The Unique Online Summit for Pipeline Operators and Service & Technology Providers
600 persons from 69 different countries registered for VPS.
30% of the participants came from pipeline operators.
All presentation videos from the 1st Virtual Pipeline Summit are now available via our YouTube Channel.
Contact us as soon as possible in case you are interested in joining the 2nd VPS in September as presenting company.
Following the lessons learned from the first ever online ptc the organizing EITEP Institute has developed a new online event concept offering extended knowledge transfer and networking features. The summit will provide a comprehensive overview and competitive technology showcase of a spectrum of problems and solutions related to the "Digital Transformation in the Pipeline Industry" in these challenging times.
The Virtual Pipeline Summit is organized by EITEP Institute, organizer of the Pipeline Technology Conference (ptc) and publisher of the Pipeline Technology Journal (ptj).
The Virtual Pipeline Summit features the same essential success factors as a a face-to-face event.
Extensive conference program with lectures and discussions on current challenges in day-to-day operations.
(accessible from the day of the summit until one week after the summit)
Advanced networking features for all participants and in-depth interaction with speakers and sponsors.
(accessible from one week before the summit until one week after the summit)
Competitive marketplace for pipeline operators to get an overview of solutions to their problems.
(accessible from one week before the summit until one week after the summit)
Pipeline operators need to shift their staff to crisis management tasks, which leaves a large gap in the capacity to perform business-as-usual operations. The ability of pipeline operators to leverage process automation, machine learning and artificial intelligence capabilities has become essential.
Pipeline companies around the world are more vulnerable than ever to cyberattacks as a result of the pandemic. As attackers try to take advantage of the situation, the ability of all companies to defend themselves against this threat has become critical.
Pipelines & Subsea Team Lead, Shell UK, United Kingdom
Andy Studman holds a BSc in Applied Physics and HNC in Multidisciplinary Engineering and has 33 years in the upstream energy business in various operations, maintenance & integrity management roles in the UK and Middle East.
His current roles are Pipeline Technical Authority Level 1 and Pipeline & Subsea Team Lead for Shell UK and Subject Matter Expert Pigging Operations for the Shell Group.
External from Shell he is Chairman of the Pipeline Users Group (PLUG), a committee member of BSI PSE/017/02 transmission pipelines and a steering group member for Energy Institute for topics related to pipeline integrity.
His passions are doing the basics right first time, developing people, implementing new technology, sharing and learning best practice and having some fun along the way.
Germany
Barbara is a pipeliner through and through, having worked on some of the world’s most remote, largest and longest pipelines over her 30 years career, both onshore and offshore in the North Sea and Australia. She has developed an interesting mix of technical, commercial and communications experience.
She started as an engineer in construction and worked her way through projects to be Director of major 42” pipeline design projects, government approvals and global business development leader for gas. Lately she was Director Government Relations with Gas Infrastructure Europe - the representative organisation towards the European Institutions in Brussels that voices the role of midstream gas infrastructure in the transition to decarbonised energy in the EU.
Barbara leads the global Task Force with the International Gas Union “Energy for All” and their global study group “Efficiency of Energy Systems”.
Barbara is Session Chair for the Panel Discussion of the Virtual Pipeline Summit.
TPS Digital Sales Manager, Baker Hughes, Italy
Daniele Porciani is responsible within the TPS Service Growth team to expand digital services and solutions market for critical turbomachinery equipment and beyond. He has an Executive MBA from SDA Bocconi, Milan and a Telecommunications Engineering Master Degree from Pisa University.
Chair, Young Pipeline Professionals Europe & Technical Advisor, Quest Integrity, United Kingdom
Danny Molyneux is a Technical Advisor with Quest Integrity specialising in ultrasonic inline inspection, particularly of pipelines that are challenging to pig. A Master of Chemistry from the University of Aberdeen with first class honours, Danny spent 10 years with Aubin developing and deploying pipeline gels in addition to managerial and business development roles.
Committed to the development young people and industry collaboration, Danny formed and nurtured the Aberdeen branch of Young Pipeline Professionals Europe in 2018. Danny is currently serving as Chair of YPPE and Chair of Young Pipeliners International, sharing best practices between regional YP groups to bring the global pipeline community closer together.
During the Covid-induced lockdown, Danny spearheaded a daily webinar series for YPPE spanning 50 presentations in 12 weeks. He is excited to participate in the first Virtual Pipeline Summit from his home in Aberdeenshire UK where his two young children are playing quietly in another room.
