Gas Pipeline Construction Research Articles

DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENTIFIC FOUNDATIONS AND METHOD OF AUTONOMOUS POWER AND GAS SUPPLY OF REMOTE CONSUMERS FROM GAS DISTRIBUTION NETWORKS

The development and implementation of independent power supply systems with a high degree of autonomy is becoming an urgent task for the development of remote and inaccessible regions of the country, both due to the lack of energy capacities and accessible networks in newly developed areas, and the high cost of allocating separate power lines for remote and compact settlements. The increase in the scale of central networks is associated with high capital investments and long project implementation time, which creates inconvenience for consumers and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. At the same time, unlike power supply, gasification issues, which are actively being resolved in all regions of the country, make it possible to connect new consumers of natural gas several times faster and cheaper, which is due to the high manufacturability and speed of construction of polyethylene gas pipelines of distribution networks, provided that gas pipelines pass in the region. In addition to lower capital and operating costs, the process of transporting energy resources through pipelines in the form of a primary source — gas — is characterized by significantly lower losses compared to water and electricity. At the same time, network gas in combination with trigeneration technologies and cryogenic hydrocarbon storage can be used not only as boiler fuel, but also as motor fuel, a source for generating electricity, heat and even cold with a replenished autonomous reserve. Thus, as an alternative solution to traditional power systems, it is proposed to use hybrid power systems — systems based on trigeneration plants with gas piston installations, turbine and screw machines, as well as cryogenic gas storage facilities that can provide the population with electricity, heat, cold and motor fuel. The article analyzed the state and development of the fuel and energy complex in Russia, conducted a study of the needs for heat, gas and electricity for an average compact settlement with small and medium-sized enterprises. Analysis and selection of equipment parameters for uninterrupted autonomous power supply of the economy was carried out.

Organization оf Electrochemical Protection оf Steel Underground Pipelines Against Corrosionin the Gas Distribution Industry of the Republic of Belarus

Steel underground gas pipelines occupy a significant share of the total length of gas distribution pipelines, and therefore their maintenance in proper condition is a constant and very urgent task. Due to its global nature, the main influencing factor affecting the technical condition of any steel underground pipelines, including gas pipelines, is corrosion, primarily soil corrosion. To protect against it on pipeline networks, along with insulating coatings, electrochemical protection (ECP) is applied, that is, following the definition of STO [Standard of Organization] 17330282.27.060.001–2008, protection of metal against corrosion in an electrolytic environment, carried out by establishing a protective potential on it or eliminating the anodic potential shift from the stationary potential. In the gas distribution industry of the country, methods and means of electrochemical protection have been applied since the beginning of gasification and the construction of the first gas pipelines. All gas supplying organizations of the State Production Association for Fuel and Gasification “Beltopgaz” (six regional and Minsk city), which operate gas distribution facilities, have specialized corrosion protection services. These services provide maintenance of available ECP equipment, conduct electrical measurements on gas pipelines and corrosion studies of soils, and have certified laboratories. This paper is devoted to the analysis of domestic experience in organizing electrochemical protection of steel underground gas distribution pipelines, searching for promising directions for its improvement and increasing efficiency through the implementation of a unified industry technical policy, automation and telemechanization of ECP equipment in the general context of digital transformation, optimization of the timing and volume of maintenance.

Research on the interaction between trench material and pipeline under fault displacement

