The 18th International Business Meeting “Diagnostics – 2009” arranged by Gazprom and its subsidiary Orgenergogaz commenced in Sochi.

Among the Meeting participants are over 250 representatives from 91 Russian and foreign organizations.

Alexander Ananenkov, Deputy Chairman of Gazprom's Management Committee took the floor during the plenary session that had opened the Meeting. He outlined the importance of improving diagnostics methods for the Unified Gas Supply System facilities.

“The scope of elaboration and application of new diagnostics methods and techniques is extending due to active development of offshore areas, LNG production and marine transportation, construction and operation of long-distance offshore gas pipelines and subsea production complexes.

During the current global economic crisis the diagnostics of petroleum industry and hydrocarbon processing facilities is gaining in importance because of its capability to optimize technical and economic aspects of the entire reconstruction and repair process,” underlined Alexander Ananenkov.

Over 80 technical reports and presentations devoted to the state-of-the-art methods and equipment for the gas production and transportation facilities health status identification will be presented during the International Business Meeting “Diagnostics – 2009”.

Background:

The International Business Meetings dedicated to the gas industry infrastructure diagnostics are convened on a yearly basis. The first Meeting took place in 1991. Top executives and experts of oil and gas companies, researchers and inspection tool developers and producers take part in the Meetings.

The annual International Business Meetings are primarily targeted at:

-  developing the services market, methodologies and equipment for gas industry infrastructure diagnostics;

- colligating the gas industry experience of applying various inspection methods, tools and systems;

- identifying the most promising areas of cooperation when performing diagnostics of gas industry equipment and facilities, developing ties with international counterparts;

- detecting the origination of gas equipment defects.

The 18th International Business Meeting “Diagnostics – 2009” will be held until July 10.

The Meeting comprises three technical sessions:

- Diagnostics of linear sections of gas mains;

- Diagnostics of compressor station equipment;

- Diagnostics of gas, condensate and oil production equipment.

Orgenergogaz was founded in 1971. The company specializes in pipeline inspection, repair and maintenance, as well as startup and commissioning operations.