GeoGathering Conference Offers Valuable Industry Information
 The fifth annual GeoGathering Conference took place Aug. 31-Sept. 1 in Broomfield, Colo. The conference agenda was tailored to pipeline operators involved with gathering and production in the oil and gas industry.
Attendance has steadily grown each year, and this year represented more than 80 different companies. With more than 17 operator presentations, this year’s sessions included best practice advice on pipeline integrity management, regulations, field data capture, implementing new geospatial information system (GIS) technology and updates from PHMSA and other industry associations.
The 140 attendees were able to share their experiences in applying GIS technology, as well as learn valuable information from the presenters.
Keynote speaker and industry consultant Joe Monroe presented “How Regulatory and Business Drivers are Reshaping North America’s Pipeline Infrastructure” and included how business leaders are balancing increased regulation with the growing demand for pipeline infrastructure to the nation’s energy needs.
Another presentation included a PHMSA update that addressed how the new and proposed pipeline regulations that are impacting transmission pipelines, such as data integration, impact low stress gathering pipelines and the current pipeline reauthorization activities. The full agenda with presentations can be found on the GeoGathering website.
For those interested in participating next year, visit www.GeoGathering.com to learn more about the conference.
For those interested in participating in group conversations related to industry issues throughout the year, they can join the GeoGathering LinkedIn group.
Bandit Industries Receives EPA Award Wood chipper manufacturer Bandit Industries received a National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) achievement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Sept. 7. The award was given to the company for efforts in reducing hazardous chemicals in the workplace, specifically with the reduction of mercury. Bandit was one of only three organizations in Michigan to receive the award.
“We established a goal to reduce our mercury use throughout our buildings,” says Bandit Industries Facilities Manager Louie Jensen. “We focused on thermostats, which often contain minute amounts of mercury. With over 65 furnaces throughout our buildings the project seemed overwhelming at first, but we put together a plan and over the course of two months replaced all the thermostats with new
programmable units that were mercury free.”
Bandit’s proactive replacement of these thermostats resulted in approximately 3 lbs of the dangerous metal being removed from the company grounds. The old thermostats were then securely packaged and sent to a recycling facility.
“Three pounds may not sound like much, but even the tiny amounts found in a basic household fever thermometer can result in a very hazardous chemical spill,” says Janet Haff, Waste Minimization Coordinator for the EPA, Region 5. “Bandit is really ahead of the curve on chemical reductions.”
To date, NPEP partners have been successful in removing more than 40 million pounds of potentially hazardous material.
Founded in 1983 with just six employees and a 6,000-sq ft converted workshop, Bandit has continually expanded to become a global manufacturer with more than 50,000 machines sold in more than 50 countries for use in land clearing operations for pipeline construction, as well as logging, tree care, biomass and wood waste recycling industries.
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