OREANDA-NEWS. PII Pipeline Solutions is working with pipeline operators on both sides of the Atlantic to enhance awareness about pipeline inspection methods, displaying the latest technology and informing the general public of the important work carried out to help maintain environmental and pipeline safety.

TransCanada PipeLines has been running a series of open house discussions since August across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick, designed to inform local citizens and allow them to ask questions about a proposed new west-east oil pipeline. The sessions will run until mid-October. PII was invited to show its MagneScan™ “pipeline pigging” technology display at some of the locations along the route, highlighting to visitors one of the best practices used by the operator to help detect potential flaws inside steel pipelines.

TransCanada Corp. has official representatives on hand to answer the queries of residents and provide information about the project. The Calgary-based company is proposing to convert 3,000 km of an existing natural gas pipeline and build approximately 1,400 kilometers of new pipeline to carry western crude oil to the Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick. The pipeline is expected to transport up to 1.1 million barrels of crude oil a day.

“We invite community members to attend our open house events so they can receive information about the project and have their questions answered directly from expert representatives,” said Phillippe Cannon, spokesperson for TransCanada’s Energy East Pipeline Project. “The one-on-one open house format allows every participant an opportunity to ask questions and share comments which helps provide feedback that TransCanada will use in the project’s planning and design process.”

In early October in Belgium, PII also partnered with Total at a local Antwerp Refinery for their open house event. The ”Open Company Day” is the largest one-day event in Flanders in which hundreds of Flemish companies open their doors to the general public. Total opened its doors for three days instead of one: Friday for schools, Saturday for its own employees and Sunday for the general public.

PII’s exhibits showcased a range of technology with in-line inspection tools models to detect defects such as corrosion, cracks or dents that may occur in pipelines. The scale models provided talking points for the engineering behind the tools, and how pipeline inspection supports the overall maintenance program within the refinery.

This is the largest and most complex refinery of the group, third in size in Europe, which processes 17 million tons of crude oil each year. Local stakeholders were able to find out more about the work being done at the facility and in the region.

PII’s Regional Operations Leader for Europe and Africa Kevin Johnson commented: “It’s important for us to be visible as what we do is often ‘unknown’ and by working with partners such as Total on events like this, we can raise awareness about the way we work and how we impact the oil and gas industry locally and globally.”

Leo Van Langenhove, general coordinator, pipeline services of Total Olefins Antwerp added: “The event was a great success with 5,500 visitors overall and I would like to thank PII for its contribution to this initiative.”