Pipeline Construction
Williams Partners to expand Transco pipeline
Williams Partners LP, a Tulsa, OK-based company, announced recently that it has filed a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission application to expand its Transco natural gas pipeline for growing markets in northern Pennsylvania and along its main line from New Jersey through Alabama.
Enbridge's Line 9B reversal would equal more
With the National Energy Board continuing its hearings on Enbridge's proposal to reverse the flow of Line 9B, TDT Crews Ltd. is urging Ontarians to support the project because of the economic benefits and job opportunities Line 9B would bring to Ontario workers.
Major New Pipeline Safety Program Being Readied By PHMSA
The federal pipeline safety agency is opening up a new front in its efforts to improve gas and oil pipeline safety. The Integrity Verification Process (IVP) previewed this summer by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) would be an "add-on," and a very costly one at that, to the existing Integrity Management (IM) program which obligates pipelines to test segments in "high consequence areas (HCAs)." There are 18,000 miles of pipeline in HCAs.
Pipeline Construction & Energy Outlook
<em>Underground Construction</em> and <em>Pipeline & Gas Journal</em>’s pipeline construction survey indicates that 77,318 miles of pipelines around the world are in various stages of construction and planned. Of these, 33,205 represent projects in the planning and engineering phase and 44,113 are in various stages of construction.
HDD Work In The Eagle Ford Shale Region
Energy pipeline construction often brings to mind big, powerful machines moving across frequently rugged open country digging trench in which pipe is placed.
Crosstex Builds ‘Transformational’ Cajun-Sibon Pipeline
During his 30 years in the energy business, Barry Davis has no doubt heard a fair amount of bluster and hyperbole about “big projects.” Yet, even a brief talk with the Crosstex president and CEO about the Cajun-Sibon expansion project leaves the listener keenly aware that in his mind there can be no understating the importance of this endeavor to his company.
Spectra Energy To Construct $3 Billion Pipeline Into Florida
Spectra Energy Corp. announced that Sabal Trail Transmission, LLC, a joint venture of Spectra Energy and NextEra Energy, Inc., has been awarded a 465-mile interstate natural gas pipeline project by Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) to begin service in May 2017.
Pipeline Construction Impacted By OSHA Proposal on Crystalline Silica
Oil and gas operations are near the top of the list of sectors which will be affected if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) proposed new workplace standard on crystalline silica becomes final.
Delays push Keystone XL pipeline back
The head of Canadian energy company TransCanada Corporation said in July that the timeline for U.S. approval of the multibillion-dollar Keystone XL crude oil pipeline will make the second half of 2015 start date of operations challenging, reports Bloomberg.
Editor's Log: HDD Initiatives At UCT
There was a time, back in the 90s, when the horizontal directional drilling market was a huge segment of the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition. Since then, UCT has grown to truly encompass all aspects of the underground marketplace with construction and rehabilitation of sewer and water systems topping the list.
ASCE Pipelines Honors Industry Leaders Joe Castronovo, Ralph Carpenter
At the record-breaking ASCE Pipelines 2013 Conference in Fort Worth, TX, last June, long-time industry contributors Joseph Castronovo and Ralph Carpenter were honored for their years of service to the Pipeline Division.
Pipeline Approval Reform Bill Hits Headwinds
The pipeline approval "speed up" bill hit a couple of speed bumps on July 9. At hearings in a House subcommittee, the unofficial "pipeline" commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) pointed out some potential unintended consequences that might come about if the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act (H.R. 1900) as initially written becomes law.
Open season for pipeline project in New York
The Millennium Pipeline Company has announced a non-binding open season for firm transportation service under its existing rate schedule FT-1 to be made available through the use of currently existing capacity and construction of at least one compressor station and approximately 60 miles of new pipeline that would connect to the Dominion Transmission system near Cortland, NY, and the Tennessee Gas Pipeline System near Syracuse, NY.
Wellinghoff Departs FERC
There probably will be neither tears nor jeers from the pipeline community over the departure of FERC Chairman Jon Wellinghoff. He announced his exit in late May and is staying on until President Obama nominates a successor.
