The conference, organised by Tiratsoo Technical (a division of Great Southern Press) and Houston-based Clarion Technical Conferences, in association with Global Webb Energy Consultants, was held under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Abdul Hussain bin Ali Mirza, Minister for Energy and Chairman of the National Oil & Gas Authority, Kingdom of Bahrain.
Held at the Gulf International Convention & Exhibition Centre, the conference organisers would first and foremost like to extend their thanks to the sponsors for their support and dedication to the industry. In particular, Platinum Elite Sponsor Saudi Aramco, Platinum sponsors STATS Group and Rosen, Gold sponsors Clock Spring, Future Pipe Industries and AkzoNobel, and Silver sponsors Saudi Steel Pipe Company and Dacang Pipe Anticorrosion & Thermal Insulation Equipment Co.
The seven tracks of Bahrain
The seven-track conference programme began with an inspired welcome from H. E. Dr Mirza, who spoke on the past, present and future of the pipeline industry in Bahrain with great hope for it to continue to excel.
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Joining the plenary address by H. E. Dr Mirza, was Saudi Aramco General Manager Pipelines Division Muhammad Ali Trabulsi. Other distinguished guest speakers at the event included:
- Mohammed Al-Qahtani, Saudi Aramco
- Joe Paviglianiti, Chairman, ASME Pipeline Systems Division
- Ismail Shar Al-Sulby, General Manager Flat Products Business Unit, Saudi Basic Industries Corporation
- Dr Alan Murray, Adjunct Professor, University of Calgary Mechanical Engineering Department.
The packed plenary session was a great start to the two-and-a-half-day conference giving delegates an outline of the excellence to follow and showing the global support of the industry.
The conference’s technical programme included the following seven tracks:
- Design, construction and materials
- Inspection, piggable and unpiggable
- Risk and integrity assessment planning
- Operators and maintenance
- Leak detection
- Repair and rehabilitation
- System and data management and control.
Over 50 experts were brought together from around the globe to discuss the latest technologies and concepts for maintaining and operating oil and gas pipelines in an efficient, cost-effective and professional manner, while taking account of the environment and other concerns of the communities through which they pass.
Presentations over the three-day conference programme included Pemex’s Carlos Lopez’s presentation on best practices in pipeline project management and safety in Mexico; Russian Academy of Sciences Prof. Sviatoslav Timashev’s presentation on predictive maintenance of pipelines; and, STATS (UK) Angus Bowie’s presentation on high-integrity isolation for mid-line repair scopes.
Doug Batzel from Batzel Engineering gave a presentation on pig and brush selection for optimal cleaning of various pipelines, while Hussain Bunaiyan from Saudi Aramco gave a presentation on non-metallic composite repair systems, and GL Noble Denton’s Andrew Wilde spoke on pipeline leak detection – dispelling the myths.
In addition to the conference programme, five training tutorials were held on the afternoon of 20 March forming a break in the technical presentations and allowing delegates to get a more in-depth knowledge. These training sessions included:
- Pipeline valves: an introduction, by Bader Al-Jarallah, Saudi Aramco
- Pipeline inspection, by Dr Michael Beller, NDT Systems & Services
- Welding and in-service repair, by Bill Bruce, DNV Columbus
- Pipeline leak detection, by Pablo S Genta, Saudi Aramco
- Why regulators lose sleep: the practical issues of maintaining pipeline integrity, by Dr Alan Murray, retired Chief Engineer, National Energy Board.
Tuesday evening was closed off with a Gala Dinner sponsored by Ali A. Tamimi Trading and Contracting Co. This provided an excellent way for delegates to network with those from the exhibition and enjoy some socialising after two-days of papers.
The Gala Dinner also provided a forum for awards for the exhibitors. Congratulations to:
- Most attractive display – Saudi Makamin
- Most enterprising exhibitor – CDI
- Most booth activity – Sealweld.
The conference concluded on Wednesday 21 March with a plenary closing session with presentations given by Mr Trabulsi and Dr Murray.
Exposing the latest technologies
The 2012 event featured over 65 companies in the exhibition hall showcasing the latest in pipeline technology, equipment and services.
The exhibition hall was opened by a ribbon cutting ceremony by H. E. Dr Mirza. He then visited the booths, honouring many of the companies exhibiting. Many local media outlets were present to capture the Minister’s presence.
Hosting the latest development in the oil and gas sector with leading industry professionals, the exhibition hall provided a place for new forming new partnerships and global companies to gain local exposure in the Middle East.
STATS Group said that the event gave it excellent exposure and access to some of the leading exploration companies and contractors in the region, and other key players amongst the people who attended the exhibition.
Other exhibiting companies included:
- AkzoNobel
- BASF
- CDI
- Clock Spring Company
- Dacang Pipe Anticorrosion & Thermals Insulation Equipment Co
- DNV
- Future Pipe Industries.
- Rosen Saudi Arabia
- Saudi Aramco
- Saudi Steel Pipe Company
- STATS Group
- Stopaq.
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