Although Rod Spackman–a spokesman for Chevron’s El Segundo refinery–told the Associated Press that the corroded pipes at the facility were still “suitable for continued operation” even after inspecting them. “However, in an abundance of caution, we nevertheless replaced portions of the piping system.” Additionally, Spackman told the AP that “it is cooperating with state and federal investigations, and implementing stricter inspections and oversight of its facilities.”

After months, Cal/OSHA gave Chevron the okay to restart the part of the refinery that was shut down.

These aging pipelines resulted in deadly explosions, property damage, and fires across the country:

• September 9, 2010— San Bruno, California —8 deaths, 52 injuries, 50 homes destroyed
• December 29, 2010— Wayne, Michigan —2 deaths, 3 injuries
• January 18, 2011— Philadelphia, Pennsylvania —1 death, 3 injured
• January 24, 2011— Fairport Harbor, Ohio—20 homes damaged
• January 26, 2011— Horseheads, New York—1 death, 2 injured, 1 home destroyed
• February 9, 2012— Allentown, Pennsylvania —5 deaths, 47 homes and properties damaged and destroyed
• February 10, 2012—Hanoverton, Ohio—brush fire

Federal regulators are commissioning the study of old pipelines in order to improve inspection methods to determine if they are capable of detecting flaws in old pipes. This study will result in new rules that will prevent future ruptures. It is important to consistently look for better ways to inspect, test, and monitor pipelines. Borin Manufacturing state of the art products are custom made to fit your organization needs. We encourage you to read more about our products, and give us a call.

What are you doing after earth day to protect the environment?

Gregg Steele, BORIN’s Vice President of Production, poses with clients at the NACE Corrosion 2013 Conference.

Once again, BORIN Manufacturing, Inc. enjoyed a successful NACE  Conference, this year in Orlando, Florida. Although the foot traffic in the exhibit hall seemed light, we enjoyed seeing most of our more than 114 distributors from 83 different countries. BORIN hosted their annual gala reception, this year at the Rosen Plaza Hotel with more than 150 people in attendance!

Among the many new and highlighted products that BORIN exhibited, there was an over whelming interest in BORIN’s new Stelth HCP electrode. It is the first electrode of its kind that will work continuously in hydrocarbon-contaminated environments. BORIN is excited to bring to the market this revolutionary product, with close to 10 several years in development, by their staff of chemists and engineers and assisted by the work of a new chemist/engineer. Baring the delays of its patent protection, Borin anticipates having this product on the market within the next 60-90 days.

Equally as exciting, BORIN now hosts a state of the art Data Center for all the new and existing Comanche and Dart remote monitoring and control system users. With the “Simplicity” of opening a browser — via a smart phone, tablet, pad or computer — users can instantly access their data from anywhere in the world, and have entry to the most powerful analysis tool in remote monitoring and control systems.

Borin Manufacturing joined over six thousand executives and corrosion experts representing industry, government and academia from around the world. In the exhibit hall we were able to showcase our latest products: Comanche Data Center and Stelth® HCP™ Hydrocarbon Proof™ reference electrode. The product showcase displayed technologies that are designed for corrosion control and prevention. As such, we increased awareness of the importance of cathodic protection.

A little more about the products from the NACE Conference and Expo

Our BRAND NEW Stelth® HCP™ Hydrocarbon Proof™ reference electrode has completed extensive field testing. If you have facilities contaminated by gasoline, crude oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, etc and are unable to get a reference cell reading, the Stelth® HCP™ stationary or portable reference electrode will solve your problem.

The Comanche Remote Monitoring System and its integrated Data Center automatically monitors and controls digital and analog functions and processes associated with the oil and gas industries, which include but are not limited to Cathodic protection systems. The Comanche Data Center interface allows you to manage your whole system from one single screen, and is intuitive and easy to navigate at any user level.

Your Cathodic Protection system can be accessed from any authorized computer within the network.

The system is expandable to monitor and control from a simple 2-channel test station to thousands of channels, working in harmony seamlessly using a single communication port.

Any of the Comanche Remote Monitoring Unit models can be accessed through the Comanche Data Center. Comanche units installed 20 years ago can be upgraded to our latest technology.

Information is transmitted from the field to the Data Center and vise versa through ANY communication system available: GSM cellular network, radio, satellite, fiber optic, microwave, SCADA, MODBUS, et cetera. The Data Center even features smart phone-optimized web access to get your readings while in the field.

