IPLOCA Newsletter 99

Annual Convention in Sorrento page 18

Letter from the President page 4

Member News page 10

HSE & CSR page 21

Innovation page 22

Letter from the President

I am delighted to be hosting the 56th IPLOCA Annual Convention taking place in Sorrento, Italy, from 9 to 13 September. Our industry will gather at the Hilton Sorrento Palace on the beautiful Amalfi Coast for five days of social events with networking opportunities, business meetings, knowledge sharing, and taking decisions at the AGM as IPLOCA’s highest authority.

Given the exceptional location, three days will be dedicated to tours and cultural events, followed by two days of business meetings. ‘Together - Delivering Sustainable Energy Infrastructure’ is the theme of the Convention, the same as last year. Industry leaders and top experts will analyse critical regulatory and technological challenges, new business models, as well as AI’s impact. Senior executives of major oil and gas firms will speak about the changing energy market landscape and the latest trends in health and safety.

There is no better place for networking with other industry actors than the Annual Convention. Owners, senior managers and representatives of our more than 230 member companies from around the world are expected to attend, together with Media Partners, Sister Association representatives and distinguished guests. The IPLOCA NextGen Network, a new forum to help young professionals in our industry, will be launched at the Convention. As a start, every Board Member was asked to nominate one person under the age of 35 from their organisation to attend the Convention. We hope other member companies will nominate their NextGen delegates too.

IPLOCA is committed to gender equality and I’d like to encourage women’s participation on the Board. This subject will be periodically discussed and progress reviewed at our Board Meetings. The next elections to the Board will be held during the Convention in Sorrento, where ten elective seats will be filled. Please consider applying if you are an owner or a senior executive of a Regular or an Associate Member, and you would like to take part in shaping the future of the Association.

Our Regional Meeting held in San Diego on 6 March attracted more than 70 participants mainly from North America. I would like to extend a personal thank you to Roger Spee of CRC Evans for organising such a successful event. The next Middle East & Africa Regional Meeting will be held on 5 June in Cairo, Egypt. We are in the planning stages of a Regional Meeting for Latin America in December in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

In April, IPLOCA’s HSE & CSR Committee met in Windsor. We were delighted to welcome more than 90 delegates from around the world to the Novel Construction Spring Session also organised in Windsor. Participants had the privilege to listen to leading experts in energy transition and new technologies. While 20 years ago all the attendees at this popular event were men, this year, 16 women took part in the Novel Session. Progress has been made, but we want to see further change in terms of female representation.

I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to Andrew Ball of Murphy and Bruno Pomaré of Spiecapag for planning such a successful event. I would also like to thank the Secretariat for organising our Regional Meetings, the Novel Session, the Board Meetings and the Annual Convention.

Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing you in Sorrento!

Roberto Castelli, Bonatti S.p.A IPLOCA President 2023-2024

News from Geneva

Convention Manager replacement

In April, the Secretariat in Geneva started the recruitment process to replace Caroline Green who will retire at the end of 2024 after almost 20 years spent with the Association. The Geneva-based Convention Manager, who reports to the Executive Secretary, manages the planning and execution of IPLOCA ‘s flagship event, the Annual Convention. If you are interested in this position, please send your motivation letter and CV to: careers@iploca.com

IPLOCA at the Pipeline Technology Conference

Georges Hage, IPLOCA Executive Secretary, took part in the 19 th Pipeline Technology Conference held from 8 to 11 April in Berlin, Germany. With IPLOCA being a supporter of the event, Georges held several meetings with various industry actors from around the world.

Board Meeting Update

7-8 March 2024 – San Diego, U.S.A.

Opening remarks

IPLOCA President Roberto Castelli conveyed his thanks and appreciation to Roger Spee for organising a successful Regional Meeting in San Diego on 6 March attended by more than 70 people from the industry.

Safety and CSR moment

Bruno Pomaré, HSE & CSR Committee Chair, spoke about the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion (ED&I) within an organisation and in society on the occasion of International Women’s Week. He shared with the Board

From left: Bruno Pomaré (Spiecapag), Andrew Stuart (Winn & Coales) and Georges Hage (IPLOCA)

the different measures his company takes to encourage diversity in the workplace. For example, when only male candidates apply for a job opening in engineering, he asks the HR department to actively look for suitable female engineer candidates.

HSE & CSR

The next HSE & CSR Committee Meeting was scheduled to be held on 23 April in Windsor, UK, preceding the Novel Construction Spring Session. Bruno Pomaré advised that – at the time of the Board Meeting - 33% of Regular Members had submitted their 2023 HSE Statistics. Once the deadline passed on 2 April, Board Directors would contact companies directly to urge them to submit their data ASAP. In 2022, 88% of Regular Members submitted their HSE Statistics Forms.

Innovation

Gerben Wansink, Committee Chair, presented the Committee Report. The upcoming Novel Construction Spring Session was planned to take place in Windsor, UK, on 24-25 April 2024. Windsor was chosen to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the launch of the Novel Construction Initiative. The Session would mainly focus on new technologies, energy transition and carbon footprint. New Novel working groups would be launched at the Windsor meeting.

Membership

Bill Solomon, the Committee Chair, presented the Report. The Committee sent out invitations to every IPLOCA member in North America for the Regional Meeting held on 6 March in San Diego. The Committee planned to use different platforms to promote IPLOCA’s various events and activities in the coming months.

Marcin Przywara gave a presentation about how IPLOCA could attract new members. Companies providing some of the specialised parts of a pipeline grid are currently not among the members. Therefore, the Board decided to encourage equipment sellers to join the Association.

Energy transition

Andrew Ball, the Committee Chair, reported that the Committee meets online every month. More than 50 key documents have been shared with the membership via the webpage called “Information sharing and exchange” on the IPLOCA website. The objective is to provide a focal point for the dissemination of information on hydrogen and associated technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Overall, the documents are more European centric, given the high level of activity in this region. Andrew Ball presented some of the most recent documents such as the “Hydrogen Europe Manifesto” that gives insight into jobs, projects, and challenges around hydrogen. The “Clean Hydrogen Monitor” goes into policy and regulation. The “Hydrogen Production Delivery Road Map”, issued by the UK government, sets out the vision for hydrogen production until 2035.

Andrew Ball planned to set-up at least two webinars on energy transition in the months ahead. The World Hydrogen Week will be held from 30 September to 4 October 2024. The European Hydrogen Week will take place from 18 to 22 November 2024. IPLOCA will mark both events by organising a series of activities.

Scholarship Programme

Saji Khoury, the Project Lead, presented his Report. The Board had previously agreed to finance a total of 12 scholarships in 2024. The deadline to apply was set for 11 March. The selection team would make a decision and inform applicants by the end of April. At the time of the Board meeting 59 applications had been received.

Annual Convention review

The Board had a lengthy discussion about potential Convention locations in the next five years. Convention & Board Meeting Location Project Lead Roger Spee gave an update on the upcoming Convention in Sorrento, Italy, and listed the speakers selected.

The registration fee for one person or a couple will be EUR 2,400 this year. The fee for each Poster Session will be EUR 1,000, while participants will pay EUR 30 per person to participate in a tour. The revenue generated by the Poster Sessions and tours will help finance the IPLOCA Scholarship Fund.

Preparations for the event were on schedule. The Convention brochure was planned to be published on 1 May. Registration was to open on 15 May. Like last year, the theme of this year’s convention will be “Together – Delivering Sustainable Energy Infrastructure.” The Maats/Liebherr Golf Tournament will be held on 11 September 2024.

The Board decided to select Izmir, Turkey, as the location for the 2025 Annual Convention.

Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer, Adam Wynne Hughes, presented the report and advised that the auditors would review the accounts of 2023 in a couple of months’ time. 62% of membership fees had been paid by members as of 29 February 2024.

Membership changes

At the time of the Board Meeting, the IPLOCA membership status was 81 Regular Members, 104 Associate Members and 33 Corresponding Members.

The Associate Membership application of Shaw Pipeline Services, Inc . was approved by the Board.

The following terminations/resignations were received:

- ZAKHEM International Construction Ltd.

- IFC Techprocomplect LLC (TIAL)

IPLOCA NextGen Network

Under the guidance of Saji Khoury, the Association launched the IPLOCA NextGen Network. Its purpose is to establish a collaborative forum that encourages the next generation of industry professionals to connect, share knowledge, and gain easy access to the IPLOCA community. Additionally, it aims to empower young professionals by providing them with a voice within IPLOCA and supporting their career development.

