w m n: io co at y. m erg or nf -en ei r or -fo M g as w. w 9TH PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 9TH PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE Source. Nord Stream AG. After early successes, we ran into increasing difficulties because the funding (German) states and federal ministries built their own structures, and because the German companies in the water and energy sector came under increasing pressure (unbundling) and were no longer making their employees available. Together with the Messe Nürnberg (Water Middle East) and the Hannover Messe (Pipeline Technology Conference), international conferences with specialized exhibitions were then developed, which today are held as stand-alone EITEP events and give EITEP a healthy economic base. The most important instrument is an international database of nearly 30,000 experts. Pipeline Technology Conference 2014 Large market opportunities for construction companies, pipe manufacturers, technology and service providers to the pipeline business in international markets A technical discussion with the President of the "Euro Institute for Information and Technology Transfer, EITEP”, Dr. Klaus Ritter. gas for energy: Dr. Ritter, the EITEP has run a successful business for many years as a consultant and organizer of seminars for emerging and developing countries. Today, the focus is on holding international conferences and exhibitions. What was your motivation in 2002 in taking over this institute from DVGW, and why do conferences and exhibitions play such an important role today in the portfolio of EITEP? 14 gas for energy Issue 1/2014 Dr. Ritter: The Institute became a subsidiary of DVGW due to the merger between DVGW and DELIWA. It presented seminars and training sessions for China and other focal points of economic development worldwide. The approach was to convey, in this way, experiences and technologies from Germany, highly esteemed internationally, from a business point of view, in emerging and developing countries. gas for energy: The Pipeline Technology Conference, or ptc, is now your most important event. It, however, is held in Germany. To what extent does that square with your initial approach? Dr. Klaus Ritter, Chairman of the Pipeline Technology Conference and President of the EITEP Institute, opened the ptc 2013. Dr. Ritter: In no other country in the world did the focus zero in on the maintenance and protection of networks for the transport and distribution of water and gas as early as it did in Germany. The losses and the networkrelated accidents are correspondingly low. In the world's piping networks, which have been rapidly growing for years, it’s not only the prevention of losses that has become increasingly meaningful, but the extension of service life as well. Worldwide operators therefore like to come to Germany to learn how the pipeline network operation can be optimized, how faulty areas can be detected at an early stage, and how emerging damage can best be repaired. These issues are therefore at the heart of the technical sessions that, with approximately 40 lectures, make up the core of the ptc. Lecture by Botas International (Turkey) at the 8 th Pipeline Technology Conference. DEVELOPMENT OF PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE The Pipeline Technology Conference (ptc) began eight years ago as a conference held during the world's largest industrial fair, HANNOVER MESSE, and covers all aspects of the oil-, gas- and product-pipeline industry. The ptc is now Europe's largest international pipeline conference and exhibition and is visited annually by over 300 delegates. The number of participating pipeline operators in particular has increased in recent years. For 2014, delegations are expected from 50 different operating companies. The percentage of international participants here, as well as of exhibitors and speakers, is traditionally well over 50 percent. In addition to the conference each spring, the ptc has now grown into a year-round information platform for the pipeline industry. The ptc website maintains a database of more than 400 free-access technical publications from the last few years, in addition to a news service covering current developments and projects. In addition, there is now a ptc seminar series with events in Hannover, Hamburg, Dubai and Tunis. An electronic professional journal, the “Pipeline Technology Journal” (ptj), which publishes outstanding presentations from the ptc and additional presentations on important new developments and news from the industry and practice, completes the "ptc brand". The ptj comes out twice yearly and is sent electronically to over 13,000 experts and decision-makers around the world. For more information, go to www.pipeline-conference.com. 15 Issue 1/2014 gas for energy w m n: io co at y. m erg or nf -en ei r or -fo M g as w. w 9TH PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE 9TH PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE PROGRAM OVERVIEW OF THE 9TH PIPELINE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE The 9th Pipeline Technology Conference will be initiated under the leadership