Danny is Session Chair for the Technical Presentations part of the Virtual Pipeline Summit.
Principal Gas Industry Consultant, DNV GL – Digital Solutions, United Kingdom
David Gower has over 30 years extensive experience in gas network operations, construction, modelling, analysis and planning of gas infrastructure.
Until 1999 David worked within British Gas/Transco (the gas pipeline transportation company in the UK) carrying out network operations, construction, modelling and system planning activities on a range of pressure systems. David has provided consultancy services for gas distribution companies to review their network design and planning strategies and processes. He has been involved in the development of network analysis and planning policies and procedures for the effective management of networks and the support of R&D projects. David has experience in the transient analysis of transmission systems in the UK and different parts of the world. David has extensive experience in training in the principles of planning and the use of planning and analysis tools at all pressure levels.
As a Technical Lead in research projects within DNV GL David has worked with customers to identify, lead and deliver significant research projects.
Area Manager, ILF Consulting Engineers, Germany
With more than 20 years of work experience in various infrastructure projects in the infrastructure domains of oil and gas, energy and telecom, Mr. Beyer has accumulated a wealth of experience as a Lead Engineer but also as Project Manager. He has also been very successful at acting as the Interface Manager between the Project Management Office and the Engineering Office for projects in several countries in the world (Europe, Middle East, Asia, Africa). Mr. Beyer has proved to be invaluable in this position with his outstanding Project Management skills combined with a resourceful and flexible approach to leadership in managing in a number of complex large-scale interdisciplinary projects. Throughout his projects, he was responsible for the conceptual design, FEED, tendering, factory acceptance tests, site supervision, commissioning for Instrumentation, Control/SCADA and telecommunication systems in upstream, midstream and downstream projects as well as for the site supervision.
Senior Digital Forretningsudvikler, Energinet, Denmark
I am a visionary and pragmatic leader with long experience of challenging the status quo to create results – both in major international corporations, in the public sector, academia and as a serial entrepreneur. I am dedicated to unlocking the potential of new technology to create useful innovative solutions and concepts that benefit the involved stake-holders and society. Strong in strategy/development/innovation/business transformation/digitization and execution. I am Open minded, curious and agile as a prerequisite for staying ahead, bridging people, technology and business both in major international corporations, in the public sector, academia and as a serial entrepreneur. I am dedicated to unlocking the potential of new technology to create useful innovative solutions and concepts that benefit the involved stake-holders and society.
I work as a senior digital business developer at Energinet where I am driving the digital transformation in GAS TSO with the purpose of building and supporting a sustainable energy sector in Denmark reducing CO2 emissions.
CEO, BIL - Federal German Construction Enquiry Portal, Germany
Since 2015, Jens Focke has been CEO of the Federal Information System for Line Research, BIL eG from Bonn. The graduate surveying engineer and hydrograph held sales and consulting positions in several companies Geomagic GmbH, GE Oil & Gas and GE Energy in the geoinformatics and pipeline sensors. He started his professional career at the GIS manufacturer Smallworld Systems GmbH after five years in the marine economy at the Federal Office for Shipping and Hydrography and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany. Jens Focke may draw a big picture on data workflow between sensoric and related IT and its standardization for business process optimization. He has been part of several pipeline integrity management systems (PIMS) implementations and its requirements studies.
Engineering Manager for Industrial Control Systems, Baker Hughes, Italy
Pierluigi Meloni. Italian, married, 2 Children and one cat. Living and working in Florence at Nuovo Pignone (Baker Hughes). Graduated from Pisa University in Automation Engineering, I spent most of my 20+ years career in Controls. I started as controls developer in a CNC (computerized numerical control) italian company and soon after I joined Ge Fanuc working in Luxembourg, UK and Italy. In 2003 I joined Nuovo Pignone as control engineer and since then I have spent more than 15 years in the control engineering team. Currently I am leading a team in charge of controls architectures standardization for Gas Turbines and compressors covering also Functional Safety and Cyber Security. Specifically, to cyber security I act as product security leader for controls in turbo compressors applications and I am responsible for a Wurldtech Achilles Certified laboratory. Within my role I interact with many customers on several projects in different countries. I hold several professional certifications: ISA CAP (Certified Automation Professional), TUV & ISA Safety Engineer, ISA 62443 Cybersecurity Expert, Microsoft Certified Professional for VB programming. My personal interests are chess, judo, drums playing, android programming (I have 5 published apps in the google market as “gigiosoft”) and IoT devices programming.