Each board member was asked to nominate at least one NextGen member under the age of 35 from within their organisation. The Network will be launched officially at the Annual Convention in Sorrento in September.

Solar Turbines visit

Roberto Castelli thanked Doug Bailey and Caterpillar for organising a highly informative and engaging visit to Solar Turbines, headquartered in San Diego, and for hosting the group onboard the Spirit of Solar for a tour around the San Diego Bay area on 7 March.

Changes to the By-laws

IPLOCA Executive Secretary Georges Hage proposed changes to the IPLOCA By-laws which were approved by the Board. The changes concern mainly the voting rights related to representatives of Associate Members serving as Officers on the IPLOCA Board. Members will be informed about the proposed changes to the By-laws and will be asked to approve these changes during the AGM in Sorrento.

The Board approved changes to IPLOCA’s mission and

vision statements. The new mission statement reads as follows: “IPLOCA’s mission is to support the delivery of sustainable energy infrastructure, including pipeline construction, by providing a forum for sharing knowledge globally, facilitating business opportunities and innovation, and promoting the highest standards in business ethics, as well as in health, safety, the environment, and corporate social responsibility.“

This is the new vision statement: “Our vision is to work together to ensure the sustainable growth of our member companies and shape the industry as an authority on topics related to sustainable energy infrastructure, including pipeline construction.”

Regional Meetings: Cairo, Buenos Aires, Muscat and Krakow

The next IPLOCA Regional Meeting, organised by the Directors of the region, Saji Khoury and Leonardo Gravina, will take place in Cairo, Egypt, on 5 June. Pablo Brottier leads the planning of a Regional Meeting to be held in December 2024 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Saji Khoury manages the preparations for a Regional Meeting to be held in March 2025 in Muscat, Oman. Marcin Przywara oversees a Regional Meeting scheduled to take place in June 2025 in Krakow, Poland.

The Directors of the Board look forward to meeting members and non-members at these events.

IPLOCA President Roberto Castelli with his wife, Francesca, during the President’s Dinner at El Cortez

Board member Doug Bailey, Caterpillar Global Pipeline Industry Manager, arranged a visit to the San Diego-based Solar Turbines factory for the IPLOCA Board of Directors.

The company is a leading provider of energy solutions, featuring an extensive line of gas turbine-powered compressor sets, mechanical drive packages, and generator

Board visits Caterpillar-owned Solar Turbines Regional Meetings

America North

An IPLOCA Regional Meeting for America North took place on Wednesday, 6 March in San Diego, U.S.A.

The meeting was co-hosted by Caterpillar, CRC Evans, Gulf Interstate Engineering, ISCO Industries, Michels Corporation, U.S. Pipeline and Vacuworx. Topics included safety, utilising existing pipelines in CO2 and H 2 service, industry outlook and future challenges. The meeting was attended by more than 70 people, including IPLOCA members and key players in the pipeline industry of the region. The following presentations were made:

- Top 10 Safety Myth Busts - Brad Maclean, Wolf Creek Group

- Utilising Existing Pipeline Infrastructure in CO2 and H 2 Service - Bill Olson, Gulf Interstate Engineering

- The Current and Future Challenges in the Pipeline Industry - Dr Robin Gordon, Microalloying

- Pipelines in the Digital World - Vinay Baburao, CRC Evans

sets. The directors and their spouses had the privilege to see firsthand how large and complicated machines, such as mid-sized industrial turbines were built. Two senior managers guided the group through the different phases of production, assembly, testing and delivery, while giving insights into the business and the challenges.

Customers put the company’s products to work in many areas, including production, processing and pipeline transmission of natural gas and crude oil, and generation of electricity and thermal energy for processing applications, such as manufacturing chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and food products. Solar Turbines, founded as an aircraft company in 1927, was purchased by Caterpillar in 1981. Today, with its 9,000 employees around the world, it is a global leader in the design, manufacture and service of gas turbine systems and compressors.

- Power from Hydrogen Gas for Carbon ReductionJean-Luc Di Liberti, Solar Turbines

- Offshore Wind: Challenges and OpportunitiesDavid Lukas, AJ Lucas Services

- Industry Outlook - Carlo Orsenigo, Sempra Infrastructure

Further details are available at: iploca.com/event/iplocaamerica-north-regional-meeting

Middle East & Africa

The next IPLOCA Middle East & Africa Regional Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 5 June at the Nile Ritz-Carlton, Cairo, Egypt.

The meeting will include presentations by IPLOCA members and representatives of companies from the pipeline and construction industry in the region, with a special focus on the business outlook, new technologies, energy transition and carbon footprint. Further details are available at: iploca.com/event/iploca-middle-east-africa-regional-meeting

Latin America

An IPLOCA Regional Meeting for Latin America is planned to take place on Wednesday, 4 December in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

More information at: iploca.com/events/regional-meetings .

Sister Associations

Pipeline Industries Guild

IPLOCA’s President Roberto Castelli and Executive Secretary Georges Hage attended the Pipeline Industries Guild’s 66th Annual Dinner on 12 March at the JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, UK.

Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada

Roberto Castelli, accompanied by his wife, Francesca, Georges Hage, and his wife, Myrna, attended the Pipe Line Contractors Association of Canada’s 70 th Annual

Convention held from 12 to 16 May at the Sheraton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. Members of the World Federation of Pipe Line Industry Associations (WFPIA) met on 12 May during the event to discuss the state of the industry and share other topics of common interest.

Australian Pipelines and Gas Association

The Australian Pipelines and Gas Association Annual

Convention and Exhibition will be held from 12 to 15 October 2024 at the Adelaide Convention Centre and will cover a range of issues in the pipeline and gas sector. Check their website for further details: apgaconvention.com .

From left: Kevin O’Donnell (PLCAC), Rob Darden (DCA), Kate Lazenby (PIG) and Georges Hage (IPLOCA)

Roberto Castelli (IPLOCA) and Georges Hage (IPLOCA) at the Pipeline Industries Guild’s 66th Annual Dinner

From left: Elizabeth Worrell (PLCA), Adam Wynne Hughes (PIG), Kevin O’Donnell (PLCAC), Rob Darden (DCA), Wes Waschuk (PLCAC), Mark Albert (DCA), Roberto Castelli (IPLOCA), Georges Hage (IPLOCA)

Membership Centre

Calling IPLOCA Representatives to update their company information

We encourage all Key Representatives of IPLOCA member companies to take advantage of one of the features of our website, the Members Dashboard.

It allows you to:

- Edit your company profile (published on the IPLOCA website and the IPLOCA Yearbook)

- Update your company’s contact persons’ information

- Add IPLOCA Newsletter recipients

To do so, simply log in via the link at the top right-hand corner of our website. If you have forgotten your password or wish to create a new one, click on ‘lost your password?’

Should you need any assistance please contact support@iploca.com

Member News

ACD Construction completes Sakarya

Phase 1 Project

ACD Construction has successfully completed Sakarya Phase 1 Project - Onshore Pipeline Construction and recently launched Sakarya Phase 2 Project - Onshore Pipeline Construction. Both projects are located near Zonguldak in the Black Sea region of Turkey. ACD creates end to end pipeline service solutions. The completed project consists of onshore pipelines (Gas Export Pipelines

New Associate Member

Shaw Pipeline Services’ (SPS) history goes back to the early 1980s in the pipe mills, when ERW pipe seams were inspected ultrasonically. In over 40 years, Shaw Pipeline Services has grown into one of the leading providers of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) in the industry. With conventional radiography and SPS’ proprietary RTR TrueScan™ and AUT InFocus & TrueFocus™ inspection systems, the company has performed NDT on over 18,000 miles of pipelines worldwide in the last 10 years alone.SPS is one of the largest NDT providers for major project construction, and NDT support onshore and offshore. The company has a network of regional offices that provide general NDT and pipeline integrity services.

Shaw Pipeline Services, Inc. 1725 W. Reno St. Broken Arrow 74012, U.S.A. T +1 918 893 7800 sales@shawndt.com www.shawndt.com

& a MEG Pipeline) installation work associated with the Phase 1 Project between the offshore pipeline and the process plant. Following the successful completion of the Phase 1 Project while maintaining a high standard of Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) practices, along with rigorous Quality Assurance (QA) measures, ACD has been awarded the contract to construct the Sakarya Phase 2 Project - Onshore Pipeline Construction. The project involves the onshore pipeline (Gas Export Pipeline) installation work between the offshore pipeline and the process plant, including tie-ins with offshore pipelines & OPF and various other services.

