Early estimates from PPIM, the pipeline industry’s only forum dedicated exclusively to pigging for maintenance and inspection, suggest that more than 3,000 pipeline professionals attended the event.
The event kicked-off with a range of pipeline training courses on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 January, prior to the commencement of the conference program and the opening of the exhibition.
The courses covered industry topics, such as advanced risk management, pigging and inline inspection (ILI), defect assessment in pipelines, and integrity management.
They were presented by experts of their pipeline fields, including regular contributor to Pipelines International W. Kent Muhlbauer, Dr Ted Anderson, and Dr Alan Murray.
After the first day of the training courses, attendees were given the opportunity to attend the PPIM’s opening social function, the Monday evening reception sponsored by the Young Pipeline Professionals (YPP).
Following the serving of canapés and drinks, guests were entertained with a pipeline-flavoured version of the gameshow Jeopardy.
On Tuesday evening, once the training courses had been completed, attendees made their way to the Exhibition Hall for its official opening, sponsored by Rosen Group.
With close to 180 companies represented, this year’s exhibition was PPIM’s largest yet.
A highlight of the exhibition was the return of iconic booths from companies such as Rosen, Enduro Pipeline Services, T.D. Williamson, and NDT Global, as well as the return of the popular ‘Make pipelines great again’ hats from Drinkwater Products’ stand.
Exhibitors, conference delegates, and visitors to the hall were treated to lunch during the event, courtesy of Enduro on Wednesday and Halfwave on Thursday.
A number of ‘snack stations’ were also located throughout the exhibition, providing coffee and snacks thanks to the generosity of NDT Global.
On Wednesday morning the event got into full swing with the start of the conference program.
The plenary session included an introduction from Clarion Technical Conferences’ BJ Lowe, before a keynote presentation from BP Chief Engineer of Materials Dr Simon Webster on the previous 30 years of the pipeline industry.
The session’s theme was in keeping with the 30-year milestone of this year’s PPIM, as well as looking ahead to the future.
Six further presentations followed Dr Webster’s keynote, before the program split into three simultaneous tracks for the remainder of the conference.
On Wednesday evening, delegates assembled in the Exhibition Hall for a social reception.
The function included the American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ B31.8 and B31.8S Committees presenting Rosen’s Ray Lewis with a distinguished service award.
Mr Lewis was instrumental in establishing hydrotesting and ILI as pipeline integrity assessments. He was also key in the adoption of ILI in it’s infancy.
Those in attendance then gathered to witness conference co-organisers Mr Lowe and John Tiratsoo of Tiratsoo Technical, a division of Great Southern Press, cut into an enormous 30th birthday cake.
When PPIM concluded the following afternoon, more than 50 best-in-class technical papers had been presented and more than 3,000 people attended the event.
The 30th birthday celebrations combined with what many called PPIM’s most comprehensive and balanced technical program, combined to make 2018 one of the most memorable editions of the event on record.
Interested in participating in PPIM in 2019?
In 2019, PPIM will return to the George R Brown Convention Centre in Houston, Texas on 18–21 February.
The Call for Papers will be announced later in 2018; for more information on the technical program contact John Tiratsoo at jtiratsoo@gs-press.com
If you are interested in exhibiting at PPIM 2019, contact Clarion Technical Conferences’ Traci Branstetter at traci@clarion.org
PPIM is organised by Clarion Technical Conferences and Tiratsoo Technical, a division of Great Southern Press. The event is supported by Pipelines International.
For more information visit the Pipelines International website or the Clarion website.
If you have an event you would like featured in Pipelines International contact Managing Editor Nick Lovering to discuss promotional opportunities at nlovering@gs-press.com.au