Digital Lead Continental Europe, Middle-East and India, DNV GL – Oil & Gas, Netherlands
Rob van der Spek graduated in 1988 in Artificial Intelligence and was engaged for 30 years in projects and initiatives related to organizational performance and technology.
He has acted as management consultant to various International companies bringing together state-of-the-art knowledge about Information & Communication Technology (ICT), organisational factors and change management. During the nineties he was actively involved in building the first community of AI practitioners in the Netherlands.
Rob is currently digital lead for region Continental Europe, Middle-East and India in DNV GL Oil & Gas. His role is to develop digital services and products in close collaboration with clients and our partners.
Furthermore he is Head of Department Asset & Risk management Oil & Gas in the Netherlands.
Regional Business Field Manager, ROSEN Group, Netherlands
Roy van Elteren has a background in Mechanical Engineering and Business Administration.
He has over 15 years of experience in the Oil & Gas industry as Asset Management consultant for customers globally and has taken on various management roles, leading teams supporting customers with challenges related to aging assets, Integrity management systems and the energy transition. He currently leads the Regional Integrity Solutions Business, covering ROSEN’s activities in Europe, Africa and India. Together with his regional Integrity Solutions team he supports the development and implementation of ROSEN’s digital platform NIMA and associated business models.
President & CEO, Hifi Engineering, Canada
Steven is currently the President & CEO of Hifi Engineering, a fiber optic sensing technology company (partly owned by Enbridge, Cenovus, and BDC). Hifi possesses over 50 patents on specialized fiber optic technology, and artificial intelligence / machine learning based software algorithms, designed for preventative pipeline leak detection.
Prior to Hifi, Steven was acting CFO at Steeper Energy, an alternative energy company, President & CEO of Hemisphere GPS, which provided machine control / automation solutions, Vice President & General Manager at AOL (Time Warner) Canada, where he headed up the Service businesses for Canada, and Group Telecom as Senior Vice President Marketing & Sales. Steven has also held several management positions at TELUS Corporation.
Steven Koles has served on boards and in advisory capacities with such organizations as Hifi Engineering, VentMeter Technologies, Hemisphere GPS, Qwick Media, and Route 1. He is a graduate from both the Faculty of Business at the University of Alberta, as well as the Executive Management Program at the University of Western Ontario’s Richard Ivey School of Business. Steven has also received his ICD designation from the Institute of Corporate Directors through the University of Toronto and University of Calgary.
Smartengo Best Fit Business Owner, Vallourec, France
Thibault joined Vallourec in 2013 to support the ramp-up of a partnership manufacturing facility in South Korea. After 2 years, he went back to France to manage technical sales for Process and Line Pipe products for Asian markets. In 2017, he relocated to Shanghai, China, with an extended scope that covered Line Pipe products industrialization in Tianda mill, a recent acquisition from the Group. Benefiting from his product expertise and technical sales experience, he was appointed Smartengo Best Fit Business Owner in November 2019.
All time specifications are in Central European Summer Time (CEST). The presentations will be recorded and will remain available online afterwards.
Opening and welcome presention
Digital Lead Continental Europe, Middle-East and India, DNV GL – Oil & Gas, Netherlands
How is digitalization enabling safer and more efficient operations of pipeline networks? Can the ‘monster’ of data be mined to inform more efficient inspection and maintenance programs? How can data quality and reliability be managed to harness the power of digital solutions?
Rob van der Spek
Panel discussion with live Q&A afterwards.
Barbara Jinks
Andy Studman
Jens Focke
Pierluigi Meloni
Hanne Davidsen Jensen
CEO, BIL - Federal German Construction Enquiry Portal, Germany
The presentation will give an overview on national approaches to implement nationwide enquiry solutions as already initiated in different European countries. Focus topics will be
Jens Focke
Area Manager, ILF Consulting Engineers, Germany
Digitization is the combination of exhaustive internet access, computing power and storage capacity, artificial intelligence, big data, algorithmic autonomous decision making and robotics. Digitization is changing our life and the way we make business more than any other technology before. As such it requires a change of mind set before deploying this new technology.
Digitization has the potential to reduce downtimes and operation costs, increase efficiency, and to create new ways of working as well as new business models. However, digitization projects also pose some specific challenges and risks.
Digitization projects shall be implemented following an overall strategy, which needs to be revised regularly to account for a rapidly changing environment. In order to successfully implement a digitization project, sufficient knowledge about the new technologies, business models, as well as safety and cyber security issues related to extended data communication and the “digital twin” are required, to name just a few.
