Minot Daily News SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 2018 MinotDailyNews.com • Facebook • Twitter
Energy & Technology Dr. Charles Wood, a Trinity neurosurgeon, performs a spine procedure. Submitted Photo
Trinity adopts latest technologies in medical therapy Medicine continues to make great strides in treating illness and getting patients back on their feet faster. Trinity Health in Minot has recently added new proceBy TRINITY dures and equipment to benefit patient HEALTH health, improving care in areas of spine surgery, skin cancer, depression and hemorrhage. In March 2017, Trinity became the first hospital in North Dakota to offer Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a treatment option for patients with a history of resistant depression. Dr. Kenneth Osiezagha, psychiatrist with Trinity’s Behavioral Health Department, reported impressive results using the new therapy. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation is a non-invasive and non-drug treatment option approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2008 for patients who have failed to respond to antidepressant medications and who have recurrent major depressive disorder. According to information from Trinity, depression results from the poor functioning of the part of the brain that regulates emotion. Transcranial
Magnetic Stimulation delivers repetitive magnetic pulses to the under-active neurons, leading to the release of neurotransmitters. The procedure is done in-office, in a specialized chair much like a dentist’s chair, with a treatment coil placed on the patient’s head. The typical protocol is five treatments a week for four to six weeks. The first treatment of about three hours is typically the longest and involves consultation with the physician about the procedure and “mapping.” The mapping helps locate the proper location for pulses to be delivered. Subsequent sessions can last 30 to 45 minutes. Another newer treatment at Trinity is small-incision spine surgery. Dr. Thomas Frimpong, a neurological and spine surgeon, brought smallincision spine surgery to Minot, having been fellowship-trained in minimally invasive and complex spinal surgery. “Minimally invasive surgery has made steady progress across every surgical specialty, primarily because patients see its benefits,” Frimpong said in a release about the surgery. “They understand that an operation performed through a small puncture instead of a large incision produces less tissue trauma and avoids significant damage to the muscles surrounding the spine, which generally means a quicker recovery.” Minimally invasive techniques can now be applied to the most common spinal disorders, such as nerve decompressions, degenerative disc disease, See TRINITY — Page 3
A track geometry car sits on a Burlington Northern Santa Fe line. BNSF uses manned and unmanned track geometry cars. These cars use high-speed laser technology to test the tracksʼ surface under load and have increased the number of miles BNSF can test each year. Submitted Photo
Technology makes for better, safer By rail operations JILL
SCHRAMM
The mention of lasers, ultrasound, Xrays, drones, high-quality cameras and wireless communication doesn’t cause most people to immediately think of railroads. But these technologies are in the tool chest of railroads as they work toward increased safety and efficiency. Senior Staff Writer jschramm @minot dailynews.com
One of the latest uses of technology, known as Positive Train Control, already is in place along Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad’s mainlines, including through North Dakota. PTC uses GPS, Wi-Fi and high-band radio transmissions. Equipment on locomotives, wayside systems and a back office server work together to determine the location, direction and speed of a train. The system can warn a train crew and stop a train to prevent train-to-train collisions, overspeeding or unauthorized movement by trains into areas where maintenance is occurring. It can prevent movement of a train through a switch in the wrong position. John Cech, vice president of operations, said the safety of the communities was a driving factor for BNSF in moving quickly to get PTC in place. However, the railroad also was under a federal deadline
BNSF stays abreast of latest advances
that allowed for no delay. “We understood this was going to be a Herculean effort, This involved an incredible amount of infrastructure change out in the field,” Cech said. “This was costly – over a $2 billion effort, and some of the technology didn’t even exist at the time it was mandated. We just thought if we were going to come close to making timelines, we were going to have to get started and move quickly.” PTC infrastructure has been installed where mandated across BNSF’s network. That includes all mainlines, such as the route running through Minot. Less trafficked routes, such as those with only a train or two a week, aren’t mandated. BNSF’s PTC system is fully operational, although the company continues to test and refine it ahead of the end-of-the-year deadline for railroads to have See BNSF — Page 2
Popular smart phone apps By KIM FUNDINGSLAND Staff Writer kfundingsland @minotdailynews.com
There are smart phone apps available for virtually any purpose imaginable. Want to change your look? You can, at least in photographs. FaceApp is one of the most often downloaded apps according to Google Android. The app enables the user to change a face on a photograph from a frown to a smile, or even from a man to a woman. Weather apps remain high atop the list for both Android and Apple users, but far and away the most popular site is the social network giant Facebook. It is followed closely by YouTube, the Google owned video channel that has become a “go to” source for a wide variety of topics. Instagram and Twitter have earned a share of the app market too, albeit a much smaller piece of the pie than mainstays Facebook and YouTube. A rapidly growing number of smart phone users have the Alexa app on their phones as thousands of households acquire Amazon Alexa devices every day. Alexa allows for everything from music to math to news to bedtime stories. With the use of an Alexa app such things as grocery shopping lists are displayed on smart phones. Of course, apps for playing games, watching television shows and listening to audio books are available too. Then there’s apps for tracking airline flights, requesting an Uber, navigating roadways and Google maps. Some smart phone users use specialized apps to monitor their home security systems. They have the ability to see, listen and talk, turn on lights and even set the temperature of a home thermostat. Today’s smart phones are really miniaturized super computers that are built to utilize countless numbers of apps. People can use apps to do their personal banking, pay bills, track packages and use in place of a debit or credit card at the till. There’s seemingly no limit to apps that are available today and more and more apps appear on the market daily to meet whatever needs a person can envision. For example, there are hundreds of category specific apps available for outdoor enthusiasts. Bird watchers can download Audubon Field Guides to help identify species of birds, even help keep a checklist and share sightings with other bird enthusiasts. If a person is into hiking, biking or mountain biking there’s an app designed for that purpose. Included is information on numerous trails, including distances and degree of challenge. Fishing and hunting apps can prove useful tools too, especially for those in the field who wish to track their location and know the whereabouts of certain landmarks or conveniences. Fishermen can get everything from an app from tidal movements to moon phases to lure selection. In short, no matter what your need or interest, there’s probably an app you will find useful. All you need to do is find it on the internet or though an app store and download it to your mobile phone. Many are available for free or at minimal charge.
