Colene Woolcott, Author at Penspen

Peter O’Sullivan appointed as new CEO of Penspen Group

September 2, 2013 9:10 am Leave a Comment

The Penspen Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Peter O’Sullivan as Group CEO effective today.

Peter is a seasoned business leader with a strong track record in the oil and gas industry. He joins Penspen after 7 years as Chief Operating Officer at Caithness Petroleum where he was responsible for the development of its exploration and production assets in the UK, Morocco and the USA.

Prior to Caithness Petroleum, Peter spent over 9 years as a consultant for clients in the energy industry working for global firms Booz & Co. and Accenture.

“I am thrilled to be a part of the Penspen team,” said Peter. “With nearly 60 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, Penspen is well recognised for its technical leadership and engineering expertise. I am excited at the company’s prospects for the future and look forward to building on the success already achieved, whilst continuing to deliver first class engineering services for our clients.”

Peter began his career as an oil and gas field engineer for Caterpillar. He holds a first class honours degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University College Dublin, an MSc with distinction from the University of Edinburgh and an MBA from INSEAD.

Penspen partners with Northumbria University to launch MSc in Pipeline Integrity Management

June 6, 2013 9:11 am Leave a Comment

Penspen is pleased to announce the launch of a new Masters (MSc) programme in Pipeline Integrity Management at Northumbria University, UK. This is Penspen’s second MSc programme developed in partnership with Northumbria, the first being an MSc in Business with Pipeline Integrity Management.

The Pipeline Integrity Management MSc programme is designed to equip engineers with both theoretical and practical pipeline engineering knowledge, and directly address the world-wide shortage of skilled pipeline engineers.

MSc Graduates in Pipeline Integrity Management will be equipped with relevant skills to deal with the special problems facing pipelines: assessing pipeline damage, assessing risk, and corrosion problems, as well as general knowledge in pipeline engineering. Drawing on the expertise of industry experts at Penspen, students will receive a holistic view of pipeline integrity including the history, theory, and foundations of the technologies they will use.

“This is a fantastic achievement by Penspen, and part of our Knowledge Management project, led by our Knowledge Manager, Michelle Unger,” said Dr. Phil Hopkins, Technical Director at Penspen. “Penspen has been recognised as a world class provider of training courses for many years, but we are now the leader in providing masters level education in pipeline engineering. Many of our clients are placing their staff on these courses, and the learning materials produced by this project are now being offered to our clients on a license basis, which offers a revenue stream to create more materials and programmes.”

The Masters typically takes 36 months to complete and is available with January and September starts. Registration is now open for all courses beginning in September 2013. For more details, please click here.

ADMA-OPCO becomes first gulf operator to join PDAM initiative

April 22, 2013 9:11 am Leave a Comment

Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO) has become the first oil company in the Middle East to join the Pipeline Defect Assessment Manual (PDAM), a joint industry initiative that shares best practices on the assessment of defects in pipelines.

PDAM presents the best currently available methods for the assessment of pipeline defects (such as corrosion, dents, gouges, weld defects, etc.), in a simple and easy-to-use manual. It is based on an extensive critical review of published methods and test data and is intended to assist pipeline engineers in effectively maintaining their pipelines.

Initiated in 1999 by Penspen, the PDAM project continues today, with the next update due in 2014. Penspen produced the PDAM using its extensive knowledge of pipeline defect assessment, and continues to provide the project management.

In addition to demonstrating their commitment to best practice standards and cutting edge-assessment techniques, sponsors of the PDAM initiative gain exclusive access to:

The Pipeline Defect Assessment Manual, a 473 page manual containing the detailed methods needed to assess a variety of defects in pipelines.
Sixteen pipeline defect assessment literature reviews, researched and written to provide a sound technical basis for the recommended methods in PDAM.
Thirty spreadsheets covering the methods in PDAM.
Thirty spreadsheets containing the full scale test data that form the basis of many recommended methods in PDAM.

To date, the initiative has been sponsored by 21 major operators including Exxon, BP, Total and Shell. ADMA-OPCO’s decision to join the initiative marks a strategic step forward both for the PDAM group and for operators across the Gulf region.

“ADMA-OPCO’s sponsorship of the Pipeline Defect Assessment Manual is excellent news, not only for them and those involved in the PDAM initiative, but for the wider oil and gas industry as a whole”, said Dr. Phil Hopkins, Technical Director, Penspen. “The more we can share and standardise best practice methods, the better we will become as an industry at assessing and addressing defects. Penspen is delighted to welcome ADMA-OPCO and we hope their membership of PDAM will inspire other operators in the Middle East.”

