Pipeline & Gas Journal articles from February 2003

Pipeline & Gas Journal archives from February 2003

Daniel Valve ships 30-inch subsea swing check valve. (Newsreel).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Daniel Valve (a unit of SPX Valves & Controls) has shipped a 30-inch swing check valve for a major operator's subsea pipeline in about 800-foot water depth at an undisclosed location. Made and tested in accordance with API-6D Q1, the cast body...

John P. Stupp, Jr. assumes presidency of Stupp Corporation. (Newsreel).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Stupp Bros., Inc. recently announced that John P. Stupp, Jr., Executive Vice President and COO of Stupp Bros., Inc. and CEO of Stupp Corporation, will assume the additional duty of President of Stupp Corporation a position he previously held...

Northstar Industries receives patent for LNG conversion system. (Newsreel).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Northstar Industries, Inc. recently announced receipt of US Patent No. 6,474,101 from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the design of an LNG Storage to CNG High Pressure Storage and Fueling Station. The system requires no pumps or...

Pemex orders ORMAT[R] Energy Converters for gas pipeline. (Newsreel).(Pemex Gas y Petroquimica Basica )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Pemex Gas y Petroquimica Basica recently placed a new order for 12 ORMAT[R] Energy Converters (OEC) for cathodic protection along gas pipelines in the Chihuahua and Maredo regions in Mexico, according to ORMAT. Pemex has more than 20 years of...

Gas pipeline rupture in Houston area affects 3,000 customers. (Newsreel).(Houston Pipeline Co. gas transmission line ruptures )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A 6-inch gas transmission line operated by Houston Pipeline Company (AEP) ruptured on the evening of January 18 in northwest Houston, TX. The outage affected about 3,000 customers, according to CenterPoint Energy, the distribution company that...

Pipeline 101 Web site goes back to the basics. (Newsreel).(Association of Pipelines and American Pertoleum Institute launch Web site)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Association of Oil Pipelines (AOPL) and American Petroleum Institute (API) have launched a pipeline Web site, www.pipeline101.com, with streaming video, fun facts and fundamentals about pipelines, their history, construction and economic...

Editor's notebook.(Dynegy's recent difficulties )(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... Way back when, I learned about customer service the hard way. I grew up in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania where my parents owned a store that sold cards and gifts plus a lot of other stuff that I prefer not to remember. That store at...

AGA, EIA, New York Times agree that gas prices will not fall soon. (Distribution Forum).
February 1, 2003... In recent announcements, the AGA, the EIA and The New York Times reported that gas prices are high (up to $5/Mcf) and are going to stay there. Industry executives and analysts agree that today's prices underscore a fundamental shift that is...

GAO echoes congressional concerns over FERC regulation. (Government Guidelines).(General Accoutning Office )
February 1, 2003... Natural gas pipeline officials in Washington expect some members of Congress to introduce legislation beefing up the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) regulation of pipelines. That expectation, based oil Capitol Hill's frustration...

FERC clears way for new LNG terminals. (Government Guidelines).
February 1, 2003... It is a rare occurrence when the CEO of one natural gas subsidiary cheers the granting of a regulatory bonanza to a competitor. But Christopher Helms, president/CEO of Panhandle Companies, says FERC's decision to allow the newly approved...

DEGT's Grizzly Pipeline extension slated for April startup. (Projects).(Duke Energy Gas Transmission )
February 1, 2003... Construction is slated to begin this month on Duke Energy Gas Transmission's (DEGT) Grizzly Pipeline extension in Northeastern British Columbia and Alberta. Approved for construction in January by the National Energy Board, the $45 million,...

CRC-Evans provides Automatic Welding on five Kern River spreads. (Projects).(CRC-Evans Automatic Welding )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Automatic welding equipment from CRC-Evans Automatic Welding is being used on five of the Kern River Pipeline Expansion spreads. The $1.2 billion Kern River Expansion consists of 717 miles of loop pipeline adjacent to the existing pipeline...

BG evaluating Egyptian pipeline extension. (Projects).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Apart from LNG exports, the BG Group's major downstream involvement in Egypt centers on the Nile Valley Gas Company (NVGC), which holds a 25-year franchise to develop the gas market in Upper Egypt. NVGC recently completed a $38 million...