With the large-scale construction of oil and gas pipelines, the safety issues of long-distance buried pipelines in the service and construction have become increasingly prominent. The complex geological and topographical conditions of the special zone will put forwards extremely high requirements on pipe trench laying backfill materials and construction technology. For example, pipelines are inevitable to cross the active fault, while the trench backfilled with soil has limitations in protecting them from failure under the active fault displacement caused by the earthquake. Therefore, it is necessary to study the pipe–soil interaction mechanism, determine the stress state of the pipeline and propose a new backfilling material that can protect the pipeline from failure. Foam concrete (FC) provides a new choice to backfill the buried pipeline trench due to its high-homogeneity, lightweight, controllable-strength, and self-compacting. To further determine the applicability of the FC, the pipe-FC interaction mechanism is studied. Then, a FE model of the FC-pipeline-soil interaction system is established by Abaqus to quantitatively analyze the applicability of the FC based on the experimental data of the mechanical performance of the FC. It proves that using FC as trench backfill material has a noticeable protective effect on the pipeline under the earthquake-induced displacement of the normal fault. Furthermore, FC has a better protective effect on the pipeline subjected to compressive than tensile. Therefore, the reference for applying FC in trench backfilling of pipelines crossing normal fault is provided.

STRATEGIC INTERACTION BETWEEN RUSSIA AND TURKEY WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE TURKISH STREAM CONSTRUCTION PROJECT

Turkish Stream is a difficult-to-implement and large-scale engineering project in gas pipeline construction, which is located at a depth of more than 2,000 meters in the Black Sea. The creation of the project was conditioned by the possibilities of establishing new routes for gas export, strengthening of international relations between Russia and Turkey, energy security of Turkey and European countries, as well as consolidation of Russia’s status of energy leader. The article considers the peculiarities of international relations between Russia and Turkey, characterizes the Turkish Stream project, identifies the economic benefits of the countries from the construction of the Black Sea gas pipeline, defines the role of Turkish Stream in strengthening political cooperation, analyzes the risks associated with the construction of the Russian-Turkish gas pipeline, and develops the concept of international strategic interaction within the framework of Turkish Stream in modern conditions.

Development and Outlook for Pipeline Inspection Robots

Background:: Robots for pipeline inspection are frequently employed in long-distance oil, wastewater, and natural gas pipelines. Much complex research is being conductedon pipeline inspection robots, including work on fluid-driven and non-fluid-driven, among other things. Research on pipeline inspection robots can be advanced by examining their current stage of development. Additionally, pipeline inspection robots may be able to promote the growth of the pipeline transportation sector by creating new structures. Objective:: This study aims to examine the benefits and drawbacks of several pipeline inspection robots and theirdevelopment trend through the lens of the most recent advancements in the field. Methods:: Through the structure and application scenarios of the latest representative patents of pipeline inspection robots, the working principle and characteristics of pipeline inspection robots are demonstrated. Results:: The shortcomings of the current pipeline inspection robots are highlighted, along with potential future development pathways and research issues, by comparing pipeline inspection robots of various structures. Conclusion:: The development of pipeline inspection robots has benefited the construction of sewage, oil, natural gas, and long-distance pipelines, as well as long-distance pipeline transportation. Because of these robots' unique features and ample room for advancement, pipeline inspection robots have even more development prospects.

Evaluation of possibilities of fulfillment of customer requirements as an element of end-to-end management of enterprise business processes