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PTC in place, said BNSF spokeswoman Amy MacBeth. “It’s something we are quite proud of at BNSF,” Cech said. “It seemed like such a tough goal to get to and here we are with PTC installed and tested. There are always things we are finding and refining, but overall we are pretty proud of the fact we are able to come to the finish line with this.” BNSF’s PTC operation covers more than 11,500 route miles and 80 percent of its freight volume. All 5,000 locomotives are equipped with PTC, and more than 6,000 radio towers have been installed with the technology. In addition, some 21,000 BNSF employees have been trained to operate and maintain PTC trains and equipment. Asim Ghanchi, general director of technology services for BNSF, said the railroad continues work to ensure compatibility of its PTC system with locomotives crossing over from other railroads’ PTC systems. Railroads have been working together to develop standards that allow them to “talk” to each other across their networks, he said. PTC provides a safety overlay for rail traffic, but Cech said the potential for PTC goes beyond just safety. BNSF is already asking the questions regarding that potential. “There’s a lot of things we are still exploring in leveraging PTC, but we are confident, with the obvious safety overlays, there’s going to be other benefits to PTC,” Cech said. Safety has been the impetus for much of the technology being used in the railroad industry. According to BNSF, incidents are primarily caused by three things – mechanical or equipment issues, track issues or human error. BNSF uses technologies in each of those areas to prevent incidents before they happen. Prevention often comes through smarter maintenance, made possible by the increased data that technology provides. BNSF considers the primary workhorse among the
new technology to be the track geometry car. The cars’ laser systems can simulate the load of a train on the track while measuring various aspects of the condition and performance of the rail. Cech said the cars have been around for a number of years, but in more recent years it has been possible to run them as unmanned vehicles. The advantage is the elimination of down time because the cars can run 24/7. Primary track routes once tested two or three times a year might now be tested six or seven times a year. BNSF also uses unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, to supplement inspections of bridges and other structures. It was the first railroad to fly UAVs beyond the visual line of sight to inspect track. BNSF still has inspectors who visually inspect the rails, just as they have for years. However, Cech said the number of employees now working in technology jobs to layer together and analyze all that data has significantly changed the makeup and skill set of the company’s overall workforce. New technologies also have significantly enhanced BNSF’s knowledge about the condition of its system, which in turn allows the company to be proactive on maintenance, Cech said. The inspection of rail ties is an example of how technology is making tracks safer, he said. In the past, visual inspectors would assess and grade ties along the tracks in their inspection territories. Once a certain percentage of ties was found with defects, a replacement program would begin for that area. Because inspections were subjective, there was no way to determine how a tie in one territory compared to a tie in another territory, making it difficult to prioritize across the territories. Today, equipment that runs over the track provides a consistent set of data. In addition, using video, laser and X-ray technologies provides a greater wealth of information about the condition of the ties. “That technology has allowed us to make sure we are doing the right projects at the right time and there’s not a lot
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of variability. It’s all based on an algorithm that’s consistent,” Cech said. BNSF has more than 4,000 detectors along the tracks to monitor every locomotive and rail car operating on its system 24 hours a day, seven days a week, creating a continuous stream of data on the health of the equipment. The many millions of readings collected every day is used in advanced analytics to guide maintenance plans. New technology also is making maintenance easier. For instance, a track-lifting machine can clean the ballast twice as fast, reducing train down time. Cleaning ballast is critical for draining water away from the track. Technology has been part of railroad operations for decades, but the pace of new technologies has stepped up. “We really ramped it up over the last three to five years as far as new technologies,” Cech said. “It’s all about safety – making sure we are giving customers consistency, not having any accidents or incidents. That’s really the driving force.” From 2013 through 2017, BNSF has invested $1.4 billion into its North Dakota infrastructure. Early on, much of that investment was into capacity enhancements, such as the additional rail laid through the Minot area, MacBeth said. In recent years, the focus has been on maintenance. BNSF’s capital improvements plan for North Dakota this year is $60 million. Safety statistics from the Federal Railroad Administration show the continued improvements are working. Since 1980, railroads have reduced injury, accident and grade crossing collision rates by nearly 80 percent or more, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. In the past decade, BNSF has reduced its incident rate by 42 percent. “In the metrics we look at, there are really strong indicators that our infrastructure is in the best shape it’s ever been,” Cech said. “Our technology and our capital spending have helped us get an infrastructure that’s reliable and provides consistent service for our customers.”
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En erg y& Tech n ol og y
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Kim Fundingsland/MDN
Paul Mellum, Ryan Honda of Minot, explains some of the new technology available in todayʼs vehicles that provide for both safety and convenience.