Once the objectives of the digitization project are defined, for each individual project the required (additional) data, computing and networking resources, required service providers and contracts, organisational changes and processes to be adapted as well as their potential impact on operation, safety and security need to be identified. These changes shall be implemented following a proven change management process for all internal processes of the company, once they have successfully passed the cost benefit analysis.
The very different aspects of developing and implementing digitization projects and a possible methodology are subject of this presentation.
Frank Beyer
Principal Gas Industry Consultant, DNV GL – Digital Solutions, United Kingdom
Smart metering has provided a significant source of data in the move to digitalisation of the gas industry. But how is that data best used to provide bottom up modelling of gas systems?
The Real-Time Networks project is an OFGEM sponsored project carried out by DNV GL as a partner with the UK gas distribution network SGN. The 4 year project, 2016-20, is now drawing to a close. At the heart of the project is the development of new methodologies for consumer demand modelling that are able to replace the current and outdated approaches typically used in the UK gas distribution companies. Whilst the prime purpose of the project is to develop a model for the south east area of the UK that may be scaled to meet UK requirements for gas demand modelling, the principles developed are appropriate for any context internationally, where appropriate data is available.
The presentation will explore the approach to consumer demand modelling developed, the different ways in which that demand modelling methodology may be applied, and how smart meter data may be used going forward to scale up the developments to application in any setting.
David Gower
President & CEO, Hifi Engineering, Canada
Distributed fiber optic sensing has been gaining significant momentum in pipeline industry adoption. The primary application of this technology has been in preventative leak detection. However, new value-added applications are now emerging with potential to deliver extra value to the pipeline operators, over and above leak detection.
Different fiber optic sensing technologies exist which can be appropriately positioned for various applications. One of these specialized fiber optic sensing approaches is known as high fidelity distributed sensing (HDS) which uses a different interferometry to achieve very high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Along with high SNR, HDS also provides integrated acoustics, temperature and strain/vibration, and is optimized to do so over long distances without degradation of fidelity. This makes the HDS technology particularly appropriate for preventative pipeline leak detection as well as a number of other value-added applications.
Case studies will be provided to showcase the value of using artificial intelligence and machine learning to explore new frontiers in pipeline monitoring; including a variety of “value added” applications such as flow anomaly detection, flow rate, pressure, and density estimation. Other applications such as pig, vehicle, and train detection, tracking and analysis will also be presented.
Steven Koles
Smartengo Best Fit Business Owner, Vallourec, France
Smartengo Best Fit is an innovative digital solution to transform pipe fit-up operations. It relies on an advanced algorithm providing a full batch of pipes compatibility analysis, and a smartphone app to be used in full autonomy by welding staff. This results in optimized welding assembly operations.
Providing pipe-end dimensional measurement and using unique pipe-end ID technology, our advanced algorithm provides a deterministic analysis of all possible pipe-end combinations and then anticipate operational constraints. With a simple mobile app, welders on the firing line can instantly identify pipe-end compatibility area. An as-built digital tally of the line pipe construction is automatically generated in an easy-to-exploit format and alert functionalities. All these operations won’t require any additional personnel on site.
A report provides a full batch deterministic Hi-Lo analysis by considering all possible pipe-end combinations. Unique algorithms transform pipe-end geometrical data in its resulting Hi-Lo. Report includes tailored recommendations to mitigate risks associated to Hi-Lo specification compliance considering all operational constraints.
During welding operations, no sequencing is required. By scanning two random pipes intended to be welded together, the field app provides live recommendations on the pipe rotations to respect welding requirements.
This results in secured line pipe assembly workflow, improved weld quality and production time reduction by minimum 10%. Significant savings up to 75 K$/km are observed.
Innovation lies into bringing full autonomy: in the field, the solution is a simple mobile app to be used by the existing personnel. No additional workforce on-board is required. Additionally, compared to existing solutions, Smartengo Best Fit brings a deterministic analysis instead of a probabilistic one, and does not require sequencing - thus removing the need for extensive pipe handling.
Thibault Masse
Regional Business Field Manager, ROSEN Group, Netherlands
With the increasing technical complexity due to the aging or alternative use of our assets , companies are faced with a new set of challenges. Battling to contain cost in offshore projects and operations, while facing the need to compete in an increasingly flexible and competitive onshore market. Success will depend on adapting to the digital way of working: Reducing complexity and streamlining processes for greater quality and cost efficiency, using increasing volumes of data to monitor or even predict the condition of their assets, ensuring sustainable operations. Looking in more detail to “Integrity Analytics”, this involves the application of data science techniques to the everyday challenges of pipeline integrity management. By describing historical trends and creating predictive models, Integrity Analytics techniques can help us to use “big data” more effectively in the pipeline industry and can provide an alternative route to understanding complex pipeline threats, such as corrosion. A Pipeline Integrity Framework is used to put Integrity analytics in context and to connect different activities in the Integrity management cycle.