Aim. Improvement of the enterprise business processes management by offering methodical tools for assessing the possibilities to fulfill customer requirements before concluding a contract for product delivery / service provision.Objectives. To analyze the existing approaches to the management of enterprise business pro- cesses in the scientific literature; to determine the control points of end-to-end management of business processes; to consider the peculiarities of the application of qualitative and quan- titative types of risk analysis; on the basis of the conducted research to develop a methodology for assessing the possibilities of meeting customer requirements at the enterprise.Methods. The article considers the methodology of assessing the possibilities of fulfillment of customer requirements as an element of end-to-end management of business processes at the enterprise. With the help of general scientific and special economic and statistical methods, such as analysis, synthesis and comparison, the key control points of the business process man- agement system, where different management approaches to risk analysis are applied, are de- termined. The trends characteristic of the current state and development of risk analysis methods are highlighted, their advantages and disadvantages are established. Systemic and complex approaches are applied to the studied phenomena and processes. Results. In the process of the conducted analysis the deficit of attention to the application of methods of business process risk management at the stage of pre-contract work was found out. Within the framework of the concept of risk-oriented thinking, which is at the heart of modern management systems, the article highlights the applied approaches to risk analysis, the algorithm of realization of expert risk analysis at the enterprise is proposed, the types of requirements used for evaluation are defined. The indicator of feasibility of customer require- ments at the enterprise is calculated, the criteria for making a management decision based on the results of the assessment are revealed, The variants of auxiliary documentation developed in the course of the assessment are given. Thus, the developed methodology acts as a control point at the initial stage of realization of the algorithm of end-to-end management of business processes of the enterprise.Conclusions. The proposed methodological toolkit for assessing the ability to fulfill customer requirements is a preventive measure to eliminate risks before the delivery of products / ser- vices. The procedure and peculiarities of the methodology application are given on the example of analyzing the level of feasibility of the customer’s requirements of the gas industry com- pany, Realizing the service of construction of main gas pipelines and compressor stations. The developed methodical toolkit allows to increase the level of quality of realization of business processes and the degree of their transparency, to provide more balanced management decisions, to improve conditions for contract conclusion, to reduce the number of discrepancies in the activity of enterprises of gas and other industrial branches.

Insights into ancient ceramic technology: a comprehensive analysis of mineralogy, chemistry and firing conditions

The intensive integration of Azerbaijan into the global economy, mainly through international gas and oil pipeline construction, has led to significant archaeological research in the past two decades. The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline (BTC) and the Southern Caucasus Pipeline gas pipeline (SCP) prompted a four-year archaeological fieldwork program, followed by a six-year post-excavation program. The current work applied an interdisciplinary approach using various instrumental methods for studying ancient artifacts found during those projects. The thermogravimetric method and differential thermal analysis were employed to obtain insights into the production technology of the ancient pottery and information about the mineralogy of the ceramic sherds. The complex processes involved in firing the ceramic paste have been studied extensively, and patterns in mass loss ratios during different temperature ranges have been established. In total, 15 samples were investigated, and the thermogravimetric analysis of ceramic shards revealed that the firing temperature of the samples was in the range of 700 °C. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of quartz, feldspar, and clay minerals in the ceramic samples. The presence of calcite and other specific minerals is subject to the origin of the ceramic materials. The results obtained from this multidisciplinary approach provide insights into the firing technology and the origin of the ceramic samples.

Speed of metal deformation of welded pipe sections in the process of natural tests

It is clear that testing on Menage Charpey samples and other materials, which may not match the durability of pipe walls, does not reflect the real picture of visco-plastic failures, which does not allow the development of a methodology or model for predicting the residual life (failure-free) gas pipelines have a three-year term of operation. At the same time, theoretical and laboratory studies do not always provide sufficient evidence for nutrition, directly related to the reliability and trouble-free operation of pipelines. It is likely that in the laboratory minds of enterprises and scientific foundations, it is important to create and identify all the factors that characterize the growing and widespread use of metal in gas pipelines to represent nature. and testing of cutting gas pipelines with a length of 150-250 m. However, due to the technical complexity of their implementation, in the field Our minds will never again be faced with the need to identify a new set of registration parameters. In addition, the testing of highly labor-intensive procedures, including ensuring the safety of their implementation, requires large material and hourly costs. Serial testing of enclosed pipes in the drains of a specially lined landfill and cutting on this basis is quite consistent with the results of field testing of gas pipelines. Field testing of pipes allows for consistently inexpensive research when testing new types of steel and pipe designs. Therefore, laboratory data need to be verified and necessarily clarified based on the results of pneumatic testing of long-life pipe sections, so that at the present time there is an urgent need to combine laboratory and field tests pipes of the gas pipeline. Such testing is not widespread, but as a result of their experimentation, important information is taken away from the behavior and power of metal in the minds of vantagement and exploitation, those closest to exploitation. Full-scale testing was carried out at a specially trained test site for cutting pipes intended for the construction of main gas pipelines, which made it possible to determine the kinematic and dynamic parameters of the alignment of the model gas pipeline under operating conditions. importance and in minds as close as possible to the operational ones. Analysis of the results of the field (natural) tests is to confirm that from the moment of initiation of the collapse in the central pipe, the fluidity of the main crack (on both sides of the initiator) increases and increases distance approximately 2-3 diameters from the cut, reaching a maximum. Changing the fluidity after tightening the central pipe can be either symmetrical or asymmetrical to the cut in the middle pipe. This is due to the technique of carrying out the experiment and the formation of cracks, including displacements of the cutting edge in the middle of the pipe and various influences on the metal of the pipes in the zone of local tearing. The underlying regularity is that the maximum fluidity is not evident at the crack acceleration stage. It is necessary to note that in order to carry out the experiment, so that the achieved high fluidity of the structure is preserved when the top of the crack enters the final plot. This is ensured by consistent selection of the viscosity of the metal of the central pipe.