Computers on wheels Technology important to car buyers with cruise control. It reads the disFor decades automobile buyers tance to other vehicles so that a have focused on reliability ratBy proper gap will be mainings, adequate horsepower, tained. It is a safety measure interior comforts and color KIM that can prevent accidents. options. Those things are FUNDINGSLAND “It’s called Adaptive still important factors to Cruise Control,” said Melconsider for when car Staff Writer lum. “It’ll pick up that car shopping today, but kfundingsland through a radar unit that’s today’s car buyers want imbedded in the front of the latest in technology @minot the car sending radar waves too. In fact, dashboard techdailynews.com back and forth. If that car is nology packages are rapidly going 62 and your cruise is set becoming a number one conat 69, it is going to slow down. As sideration for car buyers. soon as you go into the passing lane the “Today’s cars are a computer on wheels,” said Paul Mellum, Ryan Honda of car is going back up to 69 because there’s noMinot. “You still have an engine and a trans- body in front of you anymore.” Sometimes inclement weather, such as mission, but you have way more electronics encountering ice or snow, can interfere with than we’ve every had in the past.” Some features, such as back-up cameras, the operation of one or more of the on-board blind spot indicators, heated seats and steer- safety systems. No problem. That message ing wheels, and navigational displays have will be conveyed on a dashboard screen to become almost commonplace on today’s ve- make the driver well aware of the situation. A good amount of electronic displays in hicles. There’s much more too, including an ample use of sensitive cameras and even vehicles today can be accessed through smart phones as well. It is, says Mellum, a radar. “The cameras are as good as the human glance at the future of automobiles. “The cars today have got all kinds of eleceye,” said Mellum. Cameras that see painted lines, such as tronics but we’re going to start using our solid and dotted lines on roadways, can ac- phones more to translate some stuff,” said tually guide a car and let the driver know Mellum. “What are we getting towards? We when he or she might be a little too much to are getting towards the self-driving car, aren’t we? The cars we have today have already one side of a lane or another. “The car basically will keep you between laid the groundwork for all this technology the lines. If you start drifting over towards a that’s going to be here sooner than people line the car physically steers you back into think.” your lane and keeps you going down the road,” said Mellum. Hondas can also come equipped with Road Departure Mitigation, a remarkable safety feature that offers additional assistance to drivers. Drivers who cross the solid line on a highway too often will find their vehicle helping out by steering away from the line while starting to apply the brake as needed. “The car will help keep you out of the ditch,” said Mellum. Weary drivers, those fighting to stay Kim Fundingsland/MDN awake at wheel, will find that in-car technology can help them avert dangerous situ- Navigational screens are becoming ations. standard equipment on many new “It’s called our Driver Attention Monitor,” vehicles. Todayʼs car buyers are said Mellum. “The car is going to let you know when you’ve been tapping too many tech savvy and desire vehicles lines and it has had to steer you back and equipped and operated by the latest forth between lanes. Eventually the car will technological features. realize you are not doing a very good job of driving anymore. It’ll let you know that it is Toss in keyless entry, push button startmaybe time to take a break.” ing, voice activated text messaging, back seat One of the ways Driver Attention Monitor cameras to keep an eye on children, enresponds is with a very bright and large cup hanced trip computers, excellent music sysof coffee illuminated on a dashboard screen, tems and you have an idea what is trending a friendly reminder important for the safety in today’s increasingly techy vehicles. Some of the driver and others on the roadway. of the advances are happening so rapidly Then there’s Forward Collision Mitiga- that it becomes difficult for some car buyers tion, a system that helps prevent accidents. If to stay abreast of the improvements. a vehicle in front of a vehicle equipped with “That’s the thing about cars these days,” Forward Collision Mitigation suddenly hits said Mellum. “We have to educate buyers on the brakes it will trigger the Forward Colli- all this stuff.” sion Mitigation. As advancements in technology remain “The car is basically going to stop itself to in demand it appears there’s no turning back try and avoid hitting something,” explained and virtually no limit to what new developMellum. ments might be included in your next new Radar is used on today’s vehicles to assist vehicle purchase.
Saturday, April 14, 2018
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En erg y& Tech n ol og y
The Davis Refinery and comprehensive leak detection monitoring technology The Davis Refinery, coming to Belfield in the Bakken in southwest North Dakota, will be truly unique in its comprehensive utilization of emission control technology throughout the plant. Davis will be the first greenfield refinery in the U.S. in over 40 years, designed to achieve better emission control standards. One such technological innovation in emission control is a highly-advanced, state-ofthe-art smart camera Leak Detection Monitoring and Repair (LDAR). An all-encompassing Smart LDAR program will be employed to monitor the existence of any fugitive emissions throughout the plant. In Davis, every valve, gasket flange connection and fitting will be continuously monitored with leak detection sensors and Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) cameras, a maximum available control technology that can detect any minor VOC leak. The OGI cameras will see a minor leak before it will be detectable by standard emissions monitoring equipment commonly used in the refining industry. OGI cameras employ specialized infrared filters, enabling them to literally see vapor emissions should any ever leak. This Smart LDAR camera system will allow automated early detection and notification of any leaks
Trinity
as they appear. The visual confirmation provided by OGI is essential in pinpointing the exact source to begin the repair process immediately. The U.S. EPA has identified OGI as the “best system of emission reduction” for detecting fugitive emissions from new equipment installation, upgrades, and modified
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herniated discs, scoliosis and other spinal deformities, spinal stenosis, and even some fusion and stabilization procedures. Spine surgeons face challenges with minimally invasive surgery that their counterparts in other specialties often don’t. Spine surgeons must operate within the tight confines of the spinal anatomy, where sensitive neurovascular structures require extra care and caution. Trinity explains these limitations were initially overcome with surgical microscopes inserted through tubular retractors. For complex surgeries, more sophisticated imaging techniques were required. Fluoroscopy, an X-ray machine in the shape of a C that gives surgeons a 360-degree view of a patient’s spine in real
Submitted Art
ABOVE: Davis Refinery Process Design TOP RIGHT: Infrared Monitoring Example BOTTOM RIGHT: Optical Gas Imaging Example
Submitted Photo
General surgeon Dr. AyJy Bhardwaj, left, and emergency physician Dr. Paul Olson engage in a training session on a balloon procedure for stopping hemorrhages.
