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So far Tom Editor has created 5 blog entries.

Pipelink looks back on EIES 2022

2023-02-03T10:54:59+00:00February 3rd, 2023|News|

The need for European pipeline networks Pipelink was a guest at the European Industry & Energy Summit 2022 at the Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Geleen, Netherlands at the end of November. The two-day event saw dozens of speakers from the process industry and energy sector present solutions to combat climate change. Including Michel Leyseele, managing director of Pipelink and Maurice Pelsers, managing director of Petrochemical Pipeline Services (PPS). Here is a review of their plea for the development of common carriers in Northwestern Europe. The importance of European common carriers Northwestern Europe urgently needs cross-border common carriers and this is because of the current energy crisis, supply problems, and growing challenges around energy transition, Leyseele & Pelsers stress. Remarkably, unlike in the United States of America, pipelines in Northwestern Europe very often stop at country borders. According to Leyseele & Pelsers, this has all to do with national and sometimes even regional legislation and their licensing and permitting issues, political polarisation, and constant election fever, resulting in short-term decisions, nimbyism among residents and firms, and so on. And above all, the persistent mindset that neighbouring countries are not partners, but only customers or, worse, competitors. For example, the Antwerp Rotterdam Rhine Ruhr Cluster (ARRR) is viewed not as one mega-cluster, but as a collection of more than twenty local chemical clusters. However, the same parties curiously regard Houston, which is much larger in area, as one cluster. TRILOG as a catalyst Time for change, then. This is why TRILOG was established in 2017, a partnership between the Belgian region of Flanders, the Netherlands and the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is intended to result in specific actions aimed at a sustainable future vision for the chemical sector. TRILOG is a collaboration between Port of Antwerp-Bruges (and its subsidiary Pipelink), Port of Rotterdam, and seven petrochemical players: Sabic (and its subsidiary PPS), Dow, Evonik, Basell Polyolefins, BASF, INEOS, BP, and Borealis. In addition to the development of cross-border pipelines, TRILOG is exploring five more initiatives. Successful start Leyseele & Pelsers underline that favourable framework conditions must be created in order to realise European pipeline networks. At the same time, much has already been realised: Possible products, routes, border crossings, distances and locations to be connected have been investigated. Petrochemical companies have collaborated on a survey to identify industry needs. And the Netherlands, Flanders and North Rhine Westphalia signed a joint declaration of intent on 5 May 2021. The pair of speakers concluded the talk with a positive note and a hopeful outlook: the existing ARG (Aetylen-Rohrleitungs-Geselschaft) pipeline network for ethylene is already one good example of this kind of successful cooperation between the Belgian, German and Dutch chemical industries. Interesting in finding out more about common carriers or a European pipeline network? Contact Pipelink.

This is how we make sure our pipelines remain in top condition

2022-10-13T11:32:08+00:00October 13th, 2022|News|

This is how we make sure our pipelines remain in top condition Pipelink does everything in its power to ensure the mechanical integrity of its pipelines. Most importantly, we avoid corrosion with External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA). Through various inspection methods, we then verify that the polyethylene coatings of existing pipes remain in top condition. Coating as a passive protection against corrosion The steel pipes used in the construction of our pipelines are coated with polyethylene. This coating is applied in the factory, after the pipes have been manufactured. The coating forms a first and passive level of protection against corrosion. Cathodic protection, a second level of protection Our steel pipelines are also equipped with an active cathodic protection. This is a method of corrosion control in which the potential of steel is actively lowered below a certain threshold, thereby significantly reducing the risk of corrosion in the event of coating failure. The proper functioning of the cathodic protection - as also required by Belgian legislation - is checked at regular intervals. Detection of coating failures Despite the above protection measures, corrosion may still occur in the vicinity of a coating failure. Therefore, it is very important that coating defects are detected in a timely manner. This can be done using specific inspections and checks, such as: The potential measurement of cathodic protection. This measurement gives an indication of the possible coating failure. A Direct Current Voltage Gradient (DCVG) survey, which can be used to localize coating failure. A Pearson survey, another technique for detecting the location of coating failures. Direct assessment If a coating failure is suspected on the basis of the above inspections and checks, a direct assessment is done. In this process, the indicated coating defect is excavated. We examine whether any corrosion has already occurred and its severity. If necessary, we take measures to repair the pipe and coating so that the pipe is tip top again. Post-assessment Once the above steps are completed, we evaluate all results and determine if additional inspections or actions are necessary. Want to know more about us or our inspection methods? Contact Pipelink. Read more: Successful audit of our safety management system