FERC approves $33 million pipeline expansion for Williams. (Projects).(Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Although Williams Cos. has been in the news recently for its effort to secure long-term debt financing and borrowing to pay down outstanding debt, the Tulsa, OK-based company recently received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approval to...

Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline back on track. (International Highlights).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Last-minute objection by environmentalists were swept aside when the international consortium behind a major oil pipeline--from Azerbaijan, through Georgia to Turkey--secured the right to start work early this year. After a commission of...

Product showcase: innovative techniques, systems and equipment designed to save time and money.
February 1, 2003... For more information on any of the companies or products you see here, click www.thru.to/pgj Shown is a picture of Liftex Corporation's Lowering-in-belt coated with a special polyurethane to protect belts against rocky terrain and/or...

Connection to public communications increases danger of cyber-attacks. (SCADA Security Audit).(Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition)
February 1, 2003... The threat of cyberattack on cyberspace and SCADAspace associated with a pipeline information infrastructure is real and increasing. Cyber-attacks are increasing exponentially, resulting in the crafting of key national strategies to secure...

Company grows pipe line and storage empire with progressive control system. (Enbridge SCADA Success).(Enbridge Pipelines Inc., supervisory control and data acquisition)
February 1, 2003... Enbridge Pipelines Inc. has adroitly handheld growth in demand for monitoring and controlling its pipelines while maintaining a reputation as a world leader in energy transportation and distribution by exploiting its progressive control system,...

Here's what you need to know to protect SCADA systems from cyber-attack. (Protecting Control And Data Systems).(supervisory control and data acquisition)
February 1, 2003... The first step in protecting a pipeline or distribution system SCADA system is to recognize that there are possible threats against such systems. These risks include risks of a physical attack, a cyber-attack. and even risks in the event that...

Elba Island LNG plant installs replacement DCS and measurement system.(distributed control system, Southern LNG Inc.)
February 1, 2003... Engineers solved several technical challenges recently when the Elba Island LNG plant, off the Georgia coast, was recommissioned after 20 years of standby operation. A key challenge that was successfully met was replacing the plant's...

Companies might slow cost growth, avoid some risk by shedding non-core functions. (Outsource Pipeline SCADA and Applications).(supervisory control and data acquisition)
February 1, 2003... Pipeline companies might shed some big risks and rein in growing variable costs by outsourcing their SCADA system operations and maintenance. Firms with experience and expertise in real-time applications can provide a technological and...

MSA Instrument Division. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... MSA Instrument Division has released a color bulletin for the new Ultima X Series Gas Monitor. Based on the industry-leading Ultima Gas Monitor, these state-of-the-art detectors feature the latest mechanical and electrical technologies and are...

eLynx Technologies MeterDOC. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... eLynx Technologies, a Web-based field automation company, recently released a flyer on its MeterDOC. The MeterDOC provides real-time meter data on the Internet, accessible by clients anywhere. The MeterDOC reports on previous day's gas flow,...

Dynatrol SPINX viscosity instrument. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... The Dynatrol[R] SPINX Stand-Alone System from Automation Products, Inc., promises easy viscosity sampling where a probe in a process line or tank is not practical. The system is said to work on oils, hydrocarbons, coatings, paints, inks,...

GE Druck Subsea P/T Transmitter. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... The PTX 400 Series Subsea Pressure/Temperature Transmitter has been designed for long-term use on the ocean floor. It enables accurate process measurements to be made directly on subsea manifolds. The sensor design is based on API performance...

Kam Controls Optical Interface Detector. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... KAM OID (Optical Interface Detector) from Kam Controls Inc. is designed to provide the user with quick and accurate detection of product interface in the pipeline. The OID rises fiber optics, transmitting information without the use of...

GE Panametrics DigitalFlow GC868. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... The GE Panametrics DigitalFlow GC868 is a clamp-on ultrasonic flow meter for gases at high of low pressure in pipes made of metal or just about any other material. Historically, clamp-on flow, metering was limited to liquids. The new meter was...

FMC Kongsberg MPU 1200. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... FMC's Kongsberg MPU 1200 ultrasonic flowmeter uses precise acoustic paths to deliver bi-directional measurement with a guaranteed accuracy of +/- 0.2 percent. Published GTI tests results show the flowmeter's performance to be superior to...

Dickson Company economy data logger. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... Dickson Company has introduced the TK 500 and SK500 super compact, economy data loggers. The economy data loggers are NIST traceable and are so compact--slightly larger than a quarter--that Dickson says they can be placed just about anywhere....