American Augers’ new HDD Maxi Rig maximises productivity

Horizontal directional drill (HDD) operators can improve their jobsite uptime and meet a variety of new jobsite requirements with the new DD600 Maxi Rig Directional Drill from American Augers. Replacing American Auger’s DD440T, the DD600 was designed with customer-focused features to enhance the power and performance of the current industry standard in HDD maxi rigs. One of the most notable features of the new DD600 is the 755 HP Stage V/T4F/T3 CAT C18 engine that does not require diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), the only machine of its kind in this class. The simple exhaust system increases

uptime and reliability, eliminating daily jobsite struggles with DEF. With ease of transportation in mind, the weight of DD600 meets standard transportation requirements, meaning no special permits are required to transport the machine. The DD600 can also be transported without removing the wrenches, saving hours in assembly and disassembly time.

“The new DD600 Directional Drill incorporates many features and updates that came at the request of our customers,” said Richard Levings, American Augers Product Manager. “This latest drill further increases the power and performance capabilities that come with owning an American Augers drill.”

Bin Quraya awarded construction of Master Gas System III Package 5

Saudi Aramco has awarded Bin Quraya Co. Ltd a lump sum turnkey (LSTK) contract for engineering, procurement and construction of pipelines, associated facilities and auxiliary systems spanning 170 km with a diameter of 56 inches. This project is related to the PEW-05 crossing populated areas, as part of the Master Gas System Phase III programme. The project has several interfaces with different contractors and government utilities. The expansion of the existing

Master Gas System network is required to meet internal consumption needs, as demand has been increasing, and to ensure gas supply sales to industrial hubs like Shoaiba and Shoqaiq by 2028, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. The detailed scope of works includes two 56” pipes between EWG 3 and 4 covering 2 lines of 85 km 56” in the existing corridor, scraper launchers and receivers, starting from BGCS 3 in Wasea and ending at EWPS 4 in Riyadh. Each pipeline has 10 MLIV stations where each MLIV comprises of the isolation valves for both pipelines. The scope is also to provide five jump overs, three hot taps and five tie-ins. The programme aims to support the Saudi Aramco objective to efficiently meet the country’s growing energy demand by replacing liquid fuel with sales gas.

Bonatti builds compressor station for Porthos CO2 storage

In 2024, construction commences on the EUR 1.3 billion CO2 transport and storage system in Rotterdam, slated for completion by 2026. Porthos, a collaboration among EBN, Gasunie, and the Port of Rotterdam, aims to handle CO2 emissions from port companies like Air Liquide, Air Products, ExxonMobil, and Shell. The system will transport captured CO2 to depleted North Sea gas fields 20 km offshore, storing 2.5 Mton annually for 15 years, totalling 37 Mton. Bonatti will construct the CO2 compressor station, overseeing engineering, procurement, and construction, as well as pre-commissioning activities. The station, equipped with 3 compressors and automated systems, will deliver CO2 via underwater pipelines to an offshore injection platform. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plays a crucial role in Dutch climate policy, aiming to reduce Rotterdam’s CO2 emissions by 10%. Bonatti’s involvement reflects its commitment to energy transition, aligning with its efforts in emission reduction projects. This project underscores Bonatti’s expertise in compression system engineering and construction, reinforcing its position in the international market.

CPP’s Lawe Lawe Project in Indonesia nears completion

China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPP) is close to completing its first major EPCC project with Pertamina, the Indonesian national oil company. The “LaweLawe facilities RDMP RU V-Balikpapan Project”, located in East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia, is set to enhance the country’s oil refinery capacity and support economic growth in the region. This strategic initiative features the construction of key infrastructure components, including a record-breaking 52-inch offshore crude oil pipeline, a 320,000-ton single-point mooring system, a 52-inch onshore pipeline, and two large storage tanks with a capacity of 170,000 m3 each.

The offshore pipeline holds the record for the largest diameter offshore pipeline installation in the world. Despite the fact that the project, which was launched in October 2019, faced challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and fluctuating raw material costs, the team managed to complete 90% of the work to date. Final steps such as hydrostatic testing and painting are currently underway. The project’s operational phase is eagerly anticipated to commence in the first half of 2024, marking a significant achievement in CPP’s portfolio and a substantial contribution to Indonesia’s infrastructural development.

Erciyas creates hyperloop development venture

In 2016, to contribute to a sustainable future, Erciyas Steel Pipe Co. began developing hyperloop, a high-speed, next-generation mode of transportation that consumes 10 times less energy than airplanes and produces zero carbon emissions due to its reliance on renewable energy. After six years of extensive work, in 2022, Erciyas Steel Pipe Co. signed an agreement with a US-based innovation and technology company to become a supplier and investor. Hyperloop R&D activities are currently ongoing, and Erciyas continues to collaborate with institutions and organisations within the

ecosystem. Recently, a new entity was created with the aim of executing R&D and manufacturing activities for the nextgeneration tube, as well as its structural components, and all moving parts within the tubes.

Erciyas Hyperloop Technology Industry Inc. was established as a partnership between Erciyas Steel Pipe Co. and RC Endüstri Ulaşım Araçları A.Ş., a group company. The new entity brings together two main areas of expertise: wagon building and large diameter tubes manufacturing. The joint venture aims to propel forward the development and production of innovative solutions integral to the hyperloop transportation system. Erciyas Steel Pipe Co. ranked 4 th among the “Top 50 Most Innovative Companies” in Turkey in 2023 thanks to its Hyperloop Project.

Gascontrol Polska awarded gas pipeline connection project

GAZ-SYSTEM, the Polish natural gas transmission grid operator, announced on 20 March that it had signed a contract to build a gas pipeline connection to the planned CCGT plant in Rybnik, Poland, along with a measuring station. Gascontrol Polska has been selected as the contractor for the construction work. The project consists

of a high-pressure gas transmission pipeline with a diameter of 500 mm and a length of 4.55 km, which will be constructed along with accompanying infrastructure, for example a measuring station with a capacity of 160.000 NCM/H. The above-mentioned connection will be linked to the ‘Racibórz – Rybnik’ pipeline, which is currently under construction. Together with the ‘KędzierzynKoźle – Racibórz’ section, they will form an 80-kilometre corridor, ensuring supplies of natural gas to a 882MW CCGT unit being constructed in Rybnik. It is estimated that the annual gas consumption will be around 1 billion cubic metres. The gas pipelines being built in this region are part of an investment programme called ‘Coal2Gas’, which is included in the GAZ-SYSTEM’s investment plan for 2023-25. The gas pipelines from the ‘Coal2Gas’ programme will ultimately form a system of transmission pipelines supplying Silesia and Podbeskidzie in a ring system.

Goriziane’s innovative solution: the Automated Pipe Handling System

Goriziane’s fully automated Pipe Handling System is an advanced technology designed to streamline the process of handling pipes in industrial settings, including in the oil and gas sector. This system utilises robotics, sensors, and automation to efficiently transport, position, and manipulate pipes without the need for human intervention. Key features of Goriziane’s system include the following: robotic arms are employed to grasp, lift, and move pipes with precision and reliability; integrated sensors detect the position, orientation, and dimensions of pipes, enabling accurate handling and placement.

The entire process, from picking up pipes to delivering them to the desired location, is automated, reducing the need for manual labour and increasing operational efficiency. The system is adaptable to various pipe sizes, materials, and shapes, making it suitable for diverse industrial applications. Built-in safety mechanisms ensure

the protection of both the equipment and personnel by preventing accidents and minimising risks associated with manual handling. Overall, Goriziane’s Fully Automated Pipe Handling System offers a cutting-edge solution for enhancing productivity, reducing costs, and improving safety in industries that involve the handling of pipes.

Midstream offers great career choices, Lamar study says

Conventional wisdom says the midstream industry represents a poor career choice, according to an essay published by Lamar University’s Center for Midstream Management & Science. Its author argues this narrative must be challenged, as it degrades the sector’s ability to attract qualified people. These facts should be considered: U.S. midstream capital expenditures were USD 40 billion in 2023, and more than USD 150 billion in midstream investment will be needed over the next decade to transport natural gas from shale basins to end-users. Considering U.S. Gulf Coast LNG facilities, USD 800 billion of capital investment is needed.

