The Plastics Pipe Institute, Inc. (PPI), a North American trade association representing all segments of the plastic pipe industry, announced its next training seminar for the energy industry will be in Houston. Focusing on the proper use of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and composite pipe for oil and gas gathering including process water lines, it will be held on February 25–27 at the Lone Star College Conference Center in University Park in Houston, TX. Attendees can choose either one of the Pipeline Design full-day sessions, which are on February 25 and 27, and combine it with the half-day fusion session on February 26.
“Proper training continues to be a critical factor for the energy industry,” said Randy Knapp, Ph.D., engineering director of the Energy Piping Systems Division of PPI. “As employment growth continues across the country, many companies find it increasingly difficult to hire people with the right skill set. And for the energy sector the situation is more severe because the United States is now one of the leading petroleum producers in the world and has recently become a net exporter of oil and gas.
“Either lack of experience, training, or technical skills is frequently named as the top reason for hiring difficulty by employers across all five energy sectors. Technical training and certifications are also mentioned, implying the need for expanded investments in workforce training and closer coordination between employers and the workforce training system. PPI is helping to fill that need with our program. One of the reasons we selected Lone Star was because of the college’s programs in petroleum and pipefitter technology that includes HDPE pipe.”
The course will concentrate on high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyamides (PA-11 and PA-12), and composite piping systems, all of which are being used more in the rapid expansion of oil and gas gathering activities across the country.
“The importance of knowing how to design and properly install pipelines that carry oil and gas, and transport water to and from a fracking site continues to grow every day,” said Knapp. “There is no room for failure of this critical infrastructure. This is mainly because pressures in an HDPE pipeline can reach 300 psi and temperatures up to 180°F, and even higher pressures when using polyamides or spoolable composites."
Among other topics, the seminar will also provide hands-on fusion training, which is critical to the performance of a pipeline. Pipeline Design, conducted on February 25 and 27, will focus on the design, installation, testing, and repair of plastic pipe systems. It is limited to 80 participants. Fusion Training on February 26 will focus on fusion training and is limited to 40 participants, who will receive a Fusion Certificate of Training from PPI.
“Attending either one of the Pipeline Design sessions and the fusion segment will provide information needed to take full advantage of the benefits of plastic pipe and composite pipe in oil and gas gathering and other applications,” Knapp said. “The course topics have been designed to benefit all levels of experience. Plus, we have many industry experts from PPI member companies including WL Plastics, Performance Pipe, Pipeline Plastics, Shawcor Composite Production Systems, FlexSteel, ISCO Industries Inc., Victaulic, LyondellBasell, Dow Chemical, and McElroy Manufacturing.”
For additional information and to register, click here.