“We are delighted that ADMA-OPCO has signed up to PDAM”, said Ibrahim Washash, Regional Manager – Middle East, Assets Integrity Management Services, Penspen. “I hope that other Gulf operators will follow suit once they realise the breadth and depth of expertise the joint industry group has developed in assessing pipeline defects.”

“As a major Oil and Gas producer in the Gulf region, ADMA-OPCO realises the importance of asset sustainability and availability”, said Mr. Hassan Al Hamadi, Inspection Services Manager, ADMA-OPCO. “We believe that PDAM is a valuable initiative that effectively contributes to ensuring the integrity of our pipelines through practical pipeline technical assessments.”

Click here for more information about PDAM.

Penspen Confirms ‘Diluted Bitumen’ Is No More Corrosive Than Conventional Crude

February 28, 2013 9:11 am Leave a Comment

Diluted bitumen in a crude oil transmission pipeline environment is no more corrosive than conventional crude, according to a recent report by Penspen Integrity.

The report, Dilbit Corrosivity, commissioned by the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, sought to examine the corrosivity of diluted bitumen compared to conventional crude. Based on a detailed review of the potential corrosion mechanisms in crude oil pipelines, Penspen’s report draws on findings from laboratory tests performed to internationally recognized standards. These tests conclude that there is no marked difference in the corrosive nature of diluted bitumen compared to conventional crude oil. As such, the report states that pipelines carrying diluted bitumen are subject to no additional corrosion control measures beyond what is already standard practice.

The crude oil transported in most pipelines is obtained from reservoirs many thousands of metres below the earth’s surface. This ‘conventional’ oil is high quality, and flows easily. Today, many countries are looking at more ‘unconventional’ sources of oil, such as ‘oil sands’, a mixture of sand, water, clay and bitumen, which can be mined as it is on or close to the earth’s surface. Bitumen is a ‘heavy’ crude oil that is too thick to be pumped, without first being diluted or heated. Canada has huge reserves of these oil sands.

For over 20 years, this diluted bitumen product, known as ‘Dilbit’ or ‘Synbit’, has been transported by crude oil pipelines and subject to corrosion control measures equivalent to those for conventional crude. Despite this operational history, there has been little published work on the corrosive properties of Dilbit, spurring false speculation as to its corrosive impact on pipelines.

“These findings are an important contribution to the debate surrounding diluted bitumen,” said David Eyre, Principal Consultant at Penspen. “Without any substantiating evidence to reinforce current standard practices in dealing with diluted bitumen, Canada’s oil and gas industry has been plagued with criticism in regards to their operations. After reviewing over 40 studies, I am happy to provide scientific facts that dispel some of the misleading speculation about Dilbit and Synbit. I hope that the conclusions provided in this report will provide reassurance that the integrity management techniques currently employed by Canada’s Oil and Gas industry are effective at mitigating any risks of corrosion by diluted bitumen.”

The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association represents Canada’s transmission pipeline companies who operate approximately 110,000 kilometres of pipelines in Canada. In 2011, these energy highways moved approximately 1.2 billion barrels of liquid petroleum products and 5.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. CEPA members transport 97 per cent of Canada’s daily natural gas and onshore crude oil from producing regions to markets throughout North America.

For more information on Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, please visit www.cepa.com

Penspen awarded Feasibility Study for the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania-Hungary Natural Gas Interconnector

September 25, 2012 9:14 am Leave a Comment

AGRI LNG Project Company SRL, the project company for the AGRI Project, and Oil and Gas engineering group Penspen Ltd have today announced the signing of the contract to undertake a Feasibility Study for the Azerbaijan-Georgia-Romania- Hungary Natural Gas Interconnector Project (“AGRI”) as a result of international tender conducted by AGRI LNG SRL.

The current shareholders of AGRI LNG Project Company SRL are the national oil and gas companies from each of the four participating countries in the AGRI Project, being Romgaz – Romanian National Natural Gas Company, SOCAR – State Oil Company of The Republic of Azerbaijan, GOGC – Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation and MVM – Hungarian Electricity Company Plc.

On 13 April 2010, the Minister of Industry and Energy of Azerbaijan Mr.Natig Aliyev, Minister of Economy, Commerce and Business Environment of Romania Mr.Adriean Videanu and the Minister of Energy of Georgia Mr. Alexander Khetaguri signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of LNG and its transportation, which laid the framework for the implementation of the AGRI Project and establishment of a project company AGRI LNG SRL headquartered in Bucharest. Hungary joined the AGRI Project in February 2011.