of co-chairs Dr. Klaus Ritter and Uwe Ringel with a meeting of the Advisory Committee of currently 31 experts from eight countries (AdCo). The AdCo puts together the content of the Conference and studies the urgent issues stemming from the rapid expansion of pipeline infrastructure worldwide. Some of the topics of the last meeting were public perception, system monitoring, dangers to pipelines posed by earth movements, and cyber security. In addition, the members report on upcoming major pipeline projects in their regions. With the launch of the exhibition and opening on Monday, May 12th, the ptc 2014 will be officially opened. One highlight on Monday will be a current status report on the special challenges of the South Stream Offshore Project, before the nine Technical Sessions get underway. Key topics in 2014 are: Inline Inspection, Integrity Management, Corrosion/Coating, Materials, Leak Detection, Monitoring, Compressor and Pump Station, Planning and Construction, Offshore Technologies. A panel discussion chaired by Heinz Watzka on the current challenges facing the pipeline industry that arise for example from the commitment to the European internal market in gas, and the World Pipeline Outlook, with contributions from international pipeline operators, will wrap up the conference. The program will be rounded off with a Get together, as part of the fair, with drinks and finger food, of the exhibitors and conference participants. The social highlight is an invitation to dinner during a boat trip on the Spree River and its canals through Berlin at night. The ptc will be followed directly by a series of detailed workshops and seminars that will run until Friday, May 16th. More information on the detailed planning can be found at www.pipeline-conference.com. Monday, 12 May Wednesday, 14 May Plenary Discussion “Pipelines in a rapidly changing world”, Chair: Watzka, Topics: Entsog, Shale Gas, LNG 10 11 Plenary Session “European Pipeline Market” S 4: Integrity Management S 5: Leak Detection S 6: Planning and Construction 12 Lunch Break within the exhibition 14 16 17 S 2: Materials S 3: Compressor and Pump Stations Exhibition Lunch Break within the exhibition S 7: S 8: Corrosion/ Monitoring Coating S: 9: Offshore Technologies 11 Exhibition Opening S 1: Inline Inspection They play a major role in deciding on what will be covered by the upcoming conference. Owners of transport networks expect their management to operate the pipelines safely, efficiently and competitively. To do this, well-trained and informed personnel have to be available, and opportunities to optimize by taking into account technological and administrative trends must be exploited. Both can be achieved by exchanging experiences with other operators, equipment manufacturers and service providers. Conferences with accompanying exhibitions are the best platform for this exchange of experiences. Especially in terms of cost, a conference in Germany is sensible when its content can be influenced by German operators and operators as well as technology and service providers come here from all over the world. gas for energy: Dr. Ritter, in your international work, information is available to you globally. How do you assess the current situation? Thursday, 15 May Friday, 16 May 9 10 15 Dr. Ritter: Operators of high-pressure networks in Germany are heavily involved in the ptc. They have four members on the Advisory Committee. One of those officials is rotating co-Chair of the Committee. For the 7th and 8th Conference, this was Heinz Watzka, from Open Grid Europe; as of the 9 th Conference it is Uwe Ringel, from ONTRAS. Tuesday, 13 May Registration 13 gas for energy: In the course of the unbundling, operators in Germany have been feeling squeezed. What role does the ptc play here? Plenary Session “World Pipeline Outlook: New Technologies in Operation” 12 Lunch Break within the exhibition 13 14 Post-Conference Workshops (free for ptc delegates) 15 1) Sustainable Rehabilitation of Supply Pipelines applying Trenchless Replacement or Close16 fit Lining method (Tracto Technik) 2) Pipeline Leak Detection (Krohne) 17 3) ... Exhibition Sunday, 11 May 9 Both developments – growth in the international market and the examples of good practice here at home – have led to the ptc being recognized within just a few years as a hub for know-how and technology in the pipeline sector. The providers of technology and services benefit greatly here. The ptc makes it easy for them to open up new international markets, and they return the favor by helping finance the conference as a sponsor or exhibitor. Seminars (registration required) Seminars (registration required) 1) In-Line Inspection of Transmission Pipelines (Part I) 1) In-Line Inspection of Transmission Pipelines (Part II) 2) Geohazards and Geotechnics in Pipeline Engineering (Part I) 2) Geohazards and Geotechnics in Pipeline Engineering (Part II) 3) ... 3) ... Get-together within the exhibition 18 Sponsored by 19 Advisory Committee Meeting 18 Dinner-Invitation “Boat Trip Berlin at Night” 19 Sponsored by ptc 2014 program overview. 16 gas for energy Issue 1/2014 17 Issue 1/2014 gas for energy