Shale Plays Remain Key To Nation’s Economy, Jobs And Energy Security
<em>Pipeline & Gas Journal</em>, in partnership with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), held its 9th annual Pipeline Opportunities Conference on March 26, at the JW Houston Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Houston.
EPA Criticizes State Department Keystone XL Draft EIS
The EPA says it has some fairly significant problems with the State Department's draft environmental impact statement on the Keystone XL Pipeline. The State Department draft supplemental EIS (DSEIS) was based on assessment of a new alternative route proposed by TransCanada.
PG&E takes steps to put safety first after San Bruno accident
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has announced that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) acknowledged that the company has completed three additional safety recommendations of the 12 that were issued in response to the 2010 pipeline accident in San Bruno, CA. In total, PG&E has completed action on seven of the safety recommendations.
Obama Draft EIS on Keystone XL Leans Toward Project Approval
The Obama administration's positive draft environmental impact statement on the final, four-state leg of the Keystone XL pipeline appears to set approval by the State Department on an exorable path.
Consents for interstate natural gas pipeline projects taking longer
The time to obtain required federal permits from agencies other than the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for interstate natural gas pipeline projects actually has increased since the passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, a law with the stated intent to streamline and expedite federal authorizations for such projects, a new study by the INGAA Foundation finds.
PLCA’s 65th Annual Convention Draws 628 Delegates
Dan Murphy, outgoing president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association and president of Precision Pipeline LLC, welcomed 628 delegates to the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ. This represented a significant attendance increase over the 2012 convention.
Nebraska Governor approves new Keystone XL route
On Jan. 22, Governor Dave Heineman of Nebraska approved a revised route of the Keystone XL pipeline through the state of Nebraska. In a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Gov. Heineman said that the new route avoided sensitive lands and aquifers.
Editor's Log: Keystone Two-Step Continues
I’ve been asked by many people if the main section of the Keystone XL Pipeline, from Canada to Oklahoma, will be built now that a revised route has been approved both by the state of Nebraska and TransCanada. The new route reportedly will avoid the most ecologically sensitive regions of Nebraska.
Water Infrastructure Initiatives Afoot
Separate regulatory and legislative developments could affect local government ability to afford water infrastructure projects. The Environmental Protection Agency is considering revisions to the agency's 1997 financial capability guidelines which dictate how hard the agency can press cities and counties to undertake expensive Clean Water Act projects such as sewer repairs.
PLCA Well-Positioned For Great Year
The Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) is closing out an active 2012 with members busy and labor agreements in place with the unions representing the four crafts engaged in pipeline construction.
2013 Pipeline Construction Report
<em>Underground Construction</em> and <em>Pipeline & Gas Journal</em>’s 2013 survey figures indicate 116,837 miles of pipelines are planned and under construction worldwide. Of these, 83,806 represent projects in the planning worldwide design phase while 33,031 reflect various stages of construction.
Editor's Log: Best Guesses & Fingers Crossed
The November elections are over and the nation has survived. But the question remains: when will the much ballyhooed economic recovery begin in earnest? It looks like 2013 is going to be another interesting and challenging year in which the underground infrastructure market must endeavor to persevere. And we will.
New pension fund for pipeline workers established
The trustees that comprise the board of the newly established National Teamsters Pipeline Pension Fund met on Sept. 28 at the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) in Washington, DC, to discuss final stages for setting up the fund and other organizational matters. This pension fund will provide benefits for Teamsters who are pipeline workers.
U.S. grants permit for Keystone XL
In the latest installment of the Keystone XL pipeline saga, TransCanada received a go-ahead for the Gulf Coast section of its project.
McArthur, Romer Honored At ASCE Pipelines Conference
The American Society of Civil Engineers Pipelines Division held its annual conference in Miami Beach, FL, in August with record attendance of more than 650.
Obama Drilling Expansion In Alaska Falls Short For Some
ConocoPhillips Alaska, among the most active companies exploring for oil and gas in northern Alaska, found a lot not to like in the Obama administration decision in mid-August with regard to development of the 22.8 million acre National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- Cadiz to reuse steel from terminated Keystone XL pipeline for California groundwater project
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- West Virginia approves $67 million for water, sewer projects