time, served that purpose. More recently, image-guided, computer-assisted methods have revolutionized spine surgery. “These image-guided approaches have enhanced our ability to navigate complex spinal anatomy in real time,”
Frimpong said. “By combining imaging, navigation systems, and software, we’re able to visualize the patient’s spine during surgery in three dimensions and precisely track the location of our surgical instruments in relation to the anatomy, which leads
sources. This optical monitoring technology is just one aspect of the state-of-the-art project from Meridian Energy Group, that will ensure the Davis Refinery meets Lowest Achievable Emission Rates (LAER) in the refining industry. Source: Meridian Energy Group, Inc., Belfield
to improved surgical outcomes.” Another innovation is osteobiologics – the science of engineering bone. Osteobiologics enables doctors to perform spinal fusions with bone graft substitutes so they no longer have to harvest bone from a patient’s pelvis. The result is spinal surgery that used to require seven or eight hours now frequently can be performed as an outpatient procedure. Trauma patients are the beneficiaries of another new technique using a balloon device to stop fatal bleeding. Acute internal hemorrhage is the leading cause of death in trauma patients, said Dr. Gary Wease, director of Trinity’s Trauma Program. Traditionally, doctors had to stop uncontrolled bleeding by performing major surgery that involved a large chest incision to put a clamp on the aorta, the body’s main artery. The new catheter
with a collapsed balloon at its tip employs a technology similar to the technique cardiologists use to open arteries of the heart. The catheter is inserted into the femoral artery of the leg and threaded up into the aorta. Once the balloon has reached the optimal spot, it’s inflated, causing a temporary blockage of the aorta. Earlier this year, Trinity Health became the first North Dakota hospital and one of nearly 250 worldwide to have staff trained to offer the device. Introducing yet another innovation, the Trinity CancerCare Center acquired a form of radiation therapy for treating non-melanoma skin cancer. Dr. Michael Grant, radiation oncologist, said the technique, called skin brachytherapy, is ideal for treating cancers on areas of the body that are cosmetically sensitive. “It’s a very good treatment option for non-melanoma
cancers on the head, neck and face – obviously visible areas where you want to avoid scarring or noticeable grafts. It’s particularly excellent for cancers on the nose, ears and other facial features that don’t lend themselves to surgical closure,” Grant said in a release about the new procedure. Skin brachytherapy is non-invasive and pain-free. It reduces the risk of recurrence if there are remaining cancer cells after small resections. During the treatment, a small, lightweight surface applicator is placed on the lesion and connected to the treatment machine, which delivers a carefully calibrated dose of low-energy X-ray to the target area. It’s very precise and comes with unique shielding tools to protect healthy tissue. Grant said the system also has applications for other types of cancer, such as gynecological cancers.
WE ARE LEADING CARE. TOGETHER. THOMAS FRIMPONG, DO, AND CHARLES W WOOD, OOD, MD, NEUROSURGEONS
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CALL (701) 857-5877 T TO OC CONNECT ONNECT WITH A SPINE, AND NECK SPECIALIS SPECIALIST, T, OR VISIT TRINITYHEALTH.ORG/NEUROSURGERY. TRINIT YHEALTH.ORG/NEUROSURGER YHEAL TH.ORG/NEUROSURGERYY. TH.ORG/NEUROSURGER MINOT, MINO T, NOR NORTH TH D DAKOTA AKOTA
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En erg y& Tech n ol og y
Saturday, April 14, 2018
Advances in technology is important to Enbridge Enbridge, a leader in crude oil transportation in North America, operates the worldʼs longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system in Canada and the United States. Enbridge Pipelines has been present in North Dakota since 1996 when the company purchased Portal Pipeline. The company is the largest transporter of crude oil production from western Canadaʼs oil sand reserves and the productive Bakken Formation in North Dakota.
Advances in technology are important to Enbridge, a company operating the world’s longest crude oil and liquids pipeline system in Canada and the United States, including in North Dakota. All of the technology discussed below is in development but would be used across Enbridge once approved for use within Enbridge’s systems.
‘Digital twin’ showing pipeline Submitted Photo fitness Baker Hughesʼ new VECTRA HD technology,
Sometimes it’s hard to see the forest through the trees. And for this particular analogy, those trees are millions of data points along Enbridge’s pipeline network—collected and reported by in-line inspection (ILI) tools, strain gauge sensors, and LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) remote sensing systems. “Enbridge is quite diligent about using overlapping inspection and prevention techniques to diagnose pipeline fitness. But the challenge lies in the fact that there is no way of quickly and effectively visualizing all of the data that’s collected,” notes Tony Khoo, manager of Enbridge’s advanced analytics team. “Much of the information exists as Excel files, and becomes a struggle for our pipeline engineers to visualize multiple data sets—and understand the underlying data relationships to one another.” To save its pipeline integrity representatives of Enbridge, Microsoft and Port Coquitlam, B.C.’s Finger Food Studios went back to the innovation drawing board. The result is a vital first step toward creating a “digital twin” for Enbridge’s vast pipeline network. This augmented/mixed reality setting provides a 3D rendering of pipeline sections – demonstrating the ability to process vast quantities of data, and present the information in three dimensions. As a result, users are able to better pinpoint potential hazards in the pipe—including
launched in February 2017, doubles down on the number of sensors in its Magnetic Flux Leakage inspection tools. The result is a more accurate picture than ever of pipeline fitness. Photo from @Enbridge blog.
