This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features host Russel Treat providing an update from the joint GPAC and LPAC meetings in Washington, D.C. in November. Listen for an update on what was discussed during the meetings, where things stand with the Gas Gathering Rule and other rules moving through the PHMSA rulemaking process, how gas and liquid operators will be affected moving forward, next steps for Pipeline SMS adoption, and more valuable information from the meeting. - Read the show notes a...
May 12, 2020•30 min
The Pipeliners Podcast is honored to speak with PHMSA Administrator Howard “Skip” Elliott about his role as a President-appointee overseeing pipeline safety at the federal level. In this conversation with host Russel Treat, you will learn about the role of PHMSA in the federal government, what is required to close the small gap in pipeline safety to reach the industry goal of zero incidents, the circle of how technology, standards, and rulemaking interact, and the opportunity for advanced pipeli...
May 05, 2020•38 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Sean Donegan and Allan Adams of Satelytics discussing the specific application of using satellite imagery to perform leak detection on an entire basin. In this episode, you will learn about why the Satelytics data engine was formed, the future of data collection technology and why the algorithm continues to change over time, how Satelytics is working with oil and gas companies to share the cost of data collection, and the importance of cloud comput...
Apr 28, 2020•35 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features first-time guest Michael Stackhouse discussing crack management as part of an integrity management program. In this episode, you will learn about the history of crack assessment, how to understand the nature of cracks and then developing the appropriate response, how to manage assets so that cracks don't become a problem, and how to address the complex aspects of integrity management to ensure pipeline safety. - Read Full Episode Show Notes and Tra...
Apr 21, 2020•38 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Sean Donegan and Allan Adams of Satelytics discussing the fundamentals of image analysis and the application to the pipeline industry. In this episode, you will learn about the history and development of image analysis, the technical aspects and science behind image analysis, and the importance of using image analysis to support pipeline operations for leak detection, inspection, and corrosion mitigation.
Apr 14, 2020•33 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features pipeline historian KC Yost discussing the history of pipeline inspection in the industry. In this episode, you will learn about the interesting back-story of how pipeline inspection started. You’ll also learn about how the industry has advanced through a deeper understanding of the importance of protecting the material integrity, having inspectors at each critical stage of the pipeline installation, and having processes to support coating, ditching...
Apr 07, 2020•34 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features first-time guest “Mr. Corrosion” Bob Franco of Franco Corrosion Consulting providing an introduction to the science of corrosion in pipelines. In this episode, you will learn about the basics of corrosion, why cathodic protection is essential when dealing with corrosion, the role of pigging when dealing with corrosion, and more valuable topics for all pipeliners.
Mar 30, 2020•35 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Justin Shannon of Marathon returning to the podcast to lay out a plan for how to start Risk Management in pipeline operations. In this episode, you will learn about how to start and implement a risk management program, how risk management applies to COVID-19, using risk management to support leak detection, and the framework you should use when developing a risk management program. You will also learn about the math behind risk management.
Mar 24, 2020•33 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features the latest in a series of several episodes with Jay Almlie of the EERC and iPIPE consortium hosted by Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn about future technology in development today to support the Oil & Gas industry, such as augmented reality for a backhoe operator, artificial intelligence, ground-penetrating radar, and more.
Mar 17, 2020•29 min
Michael Comstock, the co-founder and Principal of C&M Regulatory Pipeline Consultants, joins Russel Treat to discuss operator qualification in this edition of the Pipeliners Podcast. In this episode, you will learn about the components of operator qualification, the OQ Rule, and how operator qualification applies to contractors. You will also learn about how operator qualification was started after multiple incidents occurred in the 1990s (Bellingham incident and others).
Mar 10, 2020•29 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features the latest in a series of several episodes with Jay Almlie of the EERC and iPIPE consortium hosted by Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn about the challenges, successes, and failures Jay has experienced with iPIPE. You will also learn more about what iPIPE members and Jay have learned that they did not anticipate in the beginning of the partnership. Finally, you will learn how iPIPE is helping operators improve operation and safety and w...
Mar 03, 2020•33 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features regulation expert Keith Coyle returning to the podcast to discuss the new Underground Gas Storage Rule published by PHMSA in January. In this episode, you will learn about what led to the new final rule being passed, important aspects that were included in the rule, the pattern of incident and then regulatory response, state and federal responses to incidents, the gray area of whether natural gas storage facility control rooms are covered by Contro...
Feb 25, 2020•39 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode continues our iPIPE series focusing on the vendor’s perspective with John van Pol of Ingu and Sean Donegan of Satelytics, hosted by Russel Treat. In this episode, you will primarily learn about iPIPE how vendors have had success with interesting technologies through iPIPE. You will also learn about the vendor process, what led John and Sean to participate in the iPIPE program, and their advice for gaining support for technologies you believe are valuable to...
Feb 18, 2020•35 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features host Russel Treat giving a shout-out to the listeners! Russel highlights the recent Podcast Listener Survey, talks about what the podcast is doing to improve the weekly show, previews the conferences he will be attending this spring, and recaps the overall value of the podcast to listeners.
Feb 11, 2020•21 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode continues our iPIPE series focusing on the operator’s perspective with Brian Epperson of Hess and Greg Tilley of DCP Midstream, hosted by Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn about two operators’ perspectives of iPIPE, why Brian and Greg’s companies decided to partner with iPIPE, and how iPIPE has helped benefit their companies.