Daniel Danalyzer. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... Daniel Danalyzer gas chromatographs offer parallel chromatography coupled with advanced controller capabilities. Daniel says this greatly increases natural gas measurement power and reduces overall measurement costs. New applications include...

Honeywell Industrial Process Controls. (What's New In Security, Communications, SCADA, Measurement and Buildings).
February 1, 2003... Honeywell Industrial Process Controls has rolled out two new in-line gauge pressure transmitter models in its ST 3000 pressure transmitter line. The new models are for high-pressure applications requiring measurements from 0 to 10,000 psig (0...

Sheehan Pipe Line moves into 2nd century of service. (1903-2003: 100 Years of Success).(Company Profile)
February 1, 2003... Only one American firm has laid pipelines continuously since the beginning of the 20th century. After 100 years, that Tulsa-based company, Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Co., continues to stand out as one of North America's pre-eminent builders...

Contractors speak out on evolving market changes. (Annual Contractors Roundtable).(Panel Discussion)
February 1, 2003... Patrick D. Michels President Michels Corporation Brownsville, WI Robert L. Meschi Executive Vice President The Hallen Construction Company Island Park, NY Dale A. Anderson President InfraSource...

Midwestern Manufacturing celebrates 50th anniversary. (Product Development).(Company Profile)
February 1, 2003... Midwestern engineers designed and built the first hydraulically operated sideboom, following the recommendations of several of the original members of the DCA, The equipment was manufactured for Underground Constructors, a DCA member company...

Two world water depth records set in Gulf of Mexico. (Offshore Review).
February 1, 2003... The Minerals Management Service (MMS), Gulf of Mexico Region, recently announced that the oil and gas industry set new world water depth records for both pipelines and producing wells. In September 2001, MMS permitted the Canyon Express gas...

Companies seek license to build deepwater Gulf ports. (Offshore Review).(Gulf of Mexico)
February 1, 2003... Two companies have submitted applications with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) to build deepwater ports in the Gulf of Mexico. El Paso Corporation's subsidiary, Global Petroleum & LNG Group, filed to develop its first EP Energy Bridge[TM]...

Automation systems for Conoco's Deepwater Magnolia Development. (Offshore Review).(Magnolia Deepwater Development Project automation contract given to Honeywell Industry Solutions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Honeywell Industry Solutions business has received all $11.4 million order for automation systems and services in support of the Magnolia Deepwater Development Project operated by Conoco Inc., a subsidiary of ConocoPhillips. The Magnolia...

Pipelay work and marine operations for Statoil's Kristin field. (Offshore Review).(Norwegian North Sea)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Allseas Marine Contractors has contracted to install 19 miles of gas export loop in the Norwegian North Sea that will extend from the Kristen field's floating platform to the Asgard Transport gas trunkline and back again. Work under the...

$400 million Yolla field development moves ahead. (Offshore Review).(Origin Energy Resources Ltd.)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Origin Energy Resources Ltd., operator of the joint venture comprising Australian Worldwide Exploration Ltd., CalEnergy Gas (Australia) and Wandoo Petroleum, plans to proceed with development of the BassGas project. The development, which will...

Work gets under way on Ocean Energy's zia project. (Offshore Review).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Global Industries Ltd. has contracted to install two 16-mile flowlines in the Gulf for Ocean Energy Inc. The flowlines will run from a fixed platform in the South Pass leasing area in 420 feet of water to a subsea well in Mississippi Canyon in...

Seabed processing unit under test. (Offshore Review).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Alpha Thames Ltd. recently finalized an agreement with Shell Technology Ventures Ltd. to undertake a 15-month program aimed at quailing the company's seabed processing unit lot use in field developments. The Shell agreement calls for the...

New software enhances work of DNP3 SCADA operating protocol. (Product Development).
February 1, 2003... Citect has released a new ODC (object device connectivity) data-acquisition software with a fully object-oriented redundant DNP3 protocol handler that ensures pipelines and gas utilities of "no lost data" and eliminates the need to buy...

Serimer Dasa Automatic Welding. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Serimer Dasa Automatic Pipeline Welding has published a color brochure devoted to its automatic welding system. The subsidiary of Stolt Offshore uses two dual-torch welding systems. They are called Saturnax and Saturne 8-Torch. Saturnax is a...