Welding of P355NH steel for the construction of a medium-pressure gas pipeline

AbstractThere is an increasing demand for welding of steel pipes meant for pressure purposes. P355NH (1.0473) steel became an important construction material used for structuring and restructuring of a medium-pressure gas pipeline due to its properties, such as significant tensile strength at the level of 600 MPa and increased yield point. These properties ensure appropriate service life of the principal pipeline structures. When welding P355NH steel, processes that enable high-quality welds without significant changes in the chemical composition of the base material, are applied. It is recommended to use the TIG welding process to produce joints, although P355NH steel joints are considered as difficult to weld. During welding, various welding defects might appear, which mainly include sticking and lack of fusion. Creation of joints with the desired properties, including those used in the construction of medium pressure gas pipelines, with the required class B quality, requires selection of appropriate parameters and compliance with the welding process practice. This is very important for the service life of the structure. Therefore, the article aims to select the most appropriate parameters and thermodynamic conditions for welding P355NH steel in order to obtain the best mechanical properties. The most important of the tested welding parameters of P355NH steel is welding speed, welding current, preheating temperature, interpass temperature and, above all, the role of various shielding gases. (Three different shielding gases containing argon and helium additives were tested.) The obtained joints were tested by: non-destructive tests, such as VT—visual examination; MT—magnetic particle testing, PT—penetration tests, UT—ultrasonic testing and by the destructive methods, such as tensile strength, impact toughness, bending test, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The cause-and-effect relationships between the obtained joint structure and its mechanical properties were determined. The considerations were supported by the nucleation model and the mechanisms of formation of the acicular ferrite phase in the joint material. The chosen parameters of TIG process allow to obtain joint with adequate strength for the production of the gases pipeline, without welding defects. The results have a practical implication, the developed production technology for the obtaining the joints. The presented solution gives the possibility of producing correct welded joints, which can be used in the responsible steel construction. The originality of manuscript is the presentation the newly, uncomplicated solution of obtaining joint with good mechanical properties included the thin-walled tubular structure with a thickness of 3.6 mm. A novelty in the article is a clear indication of the importance of detailed thermodynamic welding conditions and obtained weld structure on the mechanical properties of the P355NH steel joint, which lead to the formation of various non-metallic titanium inclusions, which have a decisive impact on the mechanical properties of the joint, especially its strength and impact strength.

Research Progress and Prospects on Hydrogen Damage in Welds of Hydrogen-Blended Natural Gas Pipelines

