The organiser of a conference that aims to provide a unique forum for the leading industrial exponents of pipeline integrity and the related disciplines of design, risk assessment, operation, inspection and maintenance has issued a call for papers for presentation at this new event.
BHR Group is set to host its First International Conference on Pipeline Integrity in Schiphol, The Netherlands, in November (5 to 7), with the aim of meeting demand for authoritative information about best practice and new techniques by bringing together the world’s the best professionals, experience and technology.
“Delegates will be able to share their experiences and present the latest engineering philosophies, innovative technologies, materials and best practice to meet current and evolving demands of pipelines,” says a spokesman for BHR Group.
Elaborating on the importance of ensuring pipeline integrity, the spokesman says: “Maintaining the integrity of pipelines for continued safe and efficient operation has never been more important. Any loss of integrity that results in reduced performance or failure can have an immediate impact on safety and the environment. Reduced pipeline availability can also restrict revenues through disruption to industry and consumers. Failures that lead to environmental damage or litigation and adversely affect public perception and the reputation of the operator may be even worse.
“Industries that rely on pipelines take great care to ensure the correct design, operation, inspection and maintenance that preserves the integrity of these valuable assets. Skilled engineers, with relevant experience and up-to-date tools, meet the immediate and changing demands of pipeline transmission and distribution companies. Despite the precautions, failures still occur and, seem to be on the increase.
“An ageing and, in some sectors, poorly maintained pipeline infrastructure, the need to operate well beyond design lifetimes, changes in the nature of the products being transported, and changing operating approaches all present pipeline operators with unique and demanding challenges. Massive new construction projects involving cross-border transportation increase the complexity of risk assessment and mitigation.”
The organiser recognises the wealth of knowledge within the oil and gas, petrochemical and water and waste industries and has invited papers on current techniques and new developments from these and other sectors.
“Case studies that present learning experiences gained from solving actual problems and meeting new challenges will be especially welcome as they are always identified by delegates as providing some of the most valuable contributions to a technical conference. Authors offering new papers on major projects and novel solutions will also be prioritized,” he says.
It is likely that papers accepted for presentation will cover one of the following areas: design; inspection techniques; long-term reliability; risk assessment and data gathering; cathodic protection; lifecycle analysis; data analysis; SCC/hydro; asset management; maintenance embrittlement; safety, security and insurance; rehabilitation and remediation; and ECDA/ICDA.
The conference is designed for people involved with the design, creation, operation and maintenance of pipelines including end-users, consultants, applicators, pipeline operators, construction managers, manufacturers, researchers, designers, coating manufacturers, contractors, inspection companies and developers.
The programme will include two workshops covering cathodic protection and pipeline maintenance led by world experts in these fields. Focused on the practical issues related to implementing ISO 15156, each workshop will be held at the end of the first two conference days.
BHR Group is a leading independent technology centre in engineering with fluids, which has performed impartial product and process, research and development for international clients since 1947.
Over the past 21 years, its research and consultancy services on pipeline systems have encompassed flow assurance – covering single and multiphase transportation, pigging, internal and external pipeline protection and chemical dosing; integrity assessment including leak detection, pipeline condition monitoring, and fatigue measurement; and process operations such as pumping and boosting, metering and separation.
BHR Group transfers know-how and technology to a wide range of industries through technical consultancy, contract research and research consortia, training, conferences, seminars and technical information services.