Pipelines International

September 2009

From the Editor

We are delighted to present to our worldwide readership the first issue of Pipelines International. Pipelines International will set a new standard for industry publications in terms of its technical and global news content, while also providing companies that are active in the industry with an unmatched opportunity to communicate directly with decision makers in the oil, gas, and hydrocarbons pipeline industry.

Pipeline reduces costs in Colombia

Construction was completed in August 2009 on the Rubiales Oil Pipeline – also called the Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales (ODL), which will link the Rubiales Oil Field with the Monterrey pumping station, Colombia.

REX-East two thirds complete

The 1,027 km Rockies Express-East Pipeline (REX-East) is the final segment of the Rockies Express Gas Pipeline, which will eventually link Colorado and Ohio across the United States.

Transit countries agree on Nabucco Gas Pipeline

European efforts to reduce dependence on Russian gas have spawned a major gas pipeline project totalling 3,300 km – the Nabucco Pipeline.

Oil pipeline heats up in India

Cairn India Limited is set to complete construction on its Rajasthan– Gujarat heated dual oil pipeline by the end of 2009.

MoU signed for Trans-Sahara

Nigeria, Niger and Algeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct the Trans-Sahara Gas Pipeline, which will carry gas from Nigeria, across all three countries and connect with existing gas pipelines to Europe.

Dolphin goes overland

The Taweelah – Fujairah Gas Pipeline will be one of the longest and largest overland pipelines in the United Arab Emirates.

Project briefs

In a bid to ensure global energy security, pipeline projects continue to be proposed worldwide. Here, Pipelines International outlines a selection of up and coming projects within the pipeline industry.

Meet the Pipelines International team

The Pipelines International team is dedicated to delivering the latest news and information on the pipeline industry from around the world. The team is led by Editor-in-Chief John Tiratsoo, who has been publishing information about the industry for over 30 years.

South America snapshot

By Lyndsie Mewett

With the pipeline industry attending the Rio Pipeline Conference and Exhibition, Pipelines International looks at the development of transmission pipelines within South America.

Pipeline past and present with Petrobras

Brazilian oil and gas company Petrobras has been constructing and operating pipelines across South America since 1953. Here, the company explains its current and future plans for the Brazilian pipeline industry.

TGS set to expand

Since the privatisation of the state-owned Gas del Estado transformed the Argentine energy sector in 1992, Transportadora de Gas del Sur has proven to be a major player in domestic and international gas markets.

Continuous integrity monitoring for pipelines

Real-time availability of comprehensive pipeline integrity information aids pipeline operators in making the right executive decisions based on actual pipeline operational and structural conditions, instead of relying on assumptions.

Integrity forecasting and bamboo pipelines

Pipelines International’s sister publication The Journal of Pipeline Engineering (JPE) publishes a number of technical papers on a wide variety of topics. Editor-in-Chief John Tiratsoo outlines articles from the current edition, which focuses on a range of topics from bamboo pipelines in ancient China to horizontal directional drilling today, as well as the legal issues in evaluating pipeline systems, with particular reference to the United States.

Nord Stream: piping through the Baltic Sea

By Dr Werner Rott, Deputy Technical Director, Nord Stream AG

The Nord Stream Pipeline, to run from Vyborg in Russia to Lubmin in Germany, is viewed as one of the most significant current infrastructure projects in Europe. It will consist of two parallel lines, each with a transport capacity of about 27.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas.

EUPEC’s Nord Stream pipe-coating plants get up and running

By John Tiratsoo, Editor-in-Chief

Since April 2009, pipe-coating and logistics contractor EUPEC has been operating at full capacity at its Mukran plant on the island of Ruegen in northern Germany, concrete weight-coating and handling approximately 200 pipes of 48 inch diameter per day for the Nord Stream pipeline project.

Choosing the right trencher

For nearly a half century, contractors have relied on trenchers – considered the workhorse of the industry – for underground pipeline installations. When deciding on the right trencher for a job, the features and performance capabilities of different trenchers need to be matched to project needs.

ALLU fills in Kentucky

During the construction of the Big Sandy Pipeline in eastern Kentucky, United States, ST Pipeline used ALLU SM Screener-Crusher machines to pad the pipeline, which was constructed on a right-of-way with near vertical slopes.

Advantages and limitations of using chain trenchers in rock

By Peter Bel-Ford, consultant in pipeline construction, and Geoff Pettifer, consultant in engineering geology, J P Kenny

There are various methods for excavating trenches in rock – principally drill and blast, hydraulic breakers and chain trenchers. This article focuses on the use of chain trenchers because they are sometimes overlooked on projects when they may be the best tool for the job.

Overcoming the challenges of Arctic pipelines

Pipeline construction in the Arctic had been little considered until the 1,300 km Trans-Alaska Pipeline was proposed 40 years ago. Professor Andrew Palmer of the National University of Singapore worked on a technical issue during the pipeline’s planning and has maintained a strong interest in the project since. Here, he explains some of the challenges the project had to overcome.

Modelling tools aid in Arctic pipeline design

The Arctic oil and gas market has garnered much renewed attention as of late, and the team at J P Kenny is developing tools to help ensure pipeline designs for future Arctic developments are as safe and economical as possible.

PRCI: providing pipeline research worldwide

The Pipeline Research Council International delivers research solutions that assure safe, environmentally sound and cost effective operations worldwide.

Going with the flow: internal coatings

By Ian Robinson and Craig Thomas, 3M United Kingdom plc (formerly E Wood Ltd)

Thin film epoxy coatings have long been known to reduce the internal roughness, and hence the friction factor, of natural gas flowlines. A new generation of high solids materials provide environmentally sustainable solutions without increased coating thickness or loss of performance.

The last line of defence

By Scott Landes, Rhino Marking and Protection Systems

If your pipeline gets hit, the repair costs and liability can be huge. Permanent markers can prevent accidental damages by protecting a pipeline seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Pipeline research groups collaborate

In July, the bi-annual joint technical meeting between the Pipeline Research Council International, the European Pipeline Research Group and the Australian Pipeline Industry Association Research and Standards Committee was held.

Safety and efficiency on the job site

Manufacturer of vacuum-based pipe lifting systems, Vacuworx International, can provide safe and efficient solutions for pipe lifting on a range of pipeline projects.

Harmonisation of pipeline standards through ISO

The ISO Standard TC67 aims to harmonise the international standards for petroleum and natural gas industries, including the international pipeline industry. ISO TC67 sub-committee 2 member Jennifer Ward explains the committee’s goals and outlines its progress.

Druzhba Pipeline

Each edition, Pipelines International will take a look at important projects constructed throughout history, starting with the Druzhba Pipeline. Known as the largest and most prominent oil pipeline in the world, the Druzhba Pipeline remains a leading service for the transportation of oil to European countries, being in operation since 1962.

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Going with the flow: internal coatings (expanded version)

By Ian Robinson and Craig Thomas, 3M United Kingdom plc (formerly E Wood Ltd)

Thin film epoxy coatings have long been known to reduce the internal roughness, and hence the friction factor, of natural gas flow lines. A new generation of high solids materials provide environmentally sustainable solutions without increased coating thickness or loss of performance.

Assessing the environmental impacts of pipelines

By Dr Janet Swan, Environment Director, RSK

Pipeline development inevitably results in economic, social and environmental change, both positive and negative. It is the responsibility of the pipeline promoters, construction contractors and government to manage such developments in a manner that ensures minimal negative impact and maximum sustainability.