Hydrogen energy represents a crucial pathway towards achieving carbon neutrality and is a pivotal facet of future strategic emerging industries. The safe and efficient transportation of hydrogen is a key link in the entire chain development of the hydrogen energy industry’s “production, storage, and transportation”. Mixing hydrogen into natural gas pipelines for transportation is the potential best way to achieve large-scale, long-distance, safe, and efficient hydrogen transportation. Welds are identified as the vulnerable points in natural gas pipelines, and compatibility between hydrogen-doped natural gas and existing pipeline welds is a critical technical challenge that affects the global-scale transportation of hydrogen energy. Therefore, this article systematically discusses the construction and weld characteristics of hydrogen-doped natural gas pipelines, the research status of hydrogen damage mechanism, and mechanical property strengthening methods of hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline welds, and points out the future development direction of hydrogen damage mechanism research in hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline welds. The research results show that: ① Currently, there is a need for comprehensive research on the degradation of mechanical properties in welds made from typical pipe materials on a global scale. It is imperative to systematically elucidate the mechanism of mechanical property degradation due to conventional and hydrogen-induced damage in welds of high-pressure hydrogen-doped natural gas pipelines worldwide. ② The deterioration of mechanical properties in welds of hydrogen-doped natural gas pipelines is influenced by various components, including hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen. It is necessary to reveal the mechanism of mechanical property deterioration of pipeline welds under the joint participation of multiple damage mechanisms under multi-component gas conditions. ③ Establishing a fundamental database of mechanical properties for typical pipeline steel materials under hydrogen-doped natural gas conditions globally is imperative, to form a method for strengthening the mechanical properties of typical high-pressure hydrogen-doped natural gas pipeline welds. ④ It is essential to promptly develop relevant standards for hydrogen blending transportation, welding technology, as well as weld evaluation, testing, and repair procedures for natural gas pipelines.

Fuzzy Logic Method To Manage The Risks Of Oil And Gas Pipeline Projects To The Environment

Pipes are one of the supporting infrastructures that are needed in oil and gas projects. However, oil and gas pipeline construction projects have very complex risks and have a major impact on the environment. On the other hand, environmental factors are one of the risk factors for oil and gas pipeline projects with a value of 14% [2]. The existence of risk factors that are not managed properly will have a negative impact that accumulates and causes a hazard. Therefore, an affective risk analysis method is needed. The purpose of this study is to analyze the risks of oil and gas pipeline construction projects to the environment using the Fuzzy Logic method based on data obtained from questionnaires distributed to Oil and Gas Cooperation Contract Contractors operating in East Java – Indonesia. The results of the analysis show that of the 20 (twenty) risk factors, there are 2 risk factors that are at a high level, namely financial performance risk with a value of 14.9 and contractor experience risk with a risk value of 14.9 and the fuzzy logic method are considered to be used as an effective reference in decision making, this can be seen from the results of the calculation of the accuracy value which shows that the risk analysis system for the environment is accurate with an accuracy value of 0.90 which means the accuracy level is very high.

CALCULATION OF NORMAL TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE ON MAIN GAS PIPELINES WITH LONG SERVICE LIFE

In the global pipeline transport, including main pipelines (MР) with a long service life (40 years or more), the reliability of operation is ensured by compliance with regulatory requirements. Calculations of the stress-strain state of gas pipelines, in particular, longitudinal stresses, are carried out in accordance with Standart SP 36.13330.2012 «Main pipelines», which does not take into account the life of the facilities.
 The analysis of SP 36.13330.2012 «Main pipelines» for the effect of the temperature factor on the magnitude of the longitudinal stresses of the gas pipeline section showed that the calculation of longitudinal stresses from the temperature difference ∆Т provides for taking into account four values: Тс – maximum and minimum temperatures during construction; Tр – the highest and lowest temperatures during operation.
 When considering the stages of construction of gas pipelines, it was established that during this period the pipeline experiences the action of four temperature regimes, and when put into operation, the fifth complex one: from the temperature and pressure of the gas, at which the consolidation of the main pipeline with the surrounding soil occurs predominantly in during which the linear-altitude position of the MР section with a minimum of stresses is predominantly formed.
 It has been proved that, in relation to the calculations of longitudinal stresses of gas pipelines with a long service life, it is necessary and sufficient to limit the calculated temperature difference by Tр.
 SP 36.13330.2012 is intended for calculations during the construction of new pipelines, and its use for long-term operated gas pipelines, taking into account the standard value of ∆Т, mainly leads to rejection, and, therefore, to repair.
 We believe that for the operation of MР with a long service life, for the calculation of thermal stresses, it is necessary to develop a standard that allows the calculation of the temperature difference ∆Т by the value of the operating temperature Tр.

