Advertise on podcast: Pipeline Innovations TechTalk

Ray Cheatham, Energy Market Leader at Onterris, joined Pipeline & Gas Journal to discuss the methane challenges facing U.S. midstream operators as federal rules shift and public monitoring expands. Cheatham explains why methane is a particular concern for gathering, processing, transmission and storage, and where the EPA’s 2024 methane rule, the OOOOc state plan deadline, the Waste Emissions Charge and PHMSA’s leak detection rule currently stand. He also looks at why operators aren’t easing off despite the federal pullback, pointing to stricter state rules, emissions-intensity terms in LNG and utility contracts, and the risk of regulatory whiplash. The conversation also covers how satellites, aircraft, drones and fixed sensors are making leak data public, EPA’s Super Emitter Program, how operators can respond when remote data is wrong, and the business consequences of a visible leak. Cheatham closes with what leading operators are doing on the ground, how methane management connects to pipeline safety, and what to watch over the next 12 to 18 months.

Amy Andryszak, President and CEO of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), joined Pipeline & Gas Journal to discuss the North American Midstream Infrastructure Report, which estimates that more than $1 T in midstream capital investment will be needed across the U.S. and Canada through 2052. Andryszak explains why the report uses a 2052 horizon and what is driving the investment figure. She also looks at how data center growth and LNG exports are shaping demand and where the more than 37,000 mi of new transmission pipeline and roughly 103,000 mi of gathering pipeline are most urgently needed. The conversation also covers the near-term obstacles to getting that investment underway, including permitting, financing and workforce and the policy changes INGAA wants industry leaders and policymakers to take up.

Pipeline & Gas Journal sat down with Paul McShane, president of CRC Evans EMEA, at the opening of the company's new Burnley facility in England. Paul explains why CRC Evans doubled its footprint in the town where it has operated since 1988, and how the site will serve as a Centre of Excellence for specialty welding and coating work outside North America. He walks through the four quadrants of the building, from engineering and pre-qualification testing to industrial coating and a clean room, and shares how defense, nuclear and other new markets are driving diversification. The conversation also covers Data 360, AI-driven analysis and the Raptor 2 field joint coating system.

Recorded live at YNOW2026 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this episode features Sam Hassan, Product Manager at Yokogawa. Hassan discusses the EJX S Series, Yokogawa's new flagship pressure transmitter line succeeding the long-running EJX A and what 30-plus yrs of silicon resonant sensor development brought to the new design. The conversation covers what improved precision means for pipeline and plant operators, how rangeability of up to 400:1 changes transmitter specification and deployment, where early adoption is expected across oil and gas, LNG, chemicals, power and water markets, and the practical case for migrating from EJX A units now vs. waiting for a planned refresh.

This episode examines severe sour service, one of the pipeline industry's most technically demanding challenges. Pipeline & Gas Journal sat down with Calum MacLean, Head of Welding Engineering, and Tom Feteris, Offshore Director, both of CRC Evans, to discuss why rising hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) concentrations, deeper water and harsher operating environments are pushing operators toward more experienced engineering partners. The conversation covers what separates severe sour projects from conventional pipeline construction, including metallurgy, hydrogen effects and long-term material integrity, and why success depends on early engineering engagement rather than a single qualified welding procedure.

In this episode, we sat down with Jim Welty, President of the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC), to unpack the infrastructure gap holding back the Marcellus and Utica shale plays. Welty explains why Pennsylvania producers face steep price discounts despite leading the nation in natural gas output, and why the Northeast has lagged behind the South Central U.S. in pipeline buildout even as Gulf Coast LNG demand drives new capacity elsewhere.

In this episode, Laurie Knape (Program Manager, API Pipeline Safety Management System Assessments), Jason O'Flaherty (Risk Analyst, Marathon Petroleum) and David Pearce (Manager of Finance and Operations, Parker Stockstill Construction) examine how safety management systems (SMS) function across the pipeline sector. The discussion spans an operator's experience scaling an SMS program, the distinct challenges small and mid-size contractors face in adopting these frameworks and methods for measuring an SMS's impact on safety and operational discipline. Guests also address aligning culture and expectations across operators, contractors and subcontractors, and how industry assessment tools can drive greater consistency sector-wide.

In this episode, Rob McGreevy, CPO of AVEVA, discusses how AI and digital twins are reshaping midstream pipeline operations, the shift from scheduled to predictive maintenance and the real-time data architecture—sensors, edge computing, SCADA and cloud platforms—needed to make it all work.

Pipeline right-of-way management has evolved far beyond routine vegetation clearing. In this episode of Pipeline Innovations Tech Talk, we sit down with Brent Oberlink, owner of Lanracorp, to discuss how integrated vegetation management (IVM) is helping operators improve safety, reduce long-term maintenance costs and strengthen pipeline integrity. The conversation explores the growing importance of proactive rights-of-way (ROW) management, the impact of extreme weather on maintenance strategies, and why vegetation management plays a critical role in inspections, emergency response and long-term asset reliability.

In this episode, cybersecurity expert Paul Smith, Honeywell Technologies, discusses the evolving cybersecurity threat landscape, the impact of artificial intelligence on cyber threats and strategies for industrial cybersecurity resilience. A must-listen for industry professionals aiming to stay ahead in cybersecurity.

As electricity demand accelerates due to AI data centers, industrial reshoring and increasing electrification, the need for reliable natural gas infrastructure has never been greater. In this episode, Pipeline & Gas Journal sits down with Dena Wiggins, President & CEO of the Natural Gas Supply Association (NGSA), to discuss the policy and infrastructure challenges shaping the future of U.S. energy. The conversation explores why permitting reform has become a critical issue for maintaining grid reliability, the economic and energy security impacts of delayed or canceled pipeline projects and how regulatory uncertainty is influencing investment decisions across the natural gas industry. Wiggins also shares her perspective on natural gas' continuing role in supporting an affordable, resilient electric grid and delivers her message to policymakers on the importance of timely infrastructure approvals.

Gas pipeline operators are facing unprecedented challenges—from increasing system complexity and evolving energy demands to pressure on safety, reliability and emissions performance. In this episode, we sat down with Adam Harris, Global Vertical Market Leader, Pipelines and Terminal at Honeywell Process Automation, to explore how leading operators are adapting through digitalization, predictive operations, network optimization and practical applications of AI. Learn how integrated technologies are helping pipeline companies maximize existing infrastructure, strengthen energy resilience and move toward the next generation of autonomous, self-optimizing operations.

This episode explores the development and importance of the new API bolted flange joint (BFJ) certification program, featuring insights from industry experts Andri Orphanides, Director of Individual Certification Programs, API, and Andy Smith, Director of Training, VSP Technologies. Learn about the BFJ certification program, the certification process, and industry impact and importance of bolted flange joint competency.

In this episode, we sat down with Vinay Baburao, Director of Digital Transformation at CRC Evans, to discuss how the company’s proprietary DATA 360 platform is redefining pipeline and critical infrastructure delivery. The conversation explores how real-time visibility, AI-driven analytics, automated compliance tracking and full lifecycle traceability are helping operators and contractors reduce manual processes, improve QA/QC assurance and make faster, more informed decisions across complex energy projects.

At OTC 2026 in Houston, Pipeline & Gas Journal sat down with Shailesh Radhakrishnan, VP of Engineering and Technology at CRC Evans, to explore how the company is evolving from a traditional welding and coating specialist into a technology-enabled infrastructure partner. With nearly 90 yrs of industry experience, CRC Evans is leveraging AI, machine learning, predictive analytics and digital platforms to improve project transparency, quality assurance and operational efficiency across critical energy infrastructure projects.