For more information on the Comanche Data Center, download this Comanche Remote Monitoring and Control information, also available in this print-ready version.

Our BRAND NEW Stelth® HCP™ Hydrocarbon Proof™ reference electrode has just completed extensive field testing and will be available this spring. If you have facilities contaminated by gasoline, crude oil, brake fluid, transmission fluid, et cetera and are unable to get a reference cell reading, the Stelth® HCP™ stationary or portable reference electrode will solve your problem.  The Stelth® HCP™ will be introduced at the NACE International Exposition on March 18-21 at booth 1228, or call us at + 1 310-822-1000.

Time-dependent threats (threats which tend to grow over time) include items such as internal corrosion, external corrosion, stress-corrosion cracking, and time-stable threats (defined as threats which do not grow over time unless acted upon by another condition or failure mechanism).

Pipeline violations occur more often than we would like. Some blame vague wording when it comes to reporting threats. Some states have passed bills that increase fines in order to reduce careless behavior by pipeline companies. According to a North Dakota NBC affiliate,  the state passed legislation that increased fines from “ten thousand dollars to 200-thousand dollars per violation, and up to two million dollars for a series of violations. A violation could include paperwork errors, not having well trained employees or pipeline corrosion.”

Increasing fines will possibly push companies to act faster since inspections that detect threats do not necessarily encourage companies to act immediately. As you can see below, pipeline inspections depend on threats over time.

Time-dependent threats (threats which tend to grow over time)

• Internal corrosion
• External corrosion
• Stress-corrosion cracking
• Time-stable threats (defined as threats which do not grow over time unless acted upon by another condition or failure mechanism)

Manufacture

• Fabrication/construction
• Equipment

Time-independent threats (random events, not influenced by time)

• Human error
• Third-party damage
• Earth movement, outside force, or weather.

Proper measuring of probability of failure (PoF) assesses risk prevents pipelines problems, protects community members, and prevents large fines.

In Allentown, PA they are dealing with the replacement of old pipelines that ruptured and caused the deaths of five people two years ago. Allentown’s pipelines are decades old like many of the pipelines around the United States. However, the city’s initial plan was to replace less than ten miles of pipelines, but Allentown Mayor–Ed Pawlowski–was not impressed. As a result, UGI Utilities will work on replacing pipelines over the next 30 years. According to a report by The Morning Call, they propose to replace 63 miles from “Elizabethtown in Lancaster County through the center of the state and across parts of eastern Pennsylvania.” The only problem that the residents of Allentown have with the proposal is the timetable. UGI is set to complete the project in 30 years. This alarms both the residents and mayor. As a result, Pawlowski asked for UGI to push up the timetable “dramatically” and said, “I don’t think that’s a lot to ask.”

How some Allentown residents will be affected:

• They will be notified where replacement work will occur in advance of digging.
• [If necessary] It will replace service lines leading to homes, some will need access into residential homes.
• Temporary traffic and parking congestion

The U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) issued a safety alert almost two weeks ago, which led to the suspension of work on the wells on the GOM. The report states the leak was caused as a result of stress corrosion on the bolts and “…that the stress corrosion cracking caused by hydrogen embrittlement.”

The failed bolts do not affect any oil and gas because they are used in drilling equipment. Regardless, this will cause a two to three week delay for the U.S. Since the bolts were from General Electric Co. (GE), the BSEE is urging companies using blowout preventers must halt operations, retrieve the equipment and replace the bolts.

Borin’s elite Pipeline and Cable Monitoring Products are custom made to fit your organization needs. They are all built tough, include an extended guarantee, and are in stock and available for you today. Give us a call!

Why is cathodic protection so important? You can ask any oil and gas company that question, and they will say that cathodic protection is imperative to protecting their assets.

Cathodic protection is the key to protecting and extending the life of metal equipment such as pipelines. It reduces or eliminates corrosion of assets. Many of the nation’s underground water mains, refineries, and infrastructures–offshore and onshore installations–were installed decades ago, and are aging. Over time, corrosion can destroy assets that are often costly to replace. We have reported on many pipeline ruptures and water main breaks that have devastated communities because companies failed to protect their assets.

Borin Manufacturing offers cathodic protection products that help companies protect their assets by ensuring that they last the course of their design life. Together we can provide products that help you protect,  maintain, and monitor your equipment. Give us a call today!