The market capitalisation of the top 48 U.S. public midstream companies is approximately USD 609 billion, representing USD 441 billion of revenue and USD 55 billion of profit. The midstream industry employs 350,000 people in North America and this number is forecast to increase to 381,000 by 2035. Nearly half of U.S. pipelines are over 50 years old and need significant capital for maintenance or replacement. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts fossil fuels will comprise 70% of the world’s primary energy sources in 2050, down from 79% in 2022. Hydrocarbon liquids consumption is expected to rise 22%, and natural gas consumption is expected to rise 29% by 2050. The author argues the facts make it clear, the midstream industry offers outstanding career choices. Read the essay at: Challenging Conventional Wisdom Impacting the Midstream Industry ( lamar.edu)

Michels brings new life to empty quarry

Michels Pipeline, Inc., working with Michels Construction, Inc., collaborated to convert an abandoned rock quarry in West Milford, New Jersey into a 20-acre natural gas compressor station. A key component of the East 300 Upgrade Project, Compressor Station 327 ties into one 24-inch and one 30-inch mainline, increasing capacity for the region that needed additional gas supply. The project also included the installation of a 19,000-horsepower electric motor drive compressor with ventilation and lube oil systems, three gas filter separators, four bays of highpressure gas coolers and other equipment.

The work, completed in November 2023, encompassed more than 3,800 cubic yards of concrete and more than 160 tons of reinforcing steel used to erect three buildings on-site. Established in 1959 in Brownsville, WI, Michels is an international leader in energy and infrastructure construction. The Michels Family of Companies is a collection of wholly owned infrastructure and energy companies providing contracting solutions under the Michels brand flagship.

Nesma & Partners establishes joint venture with SICIM for Aramco project

Nesma & Partners, a leading contracting company in Saudi Arabia, has announced a landmark joint venture with SICIM, a renowned Italian firm. This strategic partnership, aimed at two Master Gas projects involving pipeline engineering, procurement, and construction for nearly 500 km of 56” pipe across the mountainous western region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between Taif and South Jeddah, is a significant step towards enhancing the energy sector’s capabilities in the Kingdom, marking a pivotal moment in the region’s pipeline development. The joint venture, fuelled by the expertise and resources of both Nesma & Partners and SICIM, will undertake crucial assignments commissioned by Saudi Aramco, the national

oil company. These projects hold immense importance in the country’s efforts to expand its oil and gas infrastructure, aligning with Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives of economic diversification and industrial growth. With Nesma & Partners’ longstanding reputation for delivering excellence in construction, and SICIM’s proven track record of delivering pipeline projects worldwide, the joint venture is poised to bring cutting-edge solutions and world-class execution to the forefront. This collaboration not only underscores the strength of international partnerships but also signals a new era of cooperation in advancing Saudi Arabia’s energy landscape towards sustainable progress.

Nesma & Partners wins Sustainable Initiative of the Year category

As a testament to the company’s continuous pursuit of excellence in all aspects of its business operations, Nesma & Partners has won the Sustainable Initiative of the Year category at The KSA Innovation in Construction Awards 2024 ceremony held in Riyadh on 4 March 2024. This recognition is a source of pride and reassurance for Nesma, affirming the company’s commitment to sustainable and innovative practices in the construction industry.

PipeSak appoints Robin Seils as Director of International Accounts

After a distinguished career marked by innovation and dedication as the Director of Sales, Robin (Rocky) Seils, a brilliant mind behind the company’s industry-leading RockStop® rockshield, is now rocking internationally. Due to the anticipated growth in PipeSak’s international sales, Rocky will be leading international client outreach by leveraging his expertise in forging international connections overseas to ultimately improve pipeline integrity worldwide. Rocky plays a pivotal role in understanding what hardworking pipeliners and company owners are looking for in new pipeline protection solutions that meet both their protection needs and simplify installation on the right-of-way.

SACDE

and Techint forge partnership to build oil pipeline in Argentina

SACDE and Techint Engineering & Construction, in an equal partnership consortium (50%-50% joint venture), were selected by Oldelval S.A to undertake the construction of Module 2 of the DUPLICAR Pipeline

Project. This oil pipeline aims to increase the Vaca Muerta area oil output starting from Pichi Mahuida in Río Negro, crossing the Colorado River through an HDD into La Pampa, and extending up to Puerto Rosales in Buenos Aires province. The scope of the works consists of the construction of 250 kilometres (155 miles) of pipelines, made up of a 198-kilometre (123 miles) 24-inch pipeline and a 52-kilometre (32 miles) 30-inch pipeline.

Seal For Life Industries

acquired by Henkel Henkel has successfully completed the acquisition of the US-based Seal For Life Industries LLC from Arsenal Capital Partners. Seal For Life is a specialised supplier of protective coating and sealing solutions in a broad variety of infrastructure markets such as renewable energy, oil and gas, and water. The signing of the transaction took place in February 2024. As infrastructure ages and sustainability gains ever more prominence, the necessity for repair solutions that enhance asset longevity is becoming more apparent. Consequently, maintenance and repair solutions for industrial, civil, and municipal applications are gaining heightened importance. “This acquisition underscores our dedication to create a maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) growth platform and it positions us to expand our offerings in future-oriented markets such as renewable energy and water supply,” says Mark Dorn, Executive Vice President and globally responsible for Henkel’s Adhesive Technologies business unit.

Jeff Oravitz, CEO of Seal For Life, stated, “Arsenal has enabled the transformation of Seal For Life into a unique platform of coatings solutions. The firm brought significant expertise in technologies and applications that drove a focus on where the markets are going and how we can address the long-term trends. We are grateful to the Arsenal team for their partnership and support over the last five years and are excited for the growth opportunities as we join the Henkel organisation.”

Adam Connors, Cam Cunningham, Robin (Rocky) Seils and Geoff Connors

SICIM S.p.A. awarded major 48” pipeline project in Italy

The award of the Mercato Saraceno – Cesena 48” gas pipeline section by Snam Rete Gas reaffirms the role of SICIM as a key player in the pipeline industry, not only in the international but also in the domestic market. The project represents one of the lots of the new 48” gas Pipeline Sestino-Minerbio which is part of the so-called Linea Adriatica. The entire project is approximately 690 km long and represents a core element of the national gas transmission system. It was designed for the transport of 100% hydrogen and it could play an important role for the SoutH2 Corridor (the southern hydrogen transport corridor) that was included in the list of European Projects of Common Interest (PCI).

SICIM has been awarded the construction of Lot 3 of the northernmost section of the Project called SestinoMinerbio. The 48” pipeline stretches 31 km near the city of Cesena and crosses hills and flat terrains following the course of the Savio river. The presence of highway E45 and waterway crossings, as well as environmentally sensitive areas, will lead to laying a quarter of the pipeline length (i.e., approx. 7 km) by using trenchless technologies such as eight microtunnels, two Direct Pipes, a Tunnel Boring Machine (approx. 2 km & 3,8 m as outer diameter) and 20 auger borings. In addition, the Savio river will be crossed 11 times by implementing open cut solutions. The construction works start in the spring of 2024 and will be fully completed in 40 months, while commissioning will be achieved in 2026. Approximately 250 people will be employed on the construction of the pipeline.

Spiecapag gains momentum on Kurri Kurri Pipeline Project

Drawing on its experience as a leading pipelines contractor globally, Spiecapag has mobilised teams and equipment to construct the Kurri Kurri Lateral Pipeline

Project for APA Group, near Newcastle - approximately 150 km north of Sydney, Australia. Officially awarded on 20 July 2023, the project consists of two main pipelines, a 14-inch high-pressure transmission pipeline, 20 kilometres long, and a 42-inch gas storage pipeline, 24 kilometres long. These buried pipelines will connect the Hunter Power Project at Kurri Kurri to the existing Jemena Sydney to Newcastle pipeline, which will provide dispatchable firmed capacity to supplement Snowy Hydro’s renewable electricity generation portfolio.

Construction works commenced in October 2023, and work across both pipelines is well underway. About 8 km of the 14” pipe is already buried, and reinstatement is already in progress, while trenching and welding continues further on the line. On the 42” storage section, stringing and bending are well advanced, and the welding – using Serimax STX08 STT automated system, a first in Australia – has recently started. Set to employ over 350 people, the project is providing many business and employment opportunities to the local community, as well as bringing experienced international pipeline personnel into the team.

Tesmec introduces its largest trencher

Tesmec has launched the largest and most powerful trencher the company has ever made, the groundbreaking 1875XL EVO. This revolutionary chainsaw trencher boasts a formidable 950 HP (709 KW) engine, setting new standards in digging performance. Designed for colossal projects in the harshest conditions, its rigid frame and undercarriage ensure stability and durability. Ideal for large-diameter pipelines in hard and abrasive rock, the 1875XL EVO surpasses industry norms, outperforming traditional methods.