small dents, cracks, areas of corrosion, and pipeline strain caused by incremental ground movement. “Encouraging innovation is a vital component of directing our own future,” said Trevor Grams, director of Enbridge’s Research Development and Innovation (RDI) unit. “It’s about more than just striving for incremental improvements in the work we do. Innovation is about looking differently at what we need to achieve, and asking how else we can get there.” As a proof-of-value, the project merged 132 separate sets of pipeline data, as well as terrain information, to create a mixed reality environment depicting a 2.25-square-kilometer area in northern Alberta encompassing an Enbridge pipeline right-of-way. Wearing Microsoft’s HoloLens glasses, users would be able to rotate, zoom and expand on the virtual image of the pipeline. Areas of concern along the pipelines are then depicted via heat map, with users able to view the various measurements, such as geological forces, and see changes as they occur over time. Results of the project were presented at an American Petroleum Institute pipeline conference in July 2017.
“Such an application simply doesn’t exist in the pipeline industry,” notes Khoo. “If we are able to fully develop this solution, we would consider offering this to the pipeline industry in the interest of improving overall safety.” Adds Enbridge’s RDI technology manager Chris O’Neill: “Technologies such as augmented reality have the potential to literally change the way we look at our system, and help us begin to appreciate the wider innovative potential when we treat data as an organizational asset.” Enbridge’s advanced analytics team is currently establishing partnerships to help build organizational muscle in the augmented reality arena. In other industries, benefits have included: –Reduced design processes; –Improved training; –Reduced maintenance costs. “By leveraging such visualization technologies, our engineering teams have the potential to improve speed, understanding and collaboration in their decision making,” said Khoo. “Using our advanced analytics as a foundation, we would continue building toward our vision of intelligent operations and maintenance of our energy assets.”
Submitted Photo
Baker Hughesʼ pipeline inspection arsenal includes speed control tools for optimum product throughput, inertial measurement unit for pipeline anomaly location and bending strain solutions, triaxial technology for metal loss confidence, and short, compliant tools that are adaptable for difficult-to-inspect pipelines. Baker Hughes also has ultrasonic technologies that offer accurate wall measurement and crack detection. Photo from @Enbridge blog.
New powerful magnetic detection
There’s powerful magnetic attraction. And then there’s powerful magnetic detection. Enbridge focuses heavily on prevention to keep its crude oil pipeline network safe. In-line inspection (ILI) tools—or “smart pigs,” to use industry jargon—are highly complex pieces of machinery that use advanced imaging technology to inspect our pipes inch by inch. And in recent months, one of its partners in prevention— Baker Hughes Inc., the world’s premier pipeline inspection services company, unveiled an extra-strong magnetic magnifying glass, so to speak, for an extra degree of precision. Baker Hughes’ new VECTRA HD technology, launched in February, doubles down on the number of sensors in its Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) inspection tools. The result is a
more accurate picture than ever of pipeline fitness. “Metal loss and corrosion can be caused by a number of factors,” says Geoff Hurd, a manager of process and pipeline services for Baker Hughes. “There’s gouging and third-party strikes from construction or farming activity, which can damage pipeline coatings and the pipe steel itself. “There may be flaws during the manufacturing process, causing varying wall thicknesses,” he adds. “And sometimes, multiple protection systems in place are challenged in what can sometimes be a harsh operating environment. “Ultimately,” says Hurd, “VECTRA HD provides early detection of any issues—with pinpoint locations of the smallest instances of metal loss and complex corrosion.” Enbridge has entrusted Baker Hughes with robust ILIbased pipeline diagnoses since 1998. In that time, Baker Hughes has performed more than 400 pipeline inspections across Enbridge’s pipeline network, producing more than 70,000 kilometers’ worth of inspection data. Baker Hughes’ VECTRA HD technology has nearly twice as many triaxial sensors—that is, sensors measuring potential metal loss in axial, radial and circumferential directions—per square inch of pipe. Moving at about 4.5 meters a second through gas, oil or refined products pipelines, these VECTRA HD tools send back ultra-high-definition data indicating even the smallest features that may require further inspection. “Basically, we’re talking about a better view of the pipeline all-around. The ILI tool, and our analysts examining the data, are seeing what others can’t,” said Hurd. Maintaining the fitness of Enbridge’s pipes is key to ensuring a safe network. Enbridge has never experienced an internal corrosion failure on its mainline network, and it takes multiple precautions to keep it that way, including: – Robust pipeline coatings – Cathodic protection, the application of a low-level electrical current to all surfaces of the pipeline – Enforcing stringent quality standards for every batch of oil entering its network – Maintaining a high flow rate on its transmission lines – Adding corrosion inhibitors to the oil in our lines. Accordingly, Enbridge’s primary concern is the exterior walls of its pipes, and their susceptibility to third-party damage—one of the leading causes of pipeline leaks. “We have different tools for various situations. If it’s a thicker pipe, we use specially designed tools that have the necessary magnetic strength to ensure we can confidently detect any corrosion on the outside of the pipe,” said Hurd.