Feb 04, 2020•36 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features the return of Dan Nagala to discuss what the new Data Acquisition of SCADA looks like in pipeline operations. In this episode, you will learn about where data communications in SCADA is headed for pipeline operators, the history of data communications, and Dan’s technology predictions for the next five years.
Jan 27, 2020•37 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features the second of several episodes with Jay Almlie of the EERC and iPIPE consortium hosted by Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn about what technologies iPIPE chooses to invest their time, energy, money, and effort into proving out. You will also learn what a tech pitch is (like Shark Tank) and what the process entails for a technology provider to work with iPIPE.
Jan 21, 2020•31 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Steve Allen of ENERGY worldnet, Inc. (EWN) discussing Pipeline Safety Management Systems (Pipeline SMS) from the perspective of how to achieve stakeholder collaboration. In this episode, you will learn about the stakeholders in pipeline safety, the most important industry initiatives such as API RP 1173, and the relationship of risk management to pipeline SMS.
Jan 14, 2020•34 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features the first of several episodes with Jay Almlie of the EERC and iPIPE consortium hosted by Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn about the iPIPE program, how the consortium started, the connection to the EERC and North Dakota governor, how a pipeline operator can think outside the box for AI, big data, and augmented reality, and more important topics introducing this series.
Jan 07, 2020•31 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features first-time guest Steve Allen of ENERGY worldnet, Inc. (EWN) discussing pipeline safety from the perspective of a state regulator with host Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn about the difference in jurisdictions between PHMSA and state regulators, the growing need for pipeline safety management systems at the state level, the importance of communication between state regulators and pipeline operators not just during the audit, and more i...
Dec 31, 2019•34 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features SCADA and IT guru William Gage returning to the podcast to discuss the recent introduction of 5G technology to enhance data communications. In this episode, you will learn about different standards of WiFi and the evolution of 5G technology. You will also learn about different types of networks, what type of locations they work best at, and how the oil and gas industry is using the latest technology to support data communications.
Dec 24, 2019•21 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features cybersecurity expert Pascal Ackerman of ThreatGEN discussing security monitoring and incident response relevant to the pipeline industry. In this episode, you will learn about the WannaCry ransomware attack, how to use tools to help prevent viruses in your network, the importance of getting the architecture right and maintaining that architecture over time, and more topics.
Dec 17, 2019•29 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Sam Acheson of PODS continuing the conversation about how the Pipeline Open Data Standard supports pipeline integrity and risk management. In this episode, you will learn about the importance of using technology such as GIS to support integrity management, how to collect and organize location-centric data in a system, the difference between qualitative and quantitative risk assessment, and more. Plus, hear about exciting, futuristic technology that...
Dec 10, 2019•35 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features host Russel Treat providing an update from the joint GPAC and LPAC meetings in Washington, D.C. in November. Listen for an update on what was discussed during the meetings, where things stand with the Gas Gathering Rule and other rules moving through the PHMSA rulemaking process, how gas and liquid operators will be affected moving forward, next steps for Pipeline SMS adoption, and more valuable information from the meeting.
Dec 03, 2019•29 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features pipeline control room expert Charles Alday discussing the important elements of Workload Analysis and how to perform a workload assessment. In this episode, you will learn about the various methods used to analyze workload and fatigue, how to set benchmarks and use data to analyze objective and subjective factors, and how to blend software with human analysis of workload to ensure pipeline safety. Also, the episode concludes with important informat...
Nov 26, 2019•33 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Jackie Smith and Sam Acheson of PODS discussing how the Pipeline Open Data Standard supports pipeline integrity management. In this episode, you will learn how PODS can help pipeline operators comply with the Mega Rule, the benefits of using PODS resources in your operation, and how the Deming Method can be utilized to support total quality management and continuous improvement.
Nov 19, 2019•28 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features first-time guest Doug Rothenberg, a pipeline alarm management expert, discussing the importance of situation management. In this episode, you will learn about situation management, how to improve situation management in your control room through Rothenburg’s book, “Situation Management for Process Control,” and the importance of understanding weak signals as a tool for situation awareness.
Nov 12, 2019•36 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Greg Harpster of the LPG Charity Fund talking to Pipeliners Podcast host Russel Treat about how the charity supports oil and gas professionals during time of need. In this episode, you will learn about the LPG Charity Fund, the LPG industry, and the impact the LPG Charity Fund has made on the oil and gas community.
Nov 05, 2019•17 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features Jackie Smith and Christopher Moravec of PODS discussing the technical aspects of the Pipeline Open Data Standard. In this episode, you will learn the importance of the PODS organization to the oil and gas industry, what to expect with the upcoming release of PODS 7, the importance of a common data modeling system, and the implications of the new PHMSA safety rules.
Oct 29, 2019•37 min
This week’s Pipeliners Podcast episode features returning guest Stuart Saulters for a discussion about gas appliances and gas appliance standards with host Russel Treat. In this episode, you will learn more about Stuart’s move to the American Public Gas Association and what his position entails, the entities APGA serves, and the importance of gas appliance standards from the perspective of a pipeline professional.
Oct 22, 2019•33 min