Equipped to adapt to double and triple chain boom configurations, it can achieve depths of up to 732 cm

(24’) and widths of 213 cm (84”). The EVO technology, featuring upgraded flywheels, gearboxes and hydraulic components, delivers high chain pull and low chain speed, optimizing performance on challenging terrains.

Additionally, Tesmec’s cutting-edge trencher has features like TrenchTronic 4.0, TrenchIntel, Re.m, and Smart Tracker, which ensure maximum excavation efficiency, productivity, and fleet monitoring. With unmatched trenching dimensions for pipeline projects, the Tesmec 1875XL EVO redefines what’s possible in the realm of excavation, promising enhanced productivity and reduced maintenance costs.

TIB Chemicals hires George Balmforth as Business Unit Director

refit projects, later branching out into renewable energy projects. After 11 years in the applicator segment in project management, he moved into a sales management role, where he led a cross-border team for a large chemicals and coatings manufacturer for the last 6 years, before joining TIB Chemicals in January.

“I feel the solid market share and loyal customer base built by my predecessor, Rainer Kuprion, is a fantastic foundation to build on. We intend to build, grow and protect our current markets, but also explore future opportunities within the protective coatings and energy segments,” he announced upon his appointment.

Following the retirement of Rainer Kuprion, George Balmforth took over as Business Unit Director for Coating Systems at TIB Chemicals in January 2024. 38-year-old George was born in London and grew up in Germany. He holds both German and British nationalities. After having obtained a degree in International Business and Economics, he began a career in coatings with a heavy focus on commercial ship and superyacht new builds and

Vacuworx expanded its product line by launching the Solar Panel Lifter (SPL). The newest addition to the lineup of vacuum lifting systems operates in conjunction with mini excavators, efficiently supplied by a 12V system powered by the excavator’s charging system. It also features a 300-pound standard lift capacity, soft silicone vacuum pads that prevent damage to solar panel modules, 360 degrees of rotation to facilitate precise handling and alignment, and 5 inches of vertical vacuum pad travel for additional protection.

Vacuworx recognized the need for safe material handling in the solar industry, where continuous, repetitive movement poses a threat to its workers and increases their chance of injury or exhaustion. The SPL is designed to alleviate fatigue and strain by mitigating any need for workers to have to carry solar panels for long periods of time or lift them over their heads.

Available globally, the SPL is an ideal companion for contractors involved with in-field solar panel module handling tasks and installation projects, anywhere in the world.

Vacuworx launches Solar Panel Lifter

Online registration is available at www.iploca.com

Download the convention brochure

IPLOCA’s 56th Annual Convention 9 to 13 September

Sorrento, Italy

This year’s Convention takes us to Sorrento, Italy and the stunning Amalfi Coast where azure waters meet towering cliffs and participants will experience a blend of history, culture, spectacular landscapes and charming cobblestone streets.

Our ‘home’ for the week will be the Hilton Sorrento Palace. Surrounded by a beautiful citrus garden, this

4-star property with 331 guest rooms is a 15-minute walk to the historical centre of Sorrento, an ideal spot for shopping, or watching the world go by whilst enjoying a cappuccino or a gelato in the main square, Piazza Tasso.

Business Programme

With presentation topics ranging from safety leadership, and building high-performing collaborative teams, to how artificial intelligence (AI) will transform pipeline construction, and adapting the pipeline industry to deliver a net zero energy system, Thursday and Friday’s Open General Meetings promise to deliver some pertinent insights into today’s industry. Delegates will also be given updates on IPLOCA’s initiatives for innovation,

new technologies, HSE & CSR as well as a presentation of the new NextGen Network.

If you would like to present your company’s latest technologies or share news about recent pipeline projects in an informal context, then why not take the opportunity to host a Poster Session during the coffee breaks on Thursday and Friday morning?

Interested in attending or hosting short B2B Meetings with buyers, suppliers, operators and contractors? You can indicate your interest for these 10-minute one-to-one meetings when registering for the convention.

Want to make your vote count towards who will represent you on the 2024-2025 IPLOCA Board of Directors?

Attend the Election Meetings when Regular Members will elect a representative for their geographical region, and Associate Members will elect a representative for the Associate Members.

In addition to the cocktail receptions, gala dinners and off-site events, the programme also includes excursions

to the beautiful island of Capri, picturesque Positano, the UNESCO world heritage sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as Naples and its remarkable archaeological museum - all of which are included in the cultural tour programme.

Wednesday morning, IPLOCA’s golfers will be heading off to the Golf Club Salerno, a 9-hole course built in 1999 www.golfclubsalerno.it , and on Friday morning, whilst IPLOCA Member representatives attend the AGM and OGM, all accompanying partners are invited on an excursion to Fattoria Terranova to learn about the intricacies of planning a sustainable vegetable garden.

We are expecting a very high attendance in Sorrento, so we do advise you to register early to secure your place in the business meetings, social events and the tour programme.

The number of places on the tour to the island of Capri is limited, and exceptionally this year, places are also limited to a maximum of 40 persons on the Golf Tournament.

Convention Sponsorship

Sponsorship is THE way to get your company noticed during this annual gathering of pipeline industry professionals from around the world.

As an example, tour sponsors have their logo printed on all the tour tickets, as well as on tour guide and coach signage. Silver or Gold level tour sponsorships are available from EUR 7,000 to 14,000.

Convention fund contributions are another option. Your company can become a Silver sponsor for as little as EUR 3,500, and benefit from the advantages of increased logo visibility. These funds are used to help pay for all those miscellaneous costs that are incurred when organising an event of this size.

All convention sponsors benefit from the following visibility:

- Company name listed in the June edition of the IPLOCA newsletter (if sponsorship is confirmed before publication).

- Logo included in the logo wall posted on the IPLOCA website, on the convention app and at the Registration Desk at the hotel.

- Company name listed in the Final Banquet menu.

- Logo projection during the ‘thank you to our sponsors’ slideshow at the Final Banquet

- Logo printed in the September edition of the IPLOCA newsletter.

- Individual event or item logo visibility

For more information contact caroline.green@iploca.com

Platinum from EUR 25,500

Two complimentary registration fees and two invitations to the President’s Dinner

- Caterpillar

- CRC Evans

- PipeLine Machinery International

- Liebherr

- Maats Pipeline Professionals

- Qapqa

Gold

from EUR 13,000

Entitles your company to a complimentary registration fee (value EUR 2,400) and an invitation to the President’s Dinner

- Euro Pipeline Equipment

- Bechtel Pipeline

- Glavbolgarstroy International AD

- Pipeline & Gas Expo

- Spiecapag

- Vermeer

- Bonatti S.p.A.

- Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC)

- CPP

- Laurini

- Mears Group, Inc.

- Michels Corporation

- Murphy

- Nesma & Partners Contracting Co. Ltd.

- Nuova Patavium

- Precision Pipeline

- Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers

- Techint Engineering & Construction

- Tekfen Construction and Installation Co., Inc.

- Volvo Construction Equipment

- Winn and Coales International Ltd.

- Worldwide Machinery

- American Augers

- DENSO GmbH

- Goriziane E&C S.p.A.

- Lincoln Electric

- World Pipelines

- SCAIP

- Seal for Life Industries

- SICIM S.p.A.

Silver from EUR 3,500

- Denys

- Fernas Construction

- G.D.I.

- Price Gregory International

- U.S. Pipeline, Inc.

- Darby Equipment Company

- Gulf Interstate Engineering

- MAX STREICHER GmbH & Co. KG aA

- HABAU

- PPS

- Shaw Pipeline Services

- Pipeline & Gas Journal

- VACUWORX

- Gascontrol Polska

- OPUS

Health, Safety, the Environment & CSR

HSE & CSR Committee Meeting

The HSE & CSR Committee met on 23 April in Windsor. Points on the agenda included defining the topics of the HSE & CSR Workshop to be held in October 2024, and discussing the calculation of IPLOCA’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The IPLOCA Board was encouraged to ask their respective companies to regularly contribute to the HSE Shared Experiences Platform.

HSE & CSR Workshop

This year’s workshop will be held on 22 October 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. The theme of the workshop will be “Human – Machinery Interface”. The workshop will be split into two parts. In the first part of the day, experts will speak about theoretical concepts, and in the second part, participants will be divided into small working groups for brainstorming. At the end of the workshop each group leader will be asked to present what they have learnt and to explain how they will apply the new ideas.