The economic and environmental benefits of adopting natural gas in isolated systems of Amazonas state, Brazil

The Amazonas state in Brazil faces unique challenges regarding energy planning for its 95 isolated systems, which are remote areas not connected to the national power grid and primarily rely on diesel to generate electricity. These challenges include dense forests, low population density, low overall energy demands, and restrictions on transporting oil derivatives via waterways. However, the discovery of onshore reserves of natural gas in the state and investments in infrastructure, such as the construction of gas pipelines, have provided an opportunity to replace diesel with this cleaner and more cost-effective energy source. This study aims to assess the feasibility of completely replacing diesel-powered generators with natural gas in 14 isolated systems located near the Urucu-Manaus gas pipeline, as well as the Azulão and Japiim production fields. The methodology employed in this study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the economic and environmental impact of transitioning from diesel to natural gas in isolated systems. This assessment focuses on two key topics: fuel costs and CO2 emissions resulting from electricity generation. The analysis results indicate that transitioning from diesel to natural gas can bring significant economic and environmental benefits. The switch to natural gas would reduce fuel costs by more than 40% and decrease CO2 emissions from combustion (in one case, 39.6% and in other cities, between 16.75% and 27.10%), promoting savings for additional investments in efficiency and sustainability. Implementing these changes makes it possible to achieve a better quality of life for citizens in isolated communities by providing access to a more reliable and sustainable energy source.

Experimental studies of crack growth kinetics and bearing capacity of steel pipes of underground water distribution systems

It was established that the value of the critical stress SK for all experimental steels increases with the increase in the service life, and the impact viscosity decreases, which indicates the structural embrittlement of the pipe steels associated with their sudden flooding. It is shown that the new 20 FA steel has the highest visco-plastic properties and resistance to brittle fracture, which is economically modified with a carbide-forming element (vanadium) and has a fine-grained structure and a low conten to fharm fulimpurities (sulfur, phosphorus). The microstrain of the α-Fe crystallattice, as well as the quantitative decay of cementite andt here distribution of carbon between ferrite and pearlite, were estimated by X-ray diffraction methods. The new steel grade 10FA is recommended for use in the construction of oil and gas pipelines and, for example, bridge structures, which are constantly under cyclic loads with simultaneous contact with a corrosive and aggressive environment. For the first time, the influence of thes ervice life of oil pipelines on the hydrogen content and microcracks in pipe steels of oil pipelines was determined.

Stress-strain state of an underwater offshore oil pipeline taking into account changes in ground conditions and operating parameters

The article briefly describes the construction of concreted pipes used in recent years in the construction of offshore gas and oil pipelines. In the formulation of the problem of the stress-strain state of an underwater offshore oil pipeline, the calculated section is conditionally divided into three parts: the middle blurred bare part and the underground parts adjacent to it on the left and right. A brief description of the solution of the problem is given. The results of calculations of the main characteristics of the stress-strain state of the underwater section of the offshore oil pipeline are presented in the form of a diagram of the pipeline deflection and bending stresses, as well as in tables through extreme values of deflection and bending stresses from span and support bending moments for various values of operating parameters and soil conditions in adjacent underground parts. By analyzing the stress- strain state of the calculated section of the offshore oil pipeline, the critical values of the operation parameters and the corresponding critical values of the equivalent longitudinal axial force were determined.