Next-generation pipeline inspection tool It’s about safety, it’s about reliability—and, ultimately, it’s about clarity. “Think of this as investing in the creation of the 4K television, when 1080p high-definition isn’t good enough anymore,” said Trevor Grams, Enbridge’s director of Research and Development. Enbridge and NDT Global, a leading ultrasonic pipeline inspection firm, recently announced a multi-year project to develop a next-generation inspection tool—one that will advance crack assessment capabilities in crude oil and liquids pipelines. Unveiled during the Banff 2017 Pipeline Workshop, an international industry conference of operators and innovators, this research-based partnership between NDT Global and Enbridge is expected to further entrench Canada as a leader in advancing pipeline inspection and pipeline fitness technologies. Enbridge is contributing $7.1 million to the $20-million project—which will focus on multiple inspection technologies, and aim to bring a nextgeneration crack inspection tool to commercial readiness by 2019. “We’re working to create the next generation of inspection tools that make even the tiniest imperfections in a pipeline, most of which are benign, more understandable,” said Grams. “The more clarity we have on those features within a pipe—the better information the tool gives us, and the more reliable that information is— the better we can manage our infrastructure.” Over the past five years, Enbridge has invested more than $4.9 billion in the fitness of our energy infrastructure, with a heavy focus on prevention. In-line inspection (ILI) tools—or “smart pigs,” to use industry jargon—are highly complex pieces of equipment that move through our pipes and use advanced sensor technology to inspect pipe walls millimeter by millimeter, searching for dents, imperfections, metal loss and corrosion. While rare, cracking can also occur in pipelines through a variety of factors, including incremental slope movement, weld quality and fatigue due to pressure cycling. “We’ve made a lot of progress in pipeline crack assessment through sensors, resolution and data analysis. But with this project, we’re talking about a step change—a big leap ahead in technology,” said NDT Global’s chief sales officer John Fallon. “We want to get to a point where we can eliminate the possibility of undetected cracking in a pipeline.” Enbridge and NDT Global have a productive 15-year history of advancing pipeline inspection technology together. “Many of the latest inspection improvements from NDT Global have been first validated with Enbridge in Canada,” notes Fallon. Enbridge regularly shares with NDT Global the results of its verification digs, which are used to validate tool performance and drive improvements in data analysis algorithms. Based on the large number of inspections, NDT Global moved to a new and much larger Canadian facility last year in Leduc, Alberta—which includes a 22,000-square-foot warehouse offering a safe working environment and optimized tool testing capabilities. “Generally speaking, Enbridge has the biggest and most complete integrity program of any pipeline operator worldwide, with a long-term perspective of driving technology forward. It’s very influential in the industry,” remarks Fallon. “With more regulation and community attention, North America is setting those safety standards internationally— and within North America, it’s Canada that is showing significant leadership.” Source: @Enbridge blog
Minot Daily News PROGRESS
Saturday, April 14, 2018
MSU offers new graduate certificate in cybersecurity management Minot State University is now offering a graduate certificate in cybersecurity management for individuals looking to gain advanced knowledge and advance their careers, according to a press release. “The ability to prove knowledge in cybersecurity through certification can increase a potential candidate’s chance for hire,” MSU business information technology instructor Chad Fenner said in the press release. “A professional certification shows employee competence and commitment within the field. A combination of experience and certification will carry the most weight on an application but certification will definitely improve a candidate’s chances for job placement compared to an individual with only a bachelor’s degree with little or no experience.” According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information assurance and cybersecurity management jobs are growing faster than average occupational growth and the typical median pay is $92,600 per year. “As of 2017, there are over
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one million job opportunities in the field of cybersecurity and just as many in the area of security auditing,” Fenner said in the press release. “These numbers are expected to increase over the next five years and could approach six million jobs globally by 2019.” The cybersecurity management certificate consists of three graduate level classes (BIT 560 Management and Integration of IS Function, BIT 557 Foundations of Information Assurance and Security, and BIT 575 Business Network Systems Management.) Courses are eight weeks in length. Anyone may apply for the graduate certificate by submitting an official transcript indicating a completed bachelor’s degree, and have a minimum GPA of 2.75. Applicants whose cumulative GPA is 3.00 or higher or most recent semester contributing to at least 60 semester hours is at least 3.00, do not require scores for the GRE/GMAT. The GRE/GMAT test will be required for those applicants who do not meet the above criteria.
Breakthrough energy technology supports coal in the nation’s energy mix Energy technologies that will help ensure affordable energy production in North Dakota and across the nation are being advanced in Congress. Sen. John Hoeven spoke at the Central Power Electric Cooperative annual meeting in Minot March 28, outlining his efforts to advance the energy technologies. Hoeven is a member of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Committee. Hoeven secured strong support in the fiscal year 2018 funding bill to support research like that conducted by the Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) at the University of North Dakota to develop technologies that empower greater energy production with better environmental stewardship. This includes: – Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) Research & Development: $199 million. – Post-Combustion Coal Technologies: $35 million to continue solicitation for two large-scale pilot projects, similar to the $6 million in funding awarded to EERC for Project Tundra in FY2017.
Hoeven
– Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Technologies: $24 million to develop technologies similar to the Allam Cycle, for which the EERC received $700,000 in FY2017. “Our state remains on the cutting-edge of energy research, from basic research in a lab all the way through commercialization,” Hoeven said. “We’re working to support the entire research and development process for CCS technologies. Doing so advances the hard work of EERC and our energy industry, helping them to bring these technologies
to market and establishing a stronger energy future for our nation.” The provisions are part of Hoeven’s work to support a true path forward for coal in the nation’s energy mix. Hoeven reintroduced the CO2 Regulatory Certainty Act, legislation that aligns tax guidelines with existing federal regulations at the Environmental Protection Agency to ensure Carbon Capture and Sequestration project developers can use the Section 45Q tax credit, as well as his legislation to extend the refined coal tax credit. He is also advancing efforts to reduce emissions from renewable energy sources, like Red Trail Energy’s project to capture and store CO2 from its ethanol plant in Richardton. To this end, Hoeven secured regulatory primacy for North Dakota over Class VI injection wells last year, which are used for the geologic or long-term storage of CO2, the first such approval in the nation. This authority will help advance Carbon Capture and Sequestration projects across the state.