HSE Statistics Returns

As of the last Committee meeting on 23 April, 77% of the 2023 H&S Statistics Returns had been submitted by 61 Regular Members, in which one fatality had been reported.

Health & Safety and Environmental Awards

The winners and runners-up of the IPLOCA Health & Safety Award, sponsored by Snam, and the IPLOCA Environmental Award, sponsored by Shell, will be presented with their trophies at the first Open General Meeting on Thursday, 12 September during the 56th Annual Convention in Sorrento.

Improving corporate safety memory with the CSRA

Article authored by the CSRA for the IPLOCA Newsletter

Dr Fred Sherratt

The Construction Safety Research Alliance (CSRA) was delighted to be able to support IPLOCA at the HSE & CSR Workshop in Munich, Germany, in October 2023.

The CSRA is a community of industry leaders and academic experts who collaborate to undertake research in industry-academic teams to generate new safety knowledge. The CSRA’s vision is to eliminate serious injuries and fatalities in the construction industry through transformative research and defendable science.

Dr Fred Sherratt from the University of Colorado Boulder and Dr Logan Perry from the University of Nebraska Lincoln delivered on IPLOCA’s chosen theme for the event: Improving corporate safety memory. To tackle this challenge, the session shared some of the latest CSRA projects, all backed by peer-reviewed empirical research. Learning from incidents is critical to improving corporate safety memory, making sure we

don’t make the same mistakes twice. Dr Sherratt presented a suite of free-to-access tools grounded in empirical research that can help enhance learning by mitigating the inevitable bias investigators bring to their investigations. She also highlighted the unintended consequences that can result from a blanket “no blame” policy around incidents, and how to safely navigate that to ensure optimal learning occurs.

Dr Sherratt also shared findings from the ongoing CSRA project “Measuring the Unmeasurable”, which has been unpacking the sticky phenomenon of “safety culture”. This research determined that safety culture is an integral part of organisational culture, but also that the things that matter most for organisational culture are also the most unmeasurable. Prominent among these factors is “commitment”, so the project team looked to what an organisation actually does with its resources as evidence of that commitment. Tangible aspects of organisational structure and resourcing are now being evaluated to ascertain how these business factors affect safety performance, results are forthcoming.

Finally, and hot off the CSRA press, Dr Perry presented early findings from the CSRA project exploring the optimum ways to deliver safety training for workers in the field, whether that be via video, lecture, lecture with interactive activities, lecture with interactive and hands-on activities, or a hybrid combination of these. Training is essential to ensure corporate safety memory is embedded within the entire organisation. The research found that learning is optimised through videos and hands-on activities, whilst engagement is enhanced through interactive and hands-on activities. Depending on the resources available and the desired outcomes from the training, these findings enable decision makers to select the

Innovation Novel Construction Spring Session

To mark its 20th anniversary, the Novel Construction Spring Session was held on 24-25 April 2024 at the Castle Hotel Windsor, where the first event took place two decades ago.

We were delighted to welcome more than 90 delegates from around the world at the event. Georges Hage, IPLOCA Executive Secretary, opened the meeting with a reflection. “Not all projects endure the test of time, but the Novel Initiative has remained as relevant as ever, if not even more so today. Those of you who have contributed to the Initiative over the years can be proud of what we have achieved together.” In his speech he added: “As we gather from different corners of the world, representing diverse companies and expertise, we are united by a common understanding—that the landscape of energy and pipeline infrastructure is changing rapidly.”

At the heart of the Spring Session were topics that resonate deeply within the industry: new technologies, energy transition, and the pressing need to reduce carbon

optimum delivery systems to deliver an organisation’s specific requirements.

The CSRA team also helped facilitate the round table discussions that followed their workshop presentations, which explored how to improve corporate safety memory via these different topic areas and resulted in some interesting and lively discussions.

For more information about the CSRA, to access the incident learning tools, or to find out more about any of this research, please visit www.csra.colorado.edu

footprints. Over the two days delegates had the privilege of listening to some experts in these subjects alongside taking part in breakout sessions to discuss and develop ideas on how IPLOCA can continue to shape and support the future of the pipeline industry. The key message for those in attendance was: “Let’s build upon the foundation laid in the last two decades and let’s pave the way for a new future for the sessions.”

The theme of this special gathering was: “Beyond Boundaries: Embracing 20 Years of Innovation, Unveiling Tomorrow’s Transformative Trends in Pipeline Construction.”

The following subjects were presented in the morning of the first day:

- LAURINI: A Game Changer in a Tough World *

Marco Laurini, Laurini

Michelangelo Blasi, Laurini

- Change Starts Here - We have the Opportunity of a Lifetime

Hakan Ask, Volvo CE

- Techint E&C Innovation in Pipeline Digitization

Diana Romero, Petro IT & Alejandro Aguirre, Techint

- H2 to Achieve Net Zero: Why & How to Store on a Large Scale?

Elodie Zausa, Geostock

- Adapting the Pipeline Industry to Deliver a Net Zero Energy System

Chris Beech, Worley

A workshop was held in the afternoon and the participants were divided into small working groups for brainstorming. The group discussions were related to the following subjects:

- AI Transformation

- Skill & Resources

- Standard & Regulatory Material

- Energy Transition

- Net Zero Construction

On the second day the following presentations were made, before the conclusions from the workshop were presented:

- Connected Assets - Enhance Equipment Health, Performance and Safety

Kai Thesen, Caterpillar

- Innovative Methods in Asset Tracking and Surveying with Lorawan and Satellite *

Cagatay Karatas, TINGZ Technologies

- Cadent’s Regional Hydrogen Development Programmes

- Kelly Manders, Cadent Gas

- ‘Future Grid’ and NG Hydrogen Work

Shaun Bosomworth, National Gas Transmission (NGT)

- Lowering Carbon Footprint in Pipeline Construction

Geoff Cox, Bechtel Pipeline

* Articles on these initiatives follow this report.

The presentations are available at www.iploca.com/event/ iploca-novel-construction-spring-session-2024

We would like to thank our generous sponsors Winn & Coales (Denso), Herrenknecht, Petro IT, Scaip, Sicim and Spiecapag, as well as all those who participated in the Novel Construction Spring Session. We look forward to our next session which is planned for 23-24 October 2024 in Lisbon, Portugal. The hotel is yet to be defined.

Unlocking digital transformation in pipeline & offshore construction with IoT Technology

Cagatay Karatas, Co-founder and CEO at Tingz

Digitalisation has become a cornerstone of modern industries, revolutionising processes, enhancing efficiency, and enabling real-time decision-making. However, the construction sector has lagged behind in embracing digital transformation.

This reluctance is not unfounded, as construction sites pose unique challenges. Remote locations, unreliable or absent GSM signals, harsh environmental conditions, and the prevalence of subcontractors and rented equipment

all hinder the adoption of digital technologies. Nowhere are these challenges more pronounced than in pipeline and offshore construction.

Pipeline construction, in particular, presents a myriad of obstacles to traditional data collection methods. The vast expanses and constantly shifting nature of these construction sites make establishing reliable connectivity a monumental task. Yet, in such high-stakes operations, digitalisation holds immense value. Timely insights into equipment operations, swift interventions, and real-time decision support mechanisms can save contractors millions of dollars in costly delays.

For digital solutions to be effective in pipeline construction, they must fulfill three critical functions:

1. Precise Machine Operation Analysis

Raw sensor data or onboard computer metrics from equipment are not enough. It is imperative to dissect machine operations through the lens of a seasoned foreman or project manager. For example, identifying actual loading times and automatically redirecting idle machinery in real-time are essential functionalities.

2. Connectivity

With GSM signals often unreliable or nonexistent in pipeline construction sites, alternative industrial wireless data collection technologies like LoRaWAN must be considered. Moreover, data receivers in the field must be mobile to adapt to the expansive and ever-changing nature of pipeline construction sites. Once collected, transmitting this data to the cloud in GSM-deficient areas necessitates practical and cost-effective satellite connectivity solutions.

3. Integration

A solution deployed in the field must seamlessly integrate with other third-party technologies to combine data from various sources. Beyond machinery, data from different equipment, personnel, and fixed sensors must be harmonised to maximise utility. Combining operational insights with data from onboard vehicle computers can also be beneficial, enriching the data pool with complementary and diagnostic insights.

