ISSUE 32 | JUNE 2017 Cover story: First pipe arrives for North Sea resources Interview with SPX Nord Stream 2 update Flow’s Jose Larios Page 20 Page 44 Page 28 CONTENTS STATS GROUP Managing Pressure, Minimising Risk Issue 32 | June 2017 REGULARS INTEGRITY From the editor 4 Best practices in pipeline integrity for gas World wrap 6 pipelines 34 Accurate fatigue assessment for gas Tecno Plug™ News in brief 8 pipeline systems Events update 54 36 Pipelines International is Advertisers’ index 56 SECURITY a proud media partner of Features and deadlines 2017‒18 56 Non-intrusive Inline Isolation Atmos International’s Theft Net IPLOCA NEWS technology 40 Transneft and Technical Productions to RISK MANAGEMENT produce pipeline journal 10 Exciting times for pipeline risk Taper Lock Grips Mitigating the risk of ‘pipe walking’ 12 Self-Energisation management 42 UNPIGGABLE PIPELINES INTERVIEW Unpiggable Pipeline Solutions Forum 14 Pipeline people: Jose Larios 44 Using MFL-equipped robotic unit to Five minutes with NDT Global’s assess an unpiggable pipeline 16 John Fallon 45 REGION IN FOCUS COMPANY NEWS The North Sea 20 ISSUE 32 | JUNE 2017 Clock Spring’s new look and management team PIGGING & ILI 46 POSCO and ExxonMobil pipeline Impact of crack profiles on production partnership 48 pipeline integrity 22 Isolating and pigging a 36 inch trunkline 26 EVENTS PPIM marks 29th year with biggest Cover story: First pipe arrives for North Sea resources Nord Stream 2 Interview with SPX update PROJECTS Page 28 Flow’s Jose Larios Page 20 show to date 50 Page 44 Nord Stream 2 28 Berlin plays host to ptc 2017 52 MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT Tools for effective fleet management 31 Leak-Tight Seals Ardco’s Articulating Multi-Purpose series 32 Pettibone’s updated Cary-Lift 154 33 Read Pipelines International Zero-Energy Zone on your device! Double Block & Bleed Isolation To view the digital edition go to pipelinesinternational.com United Kingdom (Editorial and Technical) | PO Box 21, Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 1NS UK | Tel: +44 1494 675139 | Fax: +44 1494 670155 Australia (Sales and Subscriptions) | Suite 1, Level 3, 169–171 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC 3065 Australia | Tel: +61 (0) 3 9248 5100 The Tecno Plug™ provides fail-safe double block and bleed isolation The publishers welcome editorial contributions from interested parties. However, the publishers do not accept responsibility for the content of these contributions and the views contained therein which will not necessarily be the views of the publishers. The publishers do not accept of pressurised pipelines while the system remains live and at responsibility for any claims made by advertisers. Unless explicitly stated otherwise in writing, by providing editorial material to Great Southern Press (GSP), including text and images, you are operating pressure. providing permission for that material to be subsequently used by GSP, whole or in part, edited or unchanged, alone or in combination with other material in any publication or format in print or online or howsoever distributed, whether produced by GSP and its agents and associates or another party to whom GSP has provided permission. statsgroup.com 2 | Pipelines International | June 2017 Follow us on Twitter @Pipelines | www.pipelinesinternational.com FROM THE EDITOR wo significant papers from the of the current generations employed in the recent Pipeline Pigging & Integrity pipeline industry (there may be as many as five), Management (PPIM) Conference and and the ways in which the strengths of each can TExhibition held in Houston, deserve attention be harnessed. Knowledge transfer between the because of their comments on the wider future generations (as with the transfer of the duty of of the pipeline industry as new generations of care) will play a vital role in the future of this engineers take over from the current generation, industry, as the ‘Grey Tsunami’ of Baby Boomers 11-12 April 2018 Gent | Belgium some of whom can almost claim to be the retiring takes effect. ‘founding’ generation of the oil and gas pipeline Introducing the paper, Mr and Mrs Rau write industry. that “the great crew change is upon us. According In the first of these, Eric Lang and Chris Yoxall to the Centre of Energy Workforce Development, (of Enbridge Energy Partners and the Rosen the average age of the workforce in the pipeline The Technology for Future and Ageing Pipelines (TFAP) 2018 conference From the editor Group, respectively, both in Houston) discuss the industry is 49, and the US Department of Labour is aimed at sharing knowledge and featuring the latest achievements transfer of the ‘duty of care’ between generations predicts that up to 50 per cent of the current relative to the assessment, use, and maintenance of both