Safety, Technology on Display at PRCI Research Exchange

By Brad Kramer February 23, 2015 View Profile

More than 300 oil and gas professionals gathered in Houston, Feb. 3-5, to discuss the latest technology and research affecting the industry. The ninth annual Research Exchange Meeting, hosted by Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI), attracted attendees representing PRCI member companies, key researchers, pipeline safety regulators and stakeholders in the pipeline industry.

The event focused on the important research results and outcomes of PRCI projects and programs addressing pipeline operations and integrity, corrosion prevention and control, design, materials and construction. The Research Exchange Meeting has become a cornerstone event for PRCI technology transfer and networking.

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Colonial Pipeline Co. president and CEO Tim Felt delivered the keynote speech to open the program. An experienced executive within the pipeline industry, Felt shared Colonial’s commitment to serve customers with safe, reliable and efficient fuel deliveries and to safeguard the public and the environment and how research and participation in PRCI is a key factor in meeting that commitment.

Further enhancing the program, PRCI member Chevron hosted a Technology Demonstration & Reception for the attendees to see the inspection tools and technologies that will assist in keeping pipelines safe. A number of vendors demonstrated their technologies that are either currently supporting PRCI research projects and programs or have potential for deployment to inspect or monitor the integrity of the pipeline. The technologies that were showcased vary from pipeline inspection, repairs, right of way monitoring to leak detection. Attendees benefitted from seeing the tools that can assist in understanding and discovering ways to help manage pipeline operations.

A poster session was held Feb. 4 to highlight research linked to pipeline integrity management that was conducted at universities that are a part of the Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s University Research Program. As part of the session, PRCI recognized and showcased the winner of its sponsored poster session at the International Pipeline Conference (IPC) that was held in Calgary in September 2014. Emma Perez and Leanne Thomson of Enbridge Pipelines Inc. won first place at IPC with the poster “Transient Modeling of Surge Pressures Within Injection Terminal Facilities,” which was presented at the Research Exchange Meeting.

Continuing to educate and engage the next generation of pipeline industry professionals is also of great importance to PRCI. The council recognized members of the Young Pipeliners Association of Canada (YPAC), whose papers were accepted to IPC 2014 and presented the second place winner, Riski H. Adianto of C-FER Technologies for his paper “Limit State Design for Onshore Pipelines — Designing For Hydrostatic Test Pressure & Restrained Thermal Expansion,” with complimentary attendance, travel and accommodations to participate in the Research Exchange Meeting.

The event sponsors included Chevron, RCP, Marathon Pipe Line LLC, Phillips 66 Pipeline LLC and Riccardelli Consulting Services.