At Tingz, we meticulously address each of these three pillars, offering robust engineering solutions at every step. Our machine operation analysis transcends conventional methods, employing machine learning algorithms to report on equipment movements at an activity-specific level. We calculate loading times, analyse interactions between different machinery, and monitor wait times for excavation trucks—all in real-time.

In one of our most recent projects, we monitor 300 construction machines in an open-pit mining area with these methods. We carry out all loading, dumping and truck routing digitally. In this way, we achieved a 6% increase in all mining activities in the first 3 months of the project, while saving 27,000 liters of fuel per month and preventing 80 tons of CO2e emissions.

In the realm of connectivity, Tingz stands as a LoRaWAN expert, earning accolades within the community for successful data collection in the most challenging terrains. Tailoring LoRaWAN capabilities to pipeline construction, we strengthened our infrastructure with low-orbit microsatellites, ensuring uninterrupted data collection capabilities in even the most remote and inhospitable areas.

Moreover, Tingz’s infrastructure not only facilitates operational machine analysis but also enables the integration and orchestration of data from diverse sources. Thus, digital transformation becomes feasible for pipeline construction projects, paving the way for enhanced efficiency and cost savings.

In conclusion, while digitalisation may seem daunting in the context of pipeline and offshore construction, the potential benefits far outweigh the challenges. By embracing IoT technologies like LoRaWAN and satellite connectivity, contractors can unlock unprecedented insights and efficiencies, ultimately redefining the landscape of construction operations.

Laurini A game changer in a tough world

Michelangelo Blasi, General Manager at Laurini

The Novel Construction Spring Session 2024 took place in Windsor, where the first event was held exactly 20 years ago. What better opportunity for Laurini to celebrate 20 years of history in this incredible industry? A history of ambitions and challenges, where innovation is the key to improving quality, performance, safety, and sustainability.

“Beyond Boundaries: Embracing 20 years of Innovation, Unveiling Tomorrow’s Transformative Trends in Pipeline Construction” was the theme of the session. I would like to focus on two verbs in the title: “unveiling”, because the aim of the pipeline industry is to remove the “veil” from the future and focus on new trends, and “embracing,” as in giving a huge hug to everyone who brings innovation to make things better in our industry.

Laurini has always been committed to innovation and that is why we consider ourselves, together with many other IPLOCA member companies, as “game changers in a tough world”. We believe there are five characteristics of a game changer: open-mindedness, talent, knowledge sharing, failure, and endurance. In our presentation during the Novel session, we analysed these attributes, retracing Laurini’s long history of innovation.

“Open-mindedness” is about considering different viewpoints and never settling for the “it has always been done this way” mentality. In 2004, Laurini presented the Side Excavator, a new single structure as a base for winches and sideboom attachments with no modifications needed on the base machine. Two operators could convert it in one day.

At the time the Side Excavator by Laurini was recognized as a very innovative solution and it received the “New Technologies Award sponsored by BP” at the Convention in Vancouver in 2005. This was the first award of our Association recognising the “talent” of a company that had broken into the pipeline industry just a few years earlier. In 1996, Marco Laurini designed and built the first machine, a crushing machine called Grub, especially designed to work inside a trench, leaving behind a uniform layer of fine material. Grub was self-propelled and remote controlled. In the same year, certain companies (e.g. Bonatti and Somico) bought the first two units.

“Knowledge sharing” is crucial

Just like in team sports, many skills combined can create wonderful things. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. In 1996, Laurini joined IPLOCA and attended the Annual Convention in Istanbul. This was a turning point for our company because being in contact with leading companies in the pipeline industry allowed us to better understand the needs and problems that needed to be solved. In 2000, Laurini’s bestseller, the Vulcano, was born. It is a screening padding machine, self-propelled and remote controlled. Even the best innovations need updates, so Vulcano 2.0 was delivered in 2015, followed by Vulcano Smart and Vulcano XXL (higher output).

Knowledge sharing is also about building

valuable partnerships

Last year Laurini signed an agreement with Tesmec, another innovator in machine manufacturing. The idea behind the partnership is to combine our machines in bedding, padding and backfilling operations. When using a trencher, the performance of the Vulcano can be improved because of the finer material produced by the trencher. The competitive advantages include a comprehensive worksite solution, cost and time savings and fewer machinery movements along the jobsite.

During a dinner in 2006, Marco Laurini and Spiecapag‘s Asset Manager, Bernard Quereillahc, were having discussions about a multipurpose tractor. Marco drew the plans on a napkin. That was the day Muletrax was born.

The idea was to create a tracked flatbed for various uses. Muletrax won Laurini’s second BP Award in Sydney in 2007. We received the third BP Award in 2011 with the Seam Aligner Clamp, which ensures the fast, accurate and safe positioning of pipes.

Innovation is also about failure

In 2018, we developed Apollo, a pipe laying system. At the time we wanted to ensure the stability of the pipe column, secure the sidebooms and reduce the number of machines used during the laying of the pipe. Things do not always go as planned. Apollo had no luck because of the few types of construction sites where it can be used.

The last key ingredient to be a game changer is “endurance” and this word has several meanings:

- Endurance means courage: in 2021, we designed our SansOne pipelayer which brought important innovations in terms of visibility and transportability.

- Endurance means adaptation: from 2022, we designed and manufactured Sliding Shoes for Microtunnel installations.

- Endurance also means new challenges: in 2018, Laurini started a new business unit for special transformations of excavators for demolition machines.

The know-how gained in pipeline machinery was essential to our success in developing special transformations for excavators also suitable for pipeline sites.

Our latest innovation is the Switch-boom Excavator. Its competitive advantage is that a single operator can switch between the digging and pipelayer configuration in only ten minutes. The machine was presented at the Pipeline and Gas Expo in Piacenza at the end of May.

For more information: www.laurini.com

Picture: Jacko Lake Project, Surerus Murphy, Canada

Hydrogen highways:

H 2 pipelines of the US Gulf Coast

Peregrine Bush, Senior Director, Data & Technology, Global Energy Infrastructure

The US Gulf Coast is not just a hub for traditional energy sources like oil and gas; it’s also emerging as a leader in the development of hydrogen infrastructure. This cleanburning fuel holds immense potential for a low-carbon future, and a key element of this transition is a robust network of hydrogen pipelines.

The Gulf Coast boasts a significant advantage when it comes to hydrogen transportation. The region already possesses over 1,000 miles of hydrogen pipelines. The existing pipeline networks stretch from the Houston Ship Channel in Texas to New Orleans, Louisiana. These pipelines were built to deliver hydrogen from natural gas to refineries and chemical plants for various industrial processes. Companies are now capitalising on these networks and expanding them further.

Pipelines are a safe and efficient way to move large volumes of hydrogen over long distances. Unlike trucking, pipelines have a lower environmental footprint and can deliver hydrogen at a more competitive price, reducing upfront costs associated with building out new networks by repurposing them from existing gas infrastructure. As the demand for clean energy grows, we can expect to see further expansions. New projects are planned,

like the HyVelocity Hub, proposed by seven industry participants including AES Corporation, Air Liquide, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Orsted, and Sempra Infrastructure, aiming to create a large-scale hydrogen production and transportation infrastructure along the Gulf Coast. These developments are vital for connecting hydrogen production facilities with industrial users and potential future applications like hydrogen fuelling stations for clean transportation.

Despite the promise, challenges remain. Hydrogen requires specialized pipelines due to its different properties compared to natural gas. Ensuring the safety and integrity of these pipelines is paramount. The long-term economic viability of hydrogen pipelines depends on the future price of hydrogen, political intervention and the success of the hydrogen economy.

The network of hydrogen pipelines on the Gulf Coast is a critical piece of the puzzle for a clean energy future. By leveraging existing infrastructure, expanding the network strategically, and addressing the challenges, the region can position itself as a global leader in the production, transportation, and utilisation of hydrogen.

Elections to the 2024-2025 IPLOCA Board of Directors

Elections to the IPLOCA Board of Directors take place every year at the Annual Convention as seats become vacant. As per the IPLOCA By-laws the term of office is up to two years for those seats that are not for appointed or “at-large” directors.

Vacant Seats

We are looking for candidates who would like to serve on the IPLOCA Board of Directors. Ten seats are becoming vacant in September 2024:

IPLOCA Board of Directors is available on our website: www.iploca.com/about-us/board-of-directors/candidatesfor-nominations-to-the-2024-2025-board-of-directors/

Voting

All Regular and Associate Member representatives are invited to attend the Election Meetings to be held on Thursday afternoon, 12 September 2024

Each member company is entitled to one vote. If no-one from your company is able to attend the meeting in order to vote, one vote per member company may be made on a proxy form (also available on the website) and must be received by the Executive Secretary ( georges.hage@iploca.com), no later than 4 September 2024 in order to be counted.