Flowserve Corporation Mark III Pump brochure. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Flowserve Corp. Pump Division recently published a color bulletin which describes its Mark III In-Line Chemical Process Pump. The space-saving pump is said to offer improved reliability and extended mean time between planned maintenance...

Verano Inc. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Verano Inc. has introduced what it describes as the first Linux-based, real-time software platform for managing industrial and plant operations. The company says it is a leading provider of software for Instant Awareness[TM] of plant...

YZ systems CHEMJEX chemical injection systems. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... YZ recently introduced the CHEMJEX[TM] brand chemical injection systems, offering flexibility for injecting a variety of process chemicals. The specific system is engineered for corrosion inhibitor injection and is a pneumatically-actuated...

Smith Flow Control Easi-Drive. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Smith Flow Control (USA) says its new Easi-Drive portable valve operating system is designed for use with manual valves in situations where valve size, pressure rating or work environment would otherwise demand a dedicated actuator or require a...

Flowserve Corporation Cameron Hydraulic Data book. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Flowserve Corp. has published a revised edition of its Cameron Hydraulic Data book. An aid to engineers involved with specifying, selecting and applying pumping equipment, the Cameron Hydraulic Data book is a comprehensive reference. It is said...

Invensys plc PROFIBUS Interface. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Invensys plc recently unveiled a new PROFIBUS interface for the Foxboro I/A Series A2 automation system. The interface is said to provide a cost-efficient option for seamlessly integrating PROFIBUS DP slave devices into the system. The rugged...

WASK-UK pipeline products brochure. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... WASK recently brought together for the first time under one cover all its products for working on pipelines under pressure. For the gas industry, the brochure has descriptions, complete with component lists, for the Teeset drilling, tapping and...

Caterpillar G3500 advanced gas generator set. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Cat says its G3500 Advanced Gas Gen Set is taking distributed generation from promise to payoff. The gas-fueled generator sets are said to be designed to break through financial and environmental constraints. The set is intended to be cost...

Petris Technology Inc. PetrisWINDS. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Petris Technology Inc. has made significant enhancements to its PetrisWINDS Enterprise data management product and has introduced a new limited edition version, PetrisWINDS WorkGroup. This new version is designed to provide federated data...

Ember Corporation EmberNet Embedded wireless networking. (New Products).
February 1, 2003... Ember Corporation provider of embedded wireless networking solutions, has, announced the availability of the EmberNet product suite. This is a family of hardware and software products and development tools for use in embedded wireless...

Northeast Gas Association (NGA). (Association News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... To better serve the energy needs of 7 million natural gas customers in the Northeast region, the New England Gas Association (NEGA) and the New York Gas Group (NYGAS) merged on Jan. 1, becoming the Northeast Gas Association (NGA). The new...

Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC). (Association News).(appoints new vice president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Marsha Short was promoted to vice president of the Gas Machinery Research Council (GMRC). Short has been with the Southern Gas Association (SGA) for 19 years and has been responsible for GMRC activities for the past six. She is also responsible...

Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC). (Association News).(installs new officers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission (IOGCC) has installed a new slate of officers. The officers will serve under the leadership of North Dakota Gov. John Hoeven who succeeds Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. Other newly named offices are:...

National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators (NAPCA). (Association News).(Steve McConkey resigns for foreign assignment)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Steve McConkey, vice president and general manager of eb Pipe Coating Inc., Panama City, FL, formerly secretary/treasurer and a member of the National Association of Pipe Coating Applicators (NAPCA), recently resigned from the board to accept a...

Kenneth E. Arnold, P.E., has been named the 2003 Houston Area Engineer of the Year. (Association News).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Kenneth E. Arnold, P.E., has been named the 2003 Houston Area Engineer of the Year. Representatives of various Houston engineering organizations selected Arnold based on his outstanding educational, professional, technical, civic, and...

Anderson Consulting, Training & Testing (ACTT). (Personnel Changes).(vice president to chair 2003 Gas Machinery Conference)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Charles Ely, vice president of Houston-based Anderson Consulting, Training & Testing (ACTT), has been appointed chairman of the 2003 Gas Machinery Conference that will be held October 6-8, at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, UT.

Futura Coatings Inc. (Personnel Changes).(Jim Neer appointed)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Jim Neer has joined Futura Coatings Inc., St. Louis, MO, as the Southeast regional salesman. He will be responsible for building sales of Futura's entire product line in a newly created eight-state territory.