Celebrating 100 Years of the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologist

In 2022, the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG) celebrated its centennial anniversary. Founded on January 26, 1922, RMAG (called Rocky Mountain Association of Petroleum Geologists until 1947) grew out of a desire and need for petroleum geologists in Denver to come together in a collegial environment. Petroleum geology had become an important component of exploration and development, with significant discoveries in the greater Denver Basin (Florence Field) as well as east-central Wyoming (Salt Creek Field) and northwest Colorado (Rangely Field). Through the first 25 years (1922–1947), membership hovered around 50, reflecting an initial boom of World War I through the 1920s, and then surviving the Great Depression and World War II. Post-World War II through the early 1980s, the world saw a huge increase in demand for oil (less-so for natural gas), spurring the “golden years” of Rocky Mountain exploration and development of many now-famous discoveries. Denver grew as a petroleum business center with large (major) to small (independent) companies, leading to steady RMAG membership growth, which peaked at 4,524 in 1984. During this period, RMAG established a legacy of publishing (The Mountain Geologist and the Geologic Atlas of the Rocky Mountain Region, aka “the Big Red Book”), sponsored multi-day field trips and symposia, hosted weekly luncheons with 200–300 attendees at the peak, and maintained a dedicated office staff located in downtown Denver. The legacy “golden” years ended with the “crash” in oil prices in 1985–86, and membership declined about 7% per year until the mid-1990s, levelling out at 1,900 members. Within the ashes of the 1984–1995 period, however, RMAG began its On the Rocks field trip series (1986) and published several sold-out guidebooks. It inaugurated the 3D Seismic Symposium (1995) co-hosted with the Denver Geophysical Society (DGS) and hosted several successful AAPG and Rocky Mountain Section AAPG annual meetings. In the 1990s, natural gas hosted in “unconventional” reservoirs began an exploration/development revolution, spurred on by federal price supports and construction of a major gas pipeline to the West Coast in 1992. By 2000, huge natural gas resources locked in Rocky Mountain “tight gas” reservoirs became economically viable with improved hydraulic fracturing technology and increasing gas prices. RMAG membership began growing along with the increased natural gas-drilling activity, and RMAG offered multiple well-attended symposia and publications highlighting unconventional gas plays. A new boom began in 2008 with the advent of horizontal drilling for oil in the Bakken Shale of the Williston Basin and Niobrara Formation of the Denver Basin, and a massive increase in oil price. Consequently, RMAG membership reached a secondary peak of 2,978 in 2012. However, as oil prices began declining steadily in 2014, membership also decreased. By 2016, oil price decline led to the familiar cycle of company closings and layoffs. In 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic shut down all in-person RMAG activities, heavily impacting the organization. RMAG pivoted to online (virtual) luncheons, symposia, and field trips. Even so, membership declined to about 1200 members in 2022. The challenges that the RMAG will face in the next 100 years will be daunting. Long-term sustainability of the RMAG will require its members and member-leaders to recognize and embrace changes as they occur.

Research Status and Technical Difficulties of Pipeline Robot

With the development of economy and social progress, the development of China's industrial sector is booming, and the construction of oil and gas pipelines is speeding up. The inspection and maintenance of pipelines has become the current research focus. Through the analysis of the working environment and characteristics of the existing six categories of pipeline robots, the current research status of pipeline robots is systematically expounded, and the current research difficulties of pipeline robots are summarized. The summary and analysis contents have certain reference value for the future research of pipeline robot.

An integrated EDIB model for probabilistic risk analysis of natural gas pipeline leakage accidents