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Saturday, April 14, 2018
Newest print technology comes to library It’s a new age for Minot Public Library with the arrival of a 3D printer this year. The latest technology has created a new role for teen librarian Pam Carswell and her assistant, Kassie Ziegler, who have taken on the task of mastering the printer and working with library patrons on its use. “We have been learning as we go. We have been learning a little bit every day,” Carswell said. “We are having a lot of fun with it and I think the patrons are going to By enjoy it. The kids are JILL constantly in my office to find out SCHRAMM what I am doing,” Senior Staff Writer Carswell said. jschramm The library pri@minot marily uses two dailynews.com websites, Thingaverse and Tinkerpad, for its open-source designs, which are available to the public for personal use at no cost. There’s also the capability to modify an existing design or create a design of one’s own. The Tinkerpad website, which includes tutorials, allows Minot’s library staff and other users to share designs they’ve modified or created. The website also includes design options related to kid favorites, such as Pokeman and Minecraft. printing if a project is deemed Carswell said the library inappropriate. has printed computer and Other examples of items phone cablecord guards, key people can print on the 3D chains, cookie cutters and printer include vases, game other sample items as staff pieces and equipment parts. have been learning the tech- 3D printers allow designs to nology since Jan. 1. be produced for purposes of She credited Warren testing much more efficiently Gamas, an associate professor and at a low cost. in teacher education and kiThe printer uses polylactic nesiology at Minot State Uni- acid polymer, made from reversity, for help in getting up newable plant material that is to speed on 3D printing. The food safe. The filament comes library purchased the Maker as plastic string on a spool. Bot Replicator Mini+ with a The library has filament in all $4,200 grant from Best Buy, the primary colors, along with which also has been provid- shades such as orange and ing support in using the purple and traditional black, printer. gray, beige and white. The printer became availThe filament runs through able for patron use in early an extruder, where it is heated March. Cost is 20 cents per and melted. The printer lays a gram of filament, with a typi- test strip and then creates a cal small project costing in the “raft” or a base for the item to range of $2 to $4. Patrons be printed, which helps enneed to present their library sure stability on the plate. The cards to have projects printed. raft later can be removed from Some of the early projects the item. have included a fishing lure, The printer has about a 5car model, backpack pulls inch build plate. If larger items and figurines. The library re- are desired, the item can be serves the right to decline printed in pieces and later
Submitted Photo
A 5th Communications Squadron client support technician removes a circuit board from a computer in the squadronʼs headquarters on Minot Air Force Base, shown in this Air Force photo. Airmen in the squadron maintain and support base communication systems through a variety of equipment including computers, radios and Blackberries. Photos by Jill Schramm/MDN
ABOVE: Teen librarian Pam Carswell, center, and assistant teen liKassie brarian Ziegler, far right, work with youth at a workshop on 3D printing March 13 at Minot Public Library. At left is the libraryʼs 3D printer. LEFT: Teen librarian Pam Carswell displays a phone stand made using the Minot Public Libraryʼs 3D printer. glued or otherwise fashioned together. People can get design assistance at the library but should call ahead to ensure a librarian is available. They also can bring their readymade designs on a flash drive to the library at any time for printing. Printing can take multiple hours so people should plan to pick up the printed projects at a later time. A cookie cutter might take an hour and a half to print, for instance. The library also has a hand-held scanner that can be used to scan items to create a replica design for printing. Carswell said it is possible to do human scans but remaining very still is a requirement. Trevor Ricks, an eighthgrader in Minot, became familiar with 3D printing in school. However, he’s not currently in a class that gives him the opportunity to use a printer, so when he saw a sign for a workshop at the library’s Makerspace in March, he decided to drop by.
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“It just sounds fun,” he said as he worked his way through a design tutorial on a library computer. Sixth-grader Lisa Vetter had a previous experience with designing for a 3D print project that didn’t turn out as hoped, but she was interested enough to try again at the library workshop. She even knew what she’d like to make someday. “I like to make dogs and unicorns,” she said. The library will offer teen classes on making a 3D keychain April 17 and a 3D vase on May 1, both from 4 to 5 p.m. in the Makerspace. Use of the 3D printer will extend into the summer reading program. Program participants will design bells and whistles that will be printed and used as noise-makers at a kickoff celebration for the “Libraries Rock” summer reading event. Carswell said they also hope to print fourstringed 3D harps that will stand about four inches high to give to participants.
Dedicated, hard working
Submitted Photo
A communications focal point technician holds a meter for a 5th Communications Squadron quality assurance member as he checks for a charge on a computer in the squadronʼs headquarters on Minot Air Force Base, in this Air Force photo. Airmen in the squadron take a variety of precautionary measures while maintaining and repairing mission essential communication equipment to ensure the safety of all involved.
Communications Squadron at forefront of information & technology He said the MINOT AIR 125 airmen F O R C E By plus conBASE – ELOISE tractors W h e n OGDEN and civilthere’s a ians with problem Regional Editor t h e with lapeogden squadron tops or are inteo t h e r @minot gral to the computers dailynews.com communicaat Minot Air t i o n s Force Base, squadron’s work. the place to call The squadron inis the help desk at the 5th Communications cludes several flights that make up the squadron at Squadron. “We have a team of spe- large to take care of the cial airmen who make that many aspects of communioperation function 24/7,” cations at Minot AFB and said Lt. Col. Steven Skip- in the Minot missile field. Members of the per, squadron commander. “We get approximately squadron range from air300 calls a week and we men just out of technical manage hundreds of trou- school to a civilian emble tickets on a daily basis,” ployee who has been with the squadron for almost 50 Skipper said. The 5th Communica- years. Skipper noted one tions Squadron at the Minot base and other com- young airman is 18 and munications’ units in the just out of tech school. “It’s Air Force got their begin- nice to see these young nings with the signal corps. faces because they bring us “The Comm Squadron innovative ideas that make is almost 70 years old. It us that much better,” Skipwas established in 1949,” per said. He said the longtime Skipper said. Since that first aircraft member of the squadron lifted off the runway, com- has “seen a lot of squadron munications squadrons commanders come and go. have been at the forefront He’s got a lot of great stoof information and tech- ries.” “We’re proud of all nology, he said. Skipper, who spoke to these airmen,” Skipper members of the Minot Area said. “Without these airChamber of Commerce’s men, these things don’t Military Affairs Commit- happen... and it’s a team tee, said the work of the approach.” “We’re one of the cogs Minot AFB communications squadron not only is in a broader wheel but it’s for the 5th Bomb Wing but exciting to know that we the 91st Missile Wing as have direct impact on these operations,” Skipper said. well.
