Pipeliners Podcast

This week's Pipeliners Podcast episode features Russel Treat and Ross Adams of EnerSys Corporation discussing this year's SGA Natural Gas Connect conference. Ross provides his insight on the critical topics affecting the pipeline control room in 2019. Specifically, how the concept of Change Management is impacting today's control room, the biggest concerns that are keeping control room managers up at night, and how to really be prepared for a control room audit. Listen for first-hand perspective on the conversations that took place during the SGA conference to gain insight on how to apply this information to control room management or control room support.

This week's Pipeliners Podcast episode features Russel Treat and retired Colonel Tom Magness, founder of Eagle's Leadership, discussing pipeline permitting from a Corp of Engineers' perspective. Listen for how the government decides what projects and permits are in the best interest of the nation and how to balance both environmental protection and sustainable development. Tom also explains the jurisdiction Army Corps of Engineers has and why and how he has arbitrated conversations between stakeholders that were in deeply divisive positions around a particular project or permit. As a pipeline professional, gaining insight into how the government works and operates can help you when going through the development process of permits and projects. Download this episode now to help further your industry knowledge.

This week's Pipeliners Podcast episode features Russel Treat and David Holt of the Consumer Energy Alliance discussing the latest political topics surrounding the pipeline industry. Listen for key updates on the conversations surrounding pipeline politics at the federal and state level, the environmental factors that are important to the pipeline industry -- not just environmentalists, the latest happenings surrounding the Keystone XL Pipeline and other regional pipeline projects, and more topics. Gain valuable information and insight on what's happening in D.C. and in your backyard regarding pipeline politics as the industry continues to push forward with pipeline measures to support energy independence in the U.S.

Pipeliners Podcast host Russel Treat returns from Washington, D.C. with a timely update on the Gas Gathering Rule (Mega Rule). Listen for an important recap of the discussions during the PHMSA GPAC Meetings that advanced the Mega Rule toward final rulemaking. Included were two expected results on data collection from all gathering pipelines and the establishment of a reporting requirement. Also included was a curveball to include 8" pipelines in the final rule. What does all of this mean for gas gathering operators? Listen for the key takeaways from the GPAC Meetings that will affect pipeliners moving forward.

In this episode of the Pipeliners Podcast, Russel Treat welcomes first-time guest Justin Shannon of Marathon to discuss risk management in pipeline operations. The discussion centers on the misunderstanding of what exactly risk management is. Justin helps clear up what risk management is -- and is not -- plus discusses industry models used to perform risk analysis. The discussion also hits on how the science of risk management can be applied to any kind of decision-making.

In our current political climate of emotional debates and partisan bickering, it's important to get clarity about what is actually happening with critical issues such as the intersection of environmental policy and industry needs. Mandy Gunasekara, a D.C. insider who previously served in the Office of Air and Radiation for the U.S. EPA, joins the Pipeliners Podcast to educate pipeliners on actual events happening inside Washington. Listen for first-hand insight on the environmental policy changes from the Obama to Trump Administrations, how current and proposed environmental policy affects oil & gas and pipeline interests, and how Mandy is educating the public on the work being done beyond the headlines.

Bryan Crowe, the COO of SolSpec, joins the Pipeliners Podcast to discuss new technology for supporting pipeline integrity and the inspection of ground movements along pipeline right-of-ways. Listen to host Russel Treat and Mr. Crowe discuss the complexities involved in assessing soil movements, especially in different terrains across the country. Plus, the need to monitor, analyze, and report on pipeline integrity in rugged terrains, why not all data is good data for making complex decisions, and how new technology and mapping is improving operators' ability to perform right-of-way and inline inspection. Also listen for timely analysis of the latest PHMSA Advisory Bulletin on recent pipeline incidents and events that point to next steps for the industry to address pipeline movements.

Direct fatigue monitoring is essential for today's pipeline control room. But, is it really about fatigue mitigation or maximizing alertness to ensure safe operations? To help understand the latest technology available for enhancing alertness, Clementine Francois of Phasya joins Russel Treat on the Pipeliners Podcast to discuss this important topic. Listen for unique insight on her scientific research surrounding fatigue monitoring, the technology developed by Phasya to support automotive and industrial user alertness, the real-world application of their technology, and what this could mean for the pipeline industry going forward.

On the 20-year anniversary of the Bellingham Incident in Bellingham, Washington, Pipeliners Podcast host Russel Treat welcomes retired pipeline professional Larry Shelton to share his first-hand recollections and reflect on the importance of pipeline integrity management. Operations Excellence (OE) is the driving force of Mr. Shelton's story. He defines OE as "achieving business goals with no harm to any person, property, or the environment." Simply stated, the mantra is "Business Goals, No Harm." The mantra has a deep emotional connection for Mr. Shelton, whose professional career was forever-changed in 1989 when the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska created a permanent mark for pipeliners such as himself working for the Alyeska Pipeline Service company. Ten years later, the Bellingham Incident forever altered the community of Bellingham, Washington. The Olympic Pipeline ruptured on June 10, 1999, due to a similar series of "domino" events as Exxon Valdez. At the time, Mr. Shelton was ARCO's pipeline integrity representative. He walked the path of the gas rupture that cost human life. In those moments, he saw the human element of operational excellence, realizing that it dwarfs numbers, records, and programs. In the 20 years since the Bellingham Incident, Mr. Shelton has served on numerous industry committees and work groups, including chairman of the API Operations Technical Group. He also served on the Office of Pipeline Safety's Hazardous Liquid Technical Advisory Committee. In his experience, Mr. Shelton has come to realize that "Business Goals, No Harm" is a difficult balance, but it must be done. Listen to his poignant reflections in this sobering and valuable episode of the Pipeliners Podcast.

Recorded on-site at PSIG 2019 in London, Russel Treat and Giancarlo Milano of Atmos International discuss the factors that go into determining batch arrival time of product that is moved through a pipeline during slack line operations. This insightful conversation includes a discussion of the variables that affect batch delivery, the importance of communicating accurate ETAs to operators, the models and calculations used to support accurate arrival time, the technology used to enhance accuracy, and much more. Prepare to geek out over the confluence of math and physics!