Natural gas pipeline construction is developing rapidly worldwide to meet the needs of international and domestic energy transportation. Meanwhile, leakage accidents occur to natural gas pipelines frequently due to mechanical failure, personal operation errors, etc., and induce huge economic property loss, environmental damages, and even casualties. However, few models have been developed to describe the evolution process of natural gas pipeline leakage accidents (NGPLA) and assess their corresponding consequences and influencing factors quantitatively. Therefore, this study aims to propose a comprehensive risk analysis model, named EDIB (ET-DEMATEL-ISM-BN) model, which can be employed to analyze the accident evolution process of NGPLA and conduct probabilistic risk assessments of NGPLA with the consideration of multiple influencing factors. In the proposed integrated model, event tree analysis (ET) is employed to analyze the evolution process of NGPLA before the influencing factors of accident evolution can be identified with the help of accident reports. Then, the combination of DEMATEL (Decision-making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory) and ISM (Interpretative Structural Modeling) is used to determine the relationship among accident evolution events of NGPLA and obtain a hierarchical network, which can be employed to support the construction of a Bayesian network (BN) model. The prior conditional probabilities of the BN model were determined based on the data analysis of 773 accident reports or expert judgment with the help of the Dempster-Shafer evidence theory. Finally, the developed BN model was used to conduct accident evolution scenario analysis and influencing factor sensitivity analysis with respect to secondary accidents (fire, vapor cloud explosion, and asphyxia or poisoning). The results show that ignition is the most critical influencing factor leading to secondary accidents. The occurrence time and occurrence location of NGPLA mainly affect the efficiency of emergency response and further influence the accident consequence. Meanwhile, the weight ranking of economic loss, environmental influence, and casualties on social influence is determined with respect to NGPLAs.

New Gas Pipelines as an Element of the Geopolitical Competition of Algeria and Morocco in Africa

The African continent is rich in oil and natural gas resources, much of which is still not fully explored. The reasons for this are climatic and geological conditions, the colonial past, which overlaps with the uneven economic development of the countries in the region, political, economic, and security problems. This article looks at the prospects for expanding gas infrastructure from Nigeria through the Maghrebi-Sahelian region towards the EU. Two gas pipelines will be analyzed – the Trans-Saharan gas pipeline (Nigeria-Algeria) and the Atlantic gas pipeline (Nigeria-Morocco). Due to the fact that two projects are competitive, the question arises which of them has the greater chance of implementation? The main purpose of this article is to investigate whether the construction of new gas pipelines from Africa to the EU is justified, taking into account the processes of transformation of European energy markets and whether the projects of the above-mentioned gas pipelines are economic or political nature. To what extent can these two gas pipelines constitute a strategic interest in terms of natural gas supplies for the European Union and how important will they be in the diversification process compared to other suppliers? Moreover, it is very important to assess whether natural gas resources and capacity will be sufficient to transport gas to the EU, taking into account the demand for this natural gas also in transit countries. The article will analyze the potential and energy infrastructure of Algeria and Nigeria as key exporters of natural gas to the EU from the African region. It will be no less important to find an answer to which role and importance of Morocco, which is a net importer of energy resources but occupies a strategic geographic location, which makes it an important transit country. During an in-depth analysis of all the factors influencing the implementation of two projects, their strengths and weaknesses will also be indicated, and how their implementation may affect the geopolitical situation in the Maghrebi-Sahelian region and relations between countries.

Calculation of gas supply pressure using plastic pipes for preventing accidental emissions

Technological (production, operational and repair) risks come to the fore, minimizing which requires optimization of the work of structural units responsible for a reasonable assessment of the technical condition, maintenance and repair of facilities, timely renewal of production facilities with minimization of wear and tear of equipment, which is a risk factor in the failure of the gas transmission system. In addition, based on the noted features of gas transportation enterprises, in the risk management block, logistics risks, safety risks, environmental, social and (in a certain aspect) financial risks should play a significant role. Objectively, in order to establish an acceptable range of risks, it is necessary to collect statistical data on the occurrence of risk factors for the foreseeable period in order to leave for constant monitoring those risk factors that appear regularly in the gas transmission system. The construction and operation of gas pipelines play an important role in the reasonable and technical transportation of gaseous substances. Noteworthy, algorithm for calculating the proposed medium pressure gas pipeline was developed, accordingly, in this research, the gas flow area was determined. The results showed that based on the calculations of underground average pressure of polyethylene pipes, the average gas pressure was 5,733 Pa, withstands pressure was up to 8009.7 Pa, withstands stress on the pipe wall was up to 0.024 MPa, and emission loss was 3964.4 m3 when there was an accident.