Based on a linear east-west LNG chain, the AGRI Project is intended to transport and market Azerbaijani and other Caspian Region natural gas to Romania, Hungary and other Central European and EU gas markets through Georgia and the Black Sea via construction of new liquefaction and regasification terminals on the Black Sea coasts of Georgia and Romania respectively.

The Feasibility Study to be conducted by Penspen Ltd will include:

Gas Market and Gas Supply analysis;
Development of conceptual engineering for pipelines and LNG terminals;
Economic and financial analysis;
Risk Assessment and environmental aspects.

Work has commenced on the Feasibility Study which will be completed by November 2012 (5 months).

At the award of the Feasibility Study for the AGRI Project, Penspen’s Director of Onshore Michael Simm, said:

“We are delighted to have won this prestigious international study which will build further on our longstanding experience and reputation in this area. AGRI has the potential to open the way for Azerbaijani gas exports into Central Europe and we look forward to supporting this important project”.

With the start of the Feasibility Study for the AGRI Project, the Shareholders of AGRI LNG SRL strongly believe that the AGRI Project will be an important component of the EU Southern Corridor for Caspian Gas to Europe and will play an important role in energy security of the European Union in the future.

Penspen Signs Engineering and Procurement Contract With Siemens

July 31, 2012 9:14 am Leave a Comment

Oil and gas engineering group Penspen has signed an agreement with Siemens to provide engineering and procurement services for a new simple cycle power plant in Southern Iraq. Siemens has agreed a base scope with the State Company for Oil Projects (SCOP) to work on the engineering and supply of the power plant and has in turn contracted Penspen to provide engineering and procurement services for the Balance of Plant.

Under the terms of the agreement, Siemens will provide the engineering and supply of the power island, and Penspen will provide the remaining engineering and supply of the Balance of Plant (BOP) equipment/materials.

Work will begin this month and is expected to go on until 5th October 2013. There is also potential for a further additional scope of works to be agreed.

Senior Project Manager, Eduard Ilie said:

“This is an important project for Penspen as it will provide a solid basis for the further development of our presence in Iraq and throughout the Gulf Region.”

Director of Onshore Michael Simm, said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded this project by Siemens and look forward to working with them to deliver a great outcome for SCOP.”

Penspen Signs $1.2 Million 2 Year Contract With PEMEX

July 7, 2012 9:14 am Leave a Comment

Penspen has signed a pioneering $1.2 million contract with a range of private and public companies and institutions to develop high level integrity policies and procedures for Mexican state-owned oil and gas company PEMEX.

Under the terms of the agreement, Penspen will:

• Assisting in the development of a plan for managing the integrity and reliability of transmission pipelines, gathering pipelines, onshore pipelines, offshore pipelines, storage terminals and maritime terminals.
• Provide training related to pipeline integrity/risk assessment.
• Review the current Mexican norm: NOM-027-SESH-2010 (Pipeline Integrity Management Plan).
• Input into discussions on ‘best’ risk assessment methods, integrity evaluations, response to evaluations, and evaluation of compliance.

The project is expected to start this month and has a value of U$ 1.2 million. It is the first of its kind involving over five different technical specialists.

As part of the project, Penspen is working in collaboration with Corrosión y Protección SA. DE CV (CPI) to deliver integrity consultancy and training services to Universidad Autónoma de Campeche. In addition, SENER (National Secretariat of Energy) and CONACYT (National Science and Technology Council) are providing research and development services. Corrosión y Protección SA. DE CV (CPI) is also working together with CONACYT to develop a unified system for the reliability and integrity management of the Pemex logistics process.

Other organisations signing up to the deal include The National Council of Science and Technology (SENER-CONACYT), Construction Company CPI, The Southwest Research Institute (SWRI), The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), and Campeche and Texas Universities.

Penspen’s Director of Integrity Services, Nigel Curson, said:

“Involving all the key players in the industry, this is a pioneering agreement in that it will serve to develop an integral integrity and reliability management system for PEMEX, allowing it to sustain and prioritise its operation, inspection, industrial safety and maintenance, within a solid institutional framework. Penspen has had a strong relationship with PEMEX for over 15 years and we look forward to working on this exciting project to drive up best practice standards in the oil and gas sector.”

Penspen’s Technical Director, Phil Hopkins, commented:

“PEMEX is a major oil and gas company, and like all majors, they must constantly seek to improve both safety and performance. This project will give PEXEX the procedures, strategies, and know-how to achieve both these goals. Penspen’s UK and Mexican teams are all looking forward to the technical challenges this project brings, and working with such a prestigious group of companies.’

Author Archives: Colene Woolcott