TPT January 2009

C ontents

2

E ditorial I ndex

Separating the random from the predictable There is currently an interesting piece of trivia doing the rounds that points out each year a democrat has been elected as US president over the last 30 years, a British driver has also won the Formula 1 Grand Prix title. When Bill Clinton was elected in 1992, Nigel Mansell won the drivers championship; in Bill Clinton’s re- election year of 1996, Damon Hill took the F1 title. And, of course, the election of Barack Obama as US president coincided with Lewis Hamilton clinching the coveted Grand Prix crown. But the problem with such happenstance is that it’s never clear if there’s a tangible link between two sets of facts, or if they just serve to reflect our randomly predictable existence. This reminds me of the economic puzzle about the theatre audience with a higher than average proportion that play tennis. The puzzle poses the question: does the fact that they go to the theatre explain why they also play tennis? The world is full of unexplained coincidences like these. However, as we head into possibly the worst financial year in history, it should be recognised that this economic mayhem is no coincidence and was entirely predictable (see the theories of economist Nikolai Kondratiev). In the game of consequence, for those many companies that will sadly fail and the unfortunate job losses incurred, the root of the problem lies with gross financial mismanagement and reckless debt accumulation from top to bottom.

6

I ndustry N ews

24 T echnology U pdate

66 O il & G as N ews

82 F rom T he A mericas

104 A dvertisers I ndex

Fortunately, what will be a little more reliable in 2009 is the Tube & Pipe Technology features program. Next issue we will turn our attention to Tube Russia 2009, ‘Clamping, handling and packaging’ and ‘Drilling, piercing and punching technology’. As always, please keep sending your news so that I may help keep our industry informed. Rich Sears Editor • Email: richard@intras.co.uk

14

The international magazine for the tube & pipe industries

Published by: Intras Publications , 46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, CV32 4HY, UK Tel : +44 1926 334137 • Fax : +44 1926 314755 Email : tpt@intras.co.uk Website : www.read-tpt.com USA Office (Editorial only): Intras Limited, 272 First Ave, Apt 12G, New York, NY 10009, USA Tel/Fax : +1 212 614 9266 Email : dfabian@rcn.com Indian Office: Jintras Ltd, Subarna (Ground Floor) P21/N, Block A New Alipore, Kolkata 700 053, India Tel: +91 33 2407 0701 • Fax : +91 33 2407 0700 Email : jeroov@vsnl.com All rights reserved – © Intras Ltd ISSN 0953-2366 This publication and its full contents of layout, text, images, and graphics is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any other storage or retrieval system without the publisher’s written permission. The publisher, owners, agents, printers, editors and contributors cannot be held responsible for and hereby exclude all liability whatsoever for errors, omissions or the accuracy and claims printed or inferred in the editorial or advertisements published in this, previous or subsequent editions or for any damages, costs or losses caused thereby. Tube & Pipe Technology reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. Tube & Pipe Technology expressed graphically or by text is a registered name and style trademark of Intras Ltd, UK. All matters relating to this disclaimer are governed by the laws of England.

Editor • Rich Sears Features editor (USA) • Dorothy Fabian Editorial assistant • Christian Bradley Production manager • Lisa Benjamin Design • Julie Tomlin

• Catherine Sayers English speaking sales • Giuliana Benedetto Italian sales • Hendrike Morriss German speaking sales • Linda Li Chinese sales • Jeroo Vandrevala Indian sales

Sales & marketing

34

• Liz Hughes

Advertising co-ordinators

Andrea McIntosh

• Liz Hughes

Subscriptions

• Richard Babbedge

Accounts manager

• Caroline Sullens

Publisher

• John C Hogg

Founder

US Copies only: Tube & Pipe Technology (ISSN No: 0953-2366) is published bi-monthly by INTRAS Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Tube & Pipe Technology , PO Box 437, Emigsville PA 17318-0437. Tube & Pipe Technology magazine is available on subscription, or via membership of the International Tube Association – See www.itatube.org for more membership benefits

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it