TPT March 2007

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22 March/April 2007
Industry News
The 17 th international conference on
pipeline protection will take place in
Edinburgh, Scotland, from 17-19 October
2007. Organisers the BHR Group have
signalled a call for papers to gather the
latest information on research, development
and application in this critical area.
The event presents an ideal platform for
those involved in the commissioning,
operation and maintenance of pipelines.
New legislation and growing pressure
from the public and special interest
groups is forcing pipeline operators to
refocus attention on pipeline integrity.
The media is often quick to report
news concerning polluting leaks from
hydrocarbon pipelines or unacceptable
losses from water mains.
Problems can arise in a number of areas.
Poor practices during installation or
upkeep are often a primary cause. Ageing
infrastructures create new problems in
terms of maintenance and replacement.
Sometimes the cause is progressive and
unforeseen deterioration, while on occasion
there can be complete failure of the pipeline
assembly and/or corrosion protection
systems.
Safety and security are paramount and
in some countries certification is already
demanded as proof of standard. The oil and
gas industry has always sought the latest
methodologies for protecting its pipelines.
The water and waste industry is also now
demanding higher performance to extend
the useful life of their pipelines.
A unique forum for debating the future
direction of the pipeline industry, the
conference programme will offer a range of
papers. Likely topics will include integrity,
internal drag-reducing coating, monitoring
and mitigation, stress corrosion cracking,
external and internal coatings, upheaval
buckling, and inline/online monitoring.
BHR Group Ltd – UK
Fax: +44 1234 750074
Email:
Website :
Barloworld sells steel tube
division to consortium
Barloworld Ltd, South Africa, has sold
its steel tube division to a consortium
representing the division’s existing
management, staff, a black economic
empowerment group and private equity
interests. Barloworld Robor Pty, a wholly
owned subsidiary of Barloworld, will sell its
underlying assets and businesses to Robor
Pty Ltd.
According to the deal, Barloworld Robor’s
CEO Mr Mike Coward will hold 44 per
cent of shares, private equity business
RMB Ventures will own 28 per cent, black
economic empowerment company RBR
Investments will have 18 per cent, and the
staff of Robor will own 10 per cent of the
business.
The takeover is estimated to cost in the
region of US$6.5mn (480 million Rand)
which is equivalent to the net asset value of
Barloworld’s steel tube division.
Barloworld Ltd – South Africa
Fax: +27 11 444 3643
Website:
Scotland to host international pipeline
protection conference