Pipeliners Help Propel a Growing Industry at 2018 Conferences

Great news for Louisiana oil and gas workers (and those of us who partner with them to lay pipes in the marsh or perform pipeline clearing and reclamation in the swamps): Our state’s energy infrastructure is growing, and so are the job opportunities for pipeline workers.

The United States already has the world’s most extensive network of energy pipelines—some 2.4 million miles, by the last count. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting an increase in the number of pipeline jobs by 14 percent by 2020, and many of them will be in the Texas/Louisiana Gulf coastal plain.

That’s why oil and gas and pipeline industry conferences will continue to grow and serve our industry in the coming years. A good conference gives pipeline workers the chance to learn about innovative solutions and products.

They help us make business connections that (in some cases) last years. Finally, the help all of us share knowledge, experiences, and new technologies, giving us a chance to break free from the daily routine for an open exchange of ideas in a different setting.

(And sometimes a friendly golf tournament is part of the proceedings, which is always fun.)

Our Common Ground Is Underground

Whether they work in oil and gas extraction, refining, or energy/utilities, pipeliners and pipeline inspectors are responsible for safety—including the safety of their coworkers and the well-being of the people who live and work near those pipes.

They schedule and conduct routine tests and maintenance to ensure pipes are performing optimally and safely. They clean and paint exposed metal to prevent corrosion. If a pipeline needs repair or replacement, they handle it.

If they work on a construction team, they prepare the locations for laying the pipeline. If they’re working in the marsh and bayou areas, they might call on us to dig a trench for burying the pipes. They’ll also ensure the right of way is kept clear.

First installing pipes might require removing fences, water lines, and other obstacles. During the pipe’s lifetime, this might include mowing and keeping vegetation off the pipes—all of which is done while keeping abreast of the latest environmental regulations and guidelines.

Here are a few conferences and expos that pipe infrastructures should know about:

Pipeline Week, hosted annually by Geospatial Information & Technology Association (GITA), has been called a gathering of the oil and gas community’s most prominent and forward-thinking experts.

The three-day event is filled with operator presentations, panel discussions, informational technical sessions, and (of course) networking functions. Key areas of focus include regulatory compliance, technology implementation, asset integrity, and industry best-practices.

This year’s Pipeline Week will be Sept. 11-13 at the Westin Galleria in Houston.

The Pipeline Energy Expo is a two-and-a-half day pipeline industry conference for folks working in engineering, construction, inspection, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA), maintenance, rehabilitation, safety, and integrity.

Exhibitors will show off new technologies and conduct equipment demonstrations. In partnership with Oil & Gas Journal, Oil, Gas, & Petrochem Equipment and Industrial WaterWorld, the Expo draws energy industry leaders to discuss the challenges facing the pipeline/transportation sector. Presentations will focus on best practices in construction, in pipeline operations, and system integrity.

The Expo is April 3-5, 2018 at the Cox Business Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma (not the kind of wetlands environment we’re used to working here at Stan’s, but we’re sure some of our friends in Louisiana will be there). If you register by Feb. 16, you’ll save $100 on individual registration.

Louisiana mineral owners, industry partners, and operators have a conference too. The National Association of Royalty Owners (NARO) is a national organization representing oil and gas royalty owners. The local event (for Louisiana) gives stakeholders ways to manage minerals better and make the most of their property.

Topics will include the effects of cross-lateral units on royalties and minerals, how commodity prices affect royalty owners, the status of current Louisiana oil and gas plays, and changing the perception of hydraulic fracturing.

The 2018 NARO Louisiana Convention will be April 23 and 24 in Shreveport. Click here to read more and to register.

Need more? Oil & Gas Journal maintains an ongoing list of petroleum-related events of interest to pipeliners and other energy workers.