ageing of pipeline engineers. As well as the background energy workforce will retire in five to ten years. Editor-in-Chief John Tiratsoo high-pressure (cross-country/offshore) transmission and ageing of their companies, Messrs Lang and Yoxall have “It has been predicted by some industry Managing Editor Annie Ferguson significant roles in the US-based Young Pipeline managers that it takes two to five years to become low-pressure distribution gas and oil pipeline systems. A parallel Assistant Editor Nick Lovering Professionals organisation, and are able to bring familiar with the industry and another ten or theme will be to explore the latest technology for materials and Sales Manager David Marsh to their paper an appropriately nuanced view of more years to take on a leadership position. welding for new pipelines to ensure they are designed for a Head of Design Katrina Rolfe the subject. Pipeline operators, who depend on skilled, Publisher Lyndsie Clark maximum effective operational lifetime. As they point out in their introduction, “the oil long-term, workers, are feeling the pinch. and gas pipeline industry is at a tipping point with “As valuable people walk out your door, Please contact Dave Marsh at [email protected] for regard to transferring the duty of care from its valuable knowledge leaves with them. Often that details on sponsorship packages. current leaders to the next generation. If we do knowledge isn’t encoded in documentation Cover image: nothing, we risk the loss of the knowledge and produced on the job, so how companies transfer ISSUE 32 | JUNE 2017 experience gained within the pipeline industry and manage this hand-off is critical to their First pipes prepared at the OMK plant in over the last 20 years. ongoing success.” CALL FOR PAPERS NOW OPEN Vyksa, Russia. “However, if the industry aggressively and We hope both of these papers will be worthy of collectively works toward the retention and study: the messages contained in them may not be Image courtesy of Nord Stream 2. development of the next generation, as well as strictly ‘pipeline engineering’, but they have an Cover story: First pipe arrives for North Sea resources Interview with SPX update Flow’s Jose Larios toward the transfer of knowledge from its subject influence on every pipeline engineer. Nord Stream 2 Page 20 Page 44 Submissions should include an abstract of the paper with full Page 28 matter experts to those prepared to accept it, A full event report on PPIM 2017 can be found papers due after confirmation of successful applications. Topics instead of a potential loss it could be a step- on page 50. include: change opportunity for the industry.” Like us on Facebook The generational theme continued with the • Coating properties, cathodic • Girth welds: inspection and PipelinesInternational second paper referred to above in which Jerry protection, corrosion assessment Rau, of RCP, in Houston, and Jane Rau, of John Tiratsoo • Code developments: vintage vs • ILI and defect-sizing accuracy JTrain, also in Houston, gave a detailed analysis Editor-in-Chief of the attitudes, expectations, and characteristics new codes • Material properties and test Follow us on Twitter • Routeing issues, third-party @Pipelines • Crack-arrest capabilities requirements damage • Data management • Pipeline design and • Sour service • Ductile failure and crack construction FREE Pipelines International arrest • Pipeline steels • Strain-based design fortnightly e-newsletter • ECA and validation testing • Pipeline welding • Toughness and residual The latest news, project and technology stresses information emailed fortnightly • Fatigue testing • Risk management SUBSCRIBE TODAY Submit your paper at www.jes-tt-events.com. For further information contact John Tiratsoo at www.pipelinesinternational.com [email protected] or +44 (0)1494 675139. Remember to email your news, views and article ideas to [email protected] 4 | Pipelines International | June 2017 Follow us on Twitter @Pipelines | www.pipelinesinternational.com WORLD WRAP WORLD WRAP FERC approves Rover Pipeline TAP celebrates first year of construction Energy Transfer’s Rover Pipeline has been approved for construction and operation by the US Federal Energy In May 2017, the 878 km Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) reached a significant project milestone, marking one full Regulatory Commission (FERC). The ruling, which was issued last month, means that construction on the year since the start of construction. At the time of writing, contractors had cleared approximately 49 per cent US$4.2 billion pipeline could now move forward. The project consists of new interstate pipeline and related the pipeline route in Greece and Albania, with more than 22 per cent welded steel pipes already in the ground, facilities, extending from the Appalachian