TechNotes

Natural gas is an important energy source for reducing pollution. Compared to coal and oil, combustion of natural gas releases significantly lower amounts of harmful pollutants and carbon dioxide. After its exploration, production and transportation, natural gas can be stored for an indefinite period of time for future use.

After a 5% decline in 2009, the valve industry appears to have stabilized and will probably see some minor growth this year, according to a new report from the Valve Manufacturers Association (VMA).

Whether it’s the rugged slopes of the Rockies, or the highly erosive, silt loam soil in Mississippi, Profile Products LLC says it offers effective solutions for pipeline construction and restoration projects. Utilizing a total approach to vegetative establishment, Profile® focuses on Green Design Engineering™ as the foundation to provide innovative products and trusted project consultation and execution.

On any given day, you can walk through the doors of Industrial Fabrics, Inc. of Baton Rouge, LA and find owner, Cary S. Goss, in the boardroom. He is busy touching base with his staff, strategically planning the week ahead.

Georg Fischer Central Plastics of Shawnee, OK reported that the Mid-Tex Division of Atmos Energy Corporation recently completed a 6,000-foot installation of 4-inch, DR-11, Hyperplast™ Polyamide-11 pipe near Corsicana, TX. The total installed cost of this project is said to be comparable to that of steel pipe and, unlike steel, the Hyperplast™ system requires no corrosion protection now or in the future.

The increased use of intelligent inspection pigs to determine the actual wall thickness of pipelines has given rise to the demand for a procedure to remedy wall thinning, laminations and sharp discontinuities, i.e. defects which normally make it necessary to restrict the maximum allowable operating pressure.

Managing a gas pipeline is an around-the-clock, complex operation that involves continuous monitoring. Hence we need a highly reliable, simple and dependable way to get voice, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) telemetry traffic and, in some instances, video traffic from the gas pipeline block valve stations to the main control room.

A new system for gas-free working on large-diameter, low-pressure natural gas mains using semi-supported flowstop bags was approved by National Grid Gas in the United Kingdom. The technique provides an easy-to-use and cost-effective alternative to squeeze-off on polyethylene (PE) mains and Iris Stop on metallic mains for maintenance, repair and modification of distribution networks while preserving continuity of supply.

Since the advent of miniature cameras, plant and utility personnel have used them to assess pipe condition and troubleshoot problems. Over the years, new delivery mechanisms have emerged to carry cameras deeper and deeper into pipelines while capturing increasingly better images.

Green solutions can often mean spending a great deal of green. From new departments full of power- optimization professionals who are searching for the best energy-savings solutions to researching the robust offering of energy-saving equipment, pipeline companies have their work cut out navigating the maze.

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