Paragon Engineering Services, Inc. (Personnel Changes).(Richard L. Rankin joins as vice president of midstream projects)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Richard L. Rankin has joined Paragon Engineering Services, Inc. as vice president of midstream projects in the company's Houston headquarters. Rankin is charged with bolstering Paragon's presence in the emerging areas of LNG, LGP and GTL, GTM...

Foxboro Automation Systems. (Personnel Changes).(director of marketing is now Paul S. Steinitz)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Invensys recently named Paul S. Steinitz as director of marketing, Foxboro Automation Systems. Steinitz will oversee future product launches of the Foxboro A2 family of automation system platforms. In his new position, Steinitz will work to...

Halliburton's Energy Services Group. (Personnel Changes).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Halliburton has made a promotion in the executive team as a result of the planned retirement of 25-year employee Edgar Ortiz, president and chief executive office of Halliburton's Energy Services Group, John Gibson, president of Halliburton...

El Paso Corporation. (Personnel Changes).(Joel Richards III retires)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Joel Richards III has retired from his position as executive vice president, administration, at the El Paso Corporation. Richards, who joined the company in 1984, was responsible for a number of critical corporate operations including human...

El Paso also announced that Ralp Eads III, executive vice president, left the company effective the end of December 2002 to pursue other opportunities. (Personnel Changes).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... El Paso also announced that Ralp Eads III, executive vice president, left the company effective the end of December 2002 to pursue other opportunities. Eads, who joined the company in 1999, was responsible for the company's power, petroleum,...

Duke Energy. (Personnel Changes).(A.R. Mullinax)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Duke Energy named A.R. Mullinax executive vice president of Duke Energy Business Services (DEBS), a new organizational unit that will deliver support services to the company's business units and corporate groups. Since March 2002, Mullinax has...

EnCana Corporation. (Personnel Changes).(Randall K Eresman)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Randall K. Eresman has been named senior executive vice president and COO of the EnCana Corporation. With this appointment, Eresman assumes responsibility for the company's worldwide oil and gas E&P activities.

Valvoline. (Personnel Changes).(two promotions)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Valvoline announced two managerial promotions. Mitchell Skaggs was promoted to vice president of business transformation, The Valvoline Company, and Craig A. Moughler was promoted to senior vice president and managing director, Valvoline...

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (Personnel Changes).(James M Collingsworth elected senior vice president)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... James M. Collingsworth was recently elected senior vice president at Enterprise Products Partners L.P. He is responsible for the NGL pipelines at Mont Belvieu and west of Mont Belvieu, including the recently acquired Mid-America and Seminole...

PetroChem Inspection Services. (Company News, Mergers & Acquisitions).(winning bid on US DOT project)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Houston, TX-based PetroChem Inspection Services recently submitted the winning bid on a research project funded by the U.S. DOT to further develop inspection techniques for pipelines using long-range ultrasound. Working with PetroChem will be...

Ondeo Nalco Company. (Company News, Mergers & Acquisitions).(contract with Esso Exploration and Production Norway AS)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Ondeo Nalco Company has finalized a contract to provide oil-field chemicals and services to Esso Exploration and Production Norway AS, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. The contract duration is three years with options to extend it to an additional...

After 53 years in the pipeline construction industry, Bert Gil recently retired from Tuff-N-Nuff Industries. (Company News, Mergers & Acquisitions).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... After 53 years in the pipeline construction industry, Bert Gil recently retired from Tuff-N-Nuff Industries. Gill co-founded Tuff-N-Nuff Industries that specialized in pipe protection products in 1989. He served as the company's vice president...

Upcoming events 2002. (Meetings).(Calendar)
February 1, 2003... Feb. 18-19, Investigating Ultrasonic Measurements, The Energy Forum, Westin Oaks Hotel, Houston, TX. Phone: (832) 242-0397; Web: TheEnergyForum.com. Feb. 20, Marine Construction 2003, Houston InterContinental Hotel, Houston, TX. Phone:...

2002 ends with questions on deregulation: a close-up look at the Natural Gas Business. (From The Burner Tip).
February 1, 2003... When year 2000 came to an end, one of the major questions within the energy industry was whether price decontrol, as far as it had gone, was good or bad. Was the governments effort to open the energy industry to "market control," rather than a...