Pipelink covered in the new edition of Petrochem

2022-07-19T14:48:52+00:00July 19th, 2022|Developments, News|

In late April, the port authorities of Antwerp and Zeebrugge merged to form Port of Antwerp-Bruges. There are various reasons for this, of which the energy transition is perhaps the most important, explains Jacques Vandermeiren, CEO of the merged port authority. This presents new opportunities and challenges, particularly in the field of infrastructure. Infrastructure as a driver of transition

Successful audit of our safety management system

2022-06-01T07:42:29+00:00June 1st, 2022|News|

Are you, like Pipelink, in compliance with the recent Belgian legislation? In March 2022, Pipelink's legally required safety management system (SMS) successfully passed an external audit. This means Pipelink has succeeded in being ready for a major new phase in the safe operation of transport piping in Belgium by 30 June 2022. Updated safety rules In 2017 – after more than 25 years – the safety legislation (or Belgian Gas Law) on the management of high-pressure pipelines for the transport of liquids and gases was updated. Pipeline owners like Pipelink were given 5 years to comply with these new safety rules. One major requirement in this new legislation is to have an audited safety management system (SMS). For pipelines installed prior to 2017, the SMS needed to be audited by an external auditor by the end of June 2022. Pipelines licensed between 2017 and June 2022 even needed to comply with new legislative requirements within 1 year from its commissioning. External audit The audit of Pipelink's safety management system was carried out by an internationally renowned auditor, as approved by the government. Processes, procedures and inspection reports were among the things closely inspected during this audit. These were used to check whether Pipelink's safety management system met the stipulations imposed by the regulations. Pipelink is proud to report that this first test was passed with flying colours. No non-conformities emerged from this audit.

Pipelink for Antwerp@C project

2022-04-26T09:28:57+00:00March 23rd, 2022|News|

Pipelink's role in a shared CO₂ infrastructure in the port of Antwerp How can you halve the port of Antwerp's CO₂ emissions? And how do you achieve this by 2030? Eight companies of the Antwerp energy and chemicals cluster are working on answering these questions as part of the Antwerp@C project. Their goal is to create the world's largest multi-modal cross-border open-access CO₂ infrastructure. As a subsidiary of Port of Antwerp-Bruges, Pipelink is taking on a key role in this. Major port project for CO₂ Antwerp@C is an initiative of Air Liquide, BASF, Borealis, ExxonMobil, INEOS, TotalEnergies, Fluxys, and Port of Antwerp. Together, these parties are working to achieve a smooth transition for Port of Antwerp-Bruges to a carbon-neutral port. The focus of this consortium is on Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), which involves offshore storage and the future re-use of CO₂ as a raw material for the chemicals industry. The project consists of: a backbone CO₂ pipeline covering both the left and right bank of the river Scheldt an export pipeline crossing the border into the Netherlands a liquefaction unit to liquefy CO₂ with temporary storage The technical and feasibility studies – subsidised by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) fund – have already been completed. The engineering phase (FEED) began recently and will run until late 2022. By this point, a final investment decision will be made for the first phase of the project. Pipelink's role in CCUS In the meantime, Fluxys, Air Liquide, and Pipelink (a subsidiary of Port of Antwerp-Bruges) have mapped out initial demand for the proposed CO₂ infrastructure via an 'Open Season', in which all firms in the large port area of Antwerp were invited to express their interest in CO₂ transport and/or CO₂ terminal infrastructure in Antwerp. The results of this survey will be taken into account in the final investment decision. Green light for Kairos@C A number of projects will be connecting to the CO₂ backbone of Antwerp@C. One of these is the Kairos@C project of consortium members Air Liquide and BASF Antwerp, which is to reduce the CO₂ emissions of both firms by a total of 14.2 million metric tonnes over a ten-year period. The Kairos@C project was given the go-ahead from the EU Innovation Fund at the end of 2021. This means another milestone towards a carbon-neutral port is in sight. Interested in CO₂ transport and/or CO₂ terminal infrastructure in Antwerp? Contact Pipelink. Press release Port of Antwerp: Antwerp@C