TPI July 2011

news business & market

Pipeline protection heading for Edinburgh

with the aim of bringing together leading authorities from commercial, academic and regulatory backgrounds to share and extend knowledge and understanding. The organisers have issued a call for papers for the 2012 conference and are seeking unpublished papers covering a range of disciplines. Contributions are welcomed in the form of technical papers or case studies on all aspects of pipeline protection including current techniques and new developments. Case studies that present learning experiences gained from solving real problems and meeting new challenges are always identified by delegates as providing some of the most valuable content to the conference. The programme will include papers covering: field joint coatings; internal drag reduction coatings; monitoring of and mitigation of mechanisms of deterioration: external and internal corrosion, SCC; surface preparation, external and internal coatings, including high temperature operation, cathodic protection, showing effectscomplementary tocoating; offshore applications, including high temp/high pressure, corrosion resistance in deep water insulation; operation of very large diameter water pipelines; maintenance, inline and online monitoring; rehabilitation and remediation; latest developments in multi layer technology and fusion bonded experiences.

While some of these incidents are out of the control of pipeline owners and operators, they do highlight the dependency of industry and the economy in general of these most basic of transportation networks. The investment required to plan, develop and manage these pipelines can be significant. Business pressures mean that owners and operators must plan from day one to protect and prolong the lifetime of their pipelines, maximise return on investment and ensure continuity of service. Regular inspection, monitoring, maintenance and repair, refurbishment or upgrade are all essential. At the same time, operators have to take into account environmental and sustainability concerns that are rapidly becoming global political and commercial issues. They must reduce the risks associated with failure such as pollution or loss of supply. BHR Group takes a leading role in the international pipeline industry through its contract research undertaken for major multinational oil and water businesses and by organising regular conferences. The latest of these events is its 19 th International Conference on Pipeline Protection, which will be held in Edinburgh, Scotland in September 2012. Since the first conference in 1975 the event has been held at regular intervals

There are around 2.5mn km of oil pipelines and 2.5mn km of water pipelines currently in use throughout the world, and both figures are likely to grow. Demand for oil drives exploration and production to new, and remoter, areas of the world. Population growth and the expectation of good quality water in developing countries is driving demand for infrastructure. These and other pressures will mean more and more need for pipelines. Pipelines are popular because in many applications they are themost sustainable, efficient and economical way to transport liquids, slurries and gases, but there are always potential risks. During the first few months of 2011 commercial and political events highlighted the reliance of the global community on pipelines and the issues that have to be addressed to ensure continuity of supply. In North America, for example, the US government has called for further studies on the commercial need and likely environmental impact of a proposed oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast, which will lead to delays. The on-going political unrest in the Middle East and North Africa has once again highlighted the subject of energy supply and security to countries that rely on these sources.

BHR Group Ltd – UK confx2@bhrgroup.com www.bhrconferences.com

Your Specialist in metallurgically clad Pipes

BUTTING Germany · Belgium · Brazil · Canada · China Brigitte Blechinger Sales Oil and Gas Upstream Phone: +49 5834 50-230 E-mail: brigitte.blechinger @ butting.de www.butting.com

For more than 230 years BUTTING has been supporting the customers with its skill and innovations. Since the mid-eighties we have been producing longitudinally welded, metallurgically clad pipes and have delivered more than 6,500 tons of these pipes to customers world-wide. We produce them in OD’s from 114.3 mm (4”) up to 1,219 mm (48”) in various material combinations. Progress by Tradition!

15

www.read-tpi.com

July 2011 Tube Products International