While the effects of climate change are a stark reminder of how reckless industrialisation can be detrimental to the universe, achieving efficiency, pipeline safety, and business productivity in an environmentally friendly manner remains a real-time challenge in the energy and pipeline sector. However, the concept of the pipeline of the future could bring the much-needed solution to the decades-long challenges in the pipeline and energy sector.

According to Mohd Nazmi Mohd Ali Napiah, PETRONAS’ Head and Group Technical Authority (Pipeline Engineering) from Group Technical Solutions (GTS), Project Delivery and Technology, the significant challenges the pipeline industry is facing include greenhouse gas emission, pipeline inspection and maintenance as well as high Operational Expenditure (OpEx) and Capital Expenditure (CapEx).

“We have issues in the perspective of contaminants from the well in the fields, reducing the emission of GHG, inspection, and maintenance concerning the utilisation of technologies. In 2019, the whole pipeline fraternity in PETRONAS gave detailed pain points and crafted a five-year pipeline journey for PETRONAS. Based on our facts, by 2030, we would like to have an intervention-less pipeline system that is sustainable in ALARP risk, with a 50 per cent reduction of OpEx and CapEx and up to 30 per cent reduction of GHG emissions,” Mohd Nazmi explained during an interview with EITEP Institute media.

Responding to a question about how PETRONAS deals with adopting and integrating digitalisation into their company’s systems and processes, Nazmi explained that the company employs technology and leverages the disruptions of the IR4.0, a new phase of an industrial revolution focusing more on automation, interconnectivity, machine learning, and real-time data.

“In our Pipeline of the Future (POTF) strategy initiative, we employ IR4.0 technologies and automation. The whole concept of POTF is about using the disruption of IR4.0. For example, we collaborate with Malaysian and Russian local agents to develop robotic technology for self-propelling in-line inspection. We have also developed predictive analytics tools for corrosion, free-span, and third-party intrusion threats.”

About Mohd Nazmi
Mohd Nazmi is instrumental in hands-on and diverse operations and project management in the oil and gas industry, mainly offshore and onshore pipelines. He focuses on pipeline design, integrity management systems, and critical business performance improvements.

On the professional front, he’s been the Chairman of Malaysia’s ISO Standard Technical Committee 67 – Pipeline Transportation since 2020 and the Leader of Study Group 3 of the International Gas Union’s (IGU) Transmission Committee in Triennium 2015-2018.

Within PETRONAS, he’s the Chairman of Technology Readiness Level Committee 3 – Transport and Materials and Advisor of Skill Group 11 – Civil, Structure and Pipeline. He’s been actively delivering technical papers worldwide on pipeline integrity, operation, and maintenance.

He is also a new member of the Advisory Committee for Pipeline Technology Conference (PTC) 2023 and Editorial Board of Pipeline Technology Journal.