One of the Southern Hemisphere’s major oil and gas pipeline industry gatherings, the 2009 Rio Pipeline Conference and Exhibition, was bigger than ever. With over 320 papers in multiple tracks (chosen from around 500 submissions), and 124 exhibiting companies, the three-day event provided plenty of opportunity for delegates and visitors to occupy their time to the full.

One of the benefits of events such as these is the networking opportunities they present, and the atmosphere of Rio was imbued with the spirit of making new contacts and refreshing old ones. This year’s event also provided the opportunity for the launch of Pipelines International, copies of which were widely distributed to delegates and visitors, attracting pleasing feedback.

A diverse programme

A diverse range of papers was presented at the event, with many papers from Brazilian authors – Petrobras and its research institutions, along with universities such as PUC-Rio were well represented – as well as a considerable international contingent of authors, from over 35 countries, many from outside South America.

Topics covered inlcuded:

* Automation and SCADA * Compressors and pumps * Corrosion * Environmental safety * GIS * Inspection * Integrity * Logistics * Rehabilitation * Reliability and risk * Slurry pipelines * Social responsibility * Subsea pipelines.

A major plenary session was held in which Petrobras’ Pre-Salt Executive Manager Jose Miranda Formigli gave an informative overview of the vast ‘Pre-Salt’ oil and associated gas reserves that have been discovered around 300 km offshore Brazil in around 2,200 m of water. This huge reservoir, with over 30 billion barrels of oil, underlies the Espiritu Santo, Campos, and Santos basins and, if predictions are correct, will provide a significant proportion of the world’s energy supplies for many years to come.

The Brazilian Government and Petrobras are currently working out how best to exploit and export these reserves, and are considering what their impact will be internationally. Pipelines will obviously form a part of this exploitation, and Mr Formigli discussed some scenarios for the large-diameter, deepwater pipelines that may be required.

A number of panel sessions were also held, one of which discussed the future of the global pipeline industry. The clear message that came from this is that huge investment in pipelines, their materials, and their ancillary equipment, will be required in the foreseeable future in order to transport the great quantities of gas and oil required by the world’s energy consumers. Presentations by Enbridge International’s Operations Director in Canada Bill Trefanenko and Director of Sinopec International Petroleum Service of China’s Wang Zhonghong emphasised this point, reinforced by comments from Petrobras’ Pipelines and Terminal Director Claudio Campos.

As an observer of the industry, it is clear that what these speakers had to say is true. However, it is always encouraging to see industry leaders getting together and saying it in public.

Exhibiting pipeline style

The exhibition attracted many visitors, and there was a great range of equipment and services on show for them to see.

Pipelines International had a stand in the exhibition, at which much interest was raised by the business card prize draw, for which the winner would receive an iPod Nano. Such was the enthusiasm that on the day of the draw, several possible winners gathered at the stand and wouldn’t move until they had witnessed the drawing of the card. Congratulations go to Karina Vargas from Sinopec for winning the iPod Nano.

The Rio Pipeline Conference and Exhibition is increasingly gaining attention on the international stage as an important and useful forum. The next event, on 20–22 September 2011, will undoubtedly strengthen such international support, and will once again provide a great opportunity for an industry gathering.