Roy van Elteren
Introduction of iCenter Baker Hughes Advanced Digital Services which can support pipeline and gas processing operators to run their compression systems in a cleaner, safer and more efficient approach. Baker Hughes is able to identify innovative service models, starting from its OEM knowledge and engineering capabilities and expanding to its broader perspective to multi-technology digital frameworks.
Daniele Porciani
Closing Presentation
Norway
Driven by our purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their businesses. We are the leading technical advisor within the pipeline industry, providing state-of-the-art services and software to comply, manage risk and improve asset performance. Over the years, DNV GL has created a series of internationally recognized standards, service specifications and recommended practices together with the industry. Our first pipeline code was issued in 1976 and has achieved global recognition, winning prestigious industry awards. Currently around 65% of all new projects globally are designed to it.
Germany
ILF Consulting Engineers is an international engineering and consulting firm with 50 years of experience in the engineering of major industrial and infrastructure projects. The successful completion of complex and challenging projects, requiring truly comprehensive management capability and interdisciplinary engineering expertise, is one of the specific strengths of the ILF Group. With 2,000 highly qualified employees at more than 40 office locations across five continents, the companies of the ILF Group have a strong regional presence. At the same time, close cooperation within the network of the ILF Group makes it possible to draw on international experts and make use of their special experience, processes, and tools. With over 6,000 projects successfully completed, the companies of the ILF Group rank among the world's leading engineering firms in their fields of expertise. ILF is active in the following main business areas: Oil & Gas, Energy & Climate Protection, Water & Environment, Transport & Structures.
BIL eG has been founded as an incorporated cooperative of 17 pipeline companies in Germany to build up a nationwide internet portal to allow digging requests by construction companies. The portal will be free of charge for enquiring partners and will deliver as-build information of the operator from adjacent pipeline corridors. All data exchange will be digital and internet based.
Canada
Hifi is a privately held Canadian company, with minority ownership from Enbridge, Cenovus and BDC, specializing in the research, development, supply and commercial operation of next generation fiber optic sensing and machine learning technologies primarily used for preventative leak detection for pipelines. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Hifi currently has a number of commercialized products based on its high fidelity distributed sensing (HDS™) technology platform, over 60 patents, and was named the winner of the 2019 Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) Foundation Innovation Award, as well as the Digital Innovator of the year for the 2019 Global Petroleum Show (GPS) awards.
Italy
Baker Hughes (NYSE: BKR) is an energy technology company. We are taking energy forward – making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. We help operators confidently manage their assets, partnering to deliver data, technology, solutions and expertise for smarter ways of working. The mutual goal - safe operations, asset integrity and enhanced profitability.
Our unique portfolio of services in the pipeline space includes:
Switzerland
The ROSEN Group is a globally leading provider of cutting-edge solutions in all areas of the integrity process chain. Since its origins as a one-man business in 1981, ROSEN has rapidly grown and continues to do so. Today, the business is still privately owned and consists of a team of more than 4,000 employees, operating in more than 120 countries.
ROSEN’s products and services:
Learn more about the ROSEN Group by visiting
France
Vallourec is a world leader in premium tubular solutions for the energy markets including oil and gas projects and for demanding industrial applications. With close to 19,000 employees in more than 20 countries, Vallourec works hand-in-hand with its customers to delivers innovative, safe, competitive and smart tubular solutions, to make every project possible.
Vallourec.smart digital service offering
Launched in 2018, Vallourec.smart provides a comprehensive service portfolio, encompassing all of your needs throughout the value chain. With a strong focus on optimization and integrity, this service offering applies the latest digital technologies to gather and analyze data from our pipes, physical services and partners.
VPS is not just another webinar. The goal of the Virtual Pipeline Summit is to give back to the pipeline industry the lost opportunities for knowledge transfer and networking, and to provide a comprehensive overview and competitive technology showcase of a spectrum of problems and solutions in these challenging times.
The VPS provides a comprehensive overview of current problems and solutions in the market. The different technological approaches are in competition with each other and can be discussed online before, during and after the summit.