Any questions regarding the election procedure can be addressed to Georges Hage, IPLOCA Executive Secretary, georges.hage@iploca.com

2 seats in Europe Northwest www.iploca.com/europenorthwest

2 seats in Europe Mediterranean www.iploca.com/europemediterranean

1 seat in Europe Eastern www.iploca.com/eastandfareast

1 seat in Middle East & Africa www.iploca.com/middleeastandafrica

1 seat in Latin America www.iploca.com/latinamerica

3 seats representing the Associate Members www.iploca.com/associatemembers

If you are an owner or a senior executive of a member company and would like to be considered for a vacant seat on the IPLOCA Board of Directors, please review the Duties and Commitments of Board Members . An application form, complete with a brief résumé and a photograph, should be emailed no later than 12 August 2024 to Georges Hage, IPLOCA Executive Secretary, georges.hage@iploca.com .

Elected Board Directors will serve aa two-year term commencing after the approval of the results at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Friday, 13 September in Sorrento, Italy. Further information on vacant seats for the 2024-2025

In accordance with the Association’s current By-laws, the 2024-2025 IPLOCA Board of Directors may consist of a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 directors as follows:

1. Up to fifteen directors representing Regular Members (one or two directors for each of the eight geographic regions as per the current membership), elected by the Regular Members.

2. Three directors elected by and representing the Associate Members of the Association.

3. Up to five Directors-at-Large make up the remainder of the Board and are appointed each year by the Board of Directors at its first meeting. The Directors-at-Large are nominated by the Executive Committee and appointed following the approval of the full Board. They are selected based on their active involvement and engagement in the work of the Association, including any committee work, to capitalise on their knowledge and ensure the continuity of leadership in certain areas.

4. Out of this group of directors, five officers collectively form the Executive Committee. These are the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, the Treasurer and the Immediate Past President. Officers are directors of the Board and represent Regular or Associate Members.

IPLOCA Board of Directors 2023-2024

Officers

Roberto Castelli

Bonatti S.p.A.

President Director, Europe Mediterranean

Yasar Giregiz

F ernas Construction Company

1st Vice President Director, Europe Eastern

Saji Khoury

Consolidated Contractors Company

2 nd Vice President

Director, Middle East & Africa Scholarship Committee Chair

Kelly Osborn

U.S. Pipeline, Inc.

Immediate Past President

Adam Wynne Hughes

CRC Evans Pipeline International, Inc.

Treasurer Director, Europe Northwest

Executive Secretary

Georges Hage

Directors

Andrew Ball

J. Murphy & Sons Limited Director, Europe Northwest Energy Transition Committee Chair

Doug Bailey

Caterpillar Inc. Director-at-Large

Pablo Brottier SACDE Director, Latin America

Dean Cowling Michels Corporation Director, America North

Gian Marco Dondi

SCAIP S.p.A. Director, Associate Members

Hakan Göral *

Tekfen Insaat Ve Tesisat Director, Europe Eastern

Leonardo Gravina *

SICIM S.p.A. Director, Middle East & Africa

David Lukas

AJ Lucas Services Pty Ltd. Director, East & Far East

Risal Mahmud PEAL Engineering and Construction Limited Director, East & Far East

Sean McNally PipeLine Machinery International Director, Associate Members

Giovanni Muriana MAX STREICHER S.p.A. Director, Europe Central

Bruno Pomaré Spiecapag Director, Europe Mediterranean HSE & CSR Committee Chair

Marcin Przywara Gascontrol Polska Sp. z o.o. Director, Europe Central

Somaieh Salehpour * Seal for Life Industries Director, Associate Members

Doug Bailey,

Bill Solomon Vacuworx Global, LLC

Director-at-Large Membership Committee Chair

Roger Spee

CRC Evans Pipeline International, Inc. Director-at-Large

Speakers Committee Chair Convention & Board Meeting Location Project Lead

Andrew Stuart

Winn & Coales International Ltd. Director-at-Large

Gerben Wansink Maats Pipeline Professionals Director-at-Large Innovation Committee Chair

Kent Wilfur

Gulf Interstate Engineering Company Director, America North

Tim Zboya * Bechtel Pipeline Director, Latin America

* appointed by the Board of Directors

Back row left to right: David Lukas, Giovanni Muriana, Leonardo Gravina, Andrew Stuart, Bill Solomon, Gerben Wansink, Marcin Przywara, Gian Marco Dondi. Second row: Dean Cowling, Pablo Brottier, Andrew Ball, Tim Zboya, Roger Spee, Bruno Pomaré, Kent Wilfur, Sean McNally. Front row: Juan Arzuaga, Yasar Giregiz, Roberto Castelli, Kelly Osborn, Adam Wynne Hughes, Georges Hage. Not in picture:

Hakan Göral, Saji Khoury, Risal Mahmud, Somaieh Salehpour.

Upcoming Events

2024

IPLOCA Middle East & Africa Regional Meeting

5 June – Cairo, Egypt iploca.com/events/regional-meetings

12 th Annual Global EPC Project Management Summit 25-27 September – London, U.K. www.opexgrp.com/upcoming-events.aspx

APGA Convention and Exhibition 12-15 October – Adelaide, Australia www.apga.org.au

IPLOCA HSE & CSR Workshop

22 October – Lisbon, Portugal iploca.com/events/hse-csr-workshops

IPLOCA Novel Construction Fall Session 23-24 October – Lisbon, Portugal iploca.com/events/novel-construction-sessions

ADIPEC

4-7 November – Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. www.adipec.com

IPLOCA Media Partners

Should you have an interesting article you would like to share, please contact: eszter.czirjak@iploca.com

Benjamin Media

Trenchless Technology

North American Oil & Gas Pipelines

10050 Brecksville Road

Brecksville, OH 44141

U.S.A.

T +1 330 467 7588

E info@benjaminmedia.com www.trenchlessonline.com www.napipelines.com

Rob Krzys

President & Publisher E robk@benjaminmedia.com

Bernard P. Krzys

Chief Executive Officer & Publisher

E bkrzys@benjaminmedia.com

Gulf Energy Information

Pipeline & Gas Journal

Underground Infrastructure

2 Greenway Plaza, Suite 1020

Houston, TX 77046

U.S.A.

T +1 713 520 4471

Important IPLOCA Dates

Member News for IPLOCA September Newsletter 22 July – Deadline for submissions newsletter@iploca.com

IPLOCA Annual Convention 9 August – Cut-off date for registration

Candidates for Elections to IPLOCA Board of Directors 12 August – Deadline for applications georges.hage@iploca.com

IPLOCA Annual General Meeting

13 September – Hilton Sorrento Palace, Sorrento, Italy www.iploca.com/events

IPLOCA 56th Annual Convention

9 to 13 September 2024 Sorrento, Italy

European Headquarters

14 Gray’s Inn Road London WC1X 8HN

U.K. www.pgjonline.com www.undergroundinfrastructure.com

Andy McDowell

President E andy.mcdowell@gulfenergyinfo.com

Hamilton Pearman

Western European Sales Manager E hamilton.pearman@gulfenergyinfo.com

Mediapoint & Exhibitions Srl

Pipeline & Gas Expo

GIS Expo

Corte Lambruschini

Corso Buenos Aires, 8 V° piano - interno 7 16129 Genoa

ITALY

E info@mediapointsrl.it www.pipeline-gasexpo.it www.gisexpo.it

Fabio Potestà Director E info@mediapointsrl.it

Palladian Publications

World Pipelines 15 South Street Farnham GU9 7QU Surrey

U.K.

T +44 1252 718 999

E mail@palladian-publications.com www.palladian-publications.com www.worldpipelines.com

Rod Hardy Director E rod.hardy@worldpipelines.com

Chris Lethbridge

Advertisement Manager E chris.lethbridge@worldpipelines.com

Elizabeth Corner Editor

E elizabeth.corner@worldpipelines.com

Safety First

Liebherr pipelayers are equipped with a hydrostatic travel drive with infinite speed control and maximum drawbar pull. Together with the standard free fall device of the hoist winch and the fully integrated Load Moment Limitation (LMB) Liebherr pipelayers provide maximum safety for the operator. www.liebherr.com

Pipelayer RL 66