be buried in near shore area to provide protection against environmental loading, marine activity, instability and unfavourable soil conditions.This paper presents an innovative approach to optimize near shore burial requirements of subsea pipelines. This…

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) plays a critical role in meeting global net-zero targets. Pipeline clusters are under development to transport carbon dioxide (CO2) from disparate emitters to a common injection site. Design requirements vary depending on system configuration and transport phase (gas versus dense). Examples are:Diverse industries…

Shortly after the war in Ukraine had begun, it became clear that Germany needed to diversify its sources of natural gas supply to reduce its dependency and ensure its national energy security. The import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) through the Wilhelmshaven port required a strong connection to the national gas transmission network. OGE had to…

Intero Integrity Services was tasked by a prominent energy company with inspecting a 36" pipeline in 2023, which included a challenging manifold inspection. The challenge stemmed from a manifold featuring six large-diameter take-offs, posing a significant obstacle for standard bidirectional pigs and inspection tools.Following successful…

As pipeline industry challenges continue to grow, it’s never been more important to make maximum use of the data available for leak detection. Crucial to this is the deployment of hardware that allows pipeline operators to access more data, resulting in a more effective leak detection system.In this article, Sales and Senior Research Engineer…

This article describes an approach to the assessment of steel pipelines regarding their potential suitability for hydrogen transportation. The assessment is made based on pipeline inventory data available in georeferenced form in a GIS, as well as in supplementary databases, and uses the software platform trascue. PIMS by GEOMAGIC GmbH, combined…

The Local Transmission System (LTS) is the backbone of the United Kingdom (UK) energy network, delivering natural gas from the National Transmission System (NTS) to towns and cities across the country.The four Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) operate approximately 11,000 km of high-pressure pipelines, operating at pressures above 7 barg. The…

Considering systemic approaches and effective models, with detailed steps and an integrated management program for all components and assets in any pipeline network can enhance the reliability of the network, and promote the system to the next level of excellence. Pipelines comprise of the most efficient methods of energy transportation and…