Minot Daily News PROGRESS
Saturday, April 14, 2018
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SkySkopes demonstrates benefits of drones in energy country
By JILL SCHRAMM
A SkySkopes drone flies over oil tanks in the Bakken using optical gas imaging equipment.
Submitted Photo
they realize the most benefit Through its presence in Senior Staff Writer will come when drones can be Minot for more than a year jschramm flown without constant human now, SkySkopes has been visual tracking. demonstrating the benefit of @minot “That’s when it will be time to unmanned aviation systems dailynews.com really hit the ground running,” he to the regional energy industry. said. The UAS company considers the Federal regulations require pipelines current application of drones to only to be inspected every two to three weeks. Being begin to tap the technology’s potential. Matt Dunlevy, SkySkopes president in able to inspect with an unmanned aircraft, withGrand Forks, said the state could be nearing a out a need for someone to visually spot it, would watershed moment with the North Dakota De- be a tremendous cost and time savings. It would partment of Transportation’s application to the enable drones to go more places, enhancing the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. De- level of information that can be gathered, Dunpartment of Transportation for permission to levy said. Drones are used to survey land before pads regulate commercial drones flown beyond visual line of sight. Currently, drones must be are built and provide unique angles for assessing flown within visual line of sight. In May, the assets once built. The ability to take optical gas U.S. DOT is federally mandated to have 10 imagery is one of the advantages. A drone can memorandums for innovation zones signed by carry equipment to test for escape of product state, local or tribal public entities, giving them from tanks or any leakage that could pose an enauthority to certify certain groups to fly drones vironmental hazard. “It’s also just good to show them that we can beyond line of sight. Dunlevy said SkySkopes is prepared to apply give real-time situational awareness to someone for flight certification if North Dakota is one of who is a decision-maker back in the office and livestream these things,” Dunlevy said. “If there’s the 10 innovation zones. “This is fantastic that we might be able to a danger, people who are at the central decisionstart flying beyond visual line of sight this year making are going to want to know immediately. in Minot. That would be monumental for oil That’s something we are able to do. We save and gas companies,” he said. “We are gathering them time. We save them liability. We save fantastic data that people love with these sen- them money.” Drones also increase safety by flying equipsors. Beyond visual line of sight will augment ment into areas that would be dangerous for emthe data we can collect.” Dunlevy said oil and gas companies are ployees because of heights or an energized aware of the benefits of drone technology, but environment, such as with electrical facilities.
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Recently, Dunlevy met with Microsoft executives in Redmond, Washington, regarding UAS opportunities. Engaging Microsoft in the UAS technology would be a huge boost to the industry because of the company’s expertise, Dunlevy said. “We are literally on the cusp of an explosion of UAS value,” he said of the positive developments occurring that could advance the industry. The development of the instructional training and education opportunities will be another key to UAS growth, he said. Dunlevy participated in a STEM presentation for educators and career advisers in Minot earlier this month. He also is involved on the Minot High School Aviation Advisory Committee, which offers guidance in the school’s aviation programs. His connections extend to the University of North Dakota Research Institute for Autonomous Systems and the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. Minot Area Development Corp. and SkySkopes will be bringing the Magic City Sky Initiative to the Xponential conference of the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, an event expected to bring 8,500 industry leaders and forward-thinking users from the defense and commercial sectors to learn the latest on policy, business use cases and technology applications. The conference is April 30 to May 3 in Denver. “We have really been honing our approach in how we are going to bring more UAS industry players, UAS leaders, to the city of Minot,” Dunlevy said. “This is the conference to go to,
to do that.” Dunlevy said the job outlook is good for data analysts, computer programmers, maintenance workers, pilots, business experts, cybersecurity specialists, educators and knowledgeable attorneys who will be needed to support the UAS industry. The potential exists for many of those jobs to come to Minot, he said. Although Minot has been SkySkopes’ base for use of drones in the energy industry, Dunlevy noted drones have numerous applications, whether it’s firefighting, cinematology, package delivery, construction, private security or other uses. “There’s an extremely bright future for UAS in Minot,” he said. So far, SkySkopes’ operations in Minot are on track, Dunlevy said. The company has been operating out of Minot Area Development Corp.’s headquarters but has land under consideration for an office location. If the authority to fly beyond visual line of sight becomes a reality in North Dakota this year, SkySkopes could see its forecasted schedule of operations jump ahead by as much as two years. “That’s going to open a lot of eyes,” Dunlevy said of focus that will be drawn to drones if they can be flown more remotely. “But the question is if it’s going to open the wallets. I expect that it will. Will it open enough? Yes, if we have the correct technology.” The key is for drones to deliver on what promoters say are the possibilities. “I am confident we are going to be able to,” Dunlevy said.
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