Global Pipeline Maintenance Services Market Outlook to 2028

The growing number of aging pipelines in the region like the United States and Europe is the primary driver for the increase in the maintenance expenditure by pipeline operators. According to the American Gas Association, there are more than 2.5 million miles of pressurized gas pipelines across the United States in 2019 and according to Reuters, half of these gas pipelines in the country were installed before 1970.

The rising production of crude oil and gas owing to the discovery of new oil and gas reserves worldwide coupled with advanced drilling technology which is having a positive impact on pipeline infrastructure expansion. The rise in the construction of new pipelines and stringent repair & maintenance regulations in regions such as North America and Western Europe will continue to act as long -term drivers for pipeline maintenance market in the following years.
 

The unmanned vehicles (or drones) are being used widely for inspection to ensure pipeline safety and efficient operation. It provides a faster and cost-efficient solution for inspection of pipelines, something which traditionally takes weeks or months, expensive equipment, resources, and manpower. Also, the drones can access steep terrain, remote locations and other hard to reach areas without exposing the workers to risks. An increasing number of O&G companies use drones to perform three essential industry functions — pipeline inspection and monitoring, oil well and rig inspection, and surveying and construction monitoring. and the recent development in sensing and imaging technologies such as thermal imaging is enabling drones to be used for predictive maintenance of this critical infrastructure. Hence, drone companies are launching drones with thermal imaging cameras for pipeline inspection. For instance, in April 2019, French tech brand Parrot has unveiled a new drone edition, based on its famous Anafi, which comes loaded with a thermal imaging camera boasting a temperature range of -10°C to +400°C.
 

Pipeline failures are often the result of corrosion, equipment failure, manufacturing error, environmental incidents, and human interference. To detect and prevent these failures, operators and regulators conduct a regular inspection of the pipelines. An inspection typically targets pipeline vulnerabilities in three categories, mainly: corrosion, deforming, and cracking. Therefore, pipeline inspection services to have the highest market share. Pipeline companies use a wide variety of methods to monitor pipelines- from highly advanced technology to patrolling the pipeline right of way. Visual inspection is done regularly either by walking, flying or using drones. and inline inspection of the pipeline is used to detect the internal pipeline problems through smart pigs (pipeline inspection gauge). 
 

The global pipeline maintenance services market is segmented on type and application. The market is segmented by type into inspection services, flushing & chemical cleaning, and drying (air drying, nitrogen drying, and vacuum drying). By application, it is segmented into onshore and offshore. Further, the market for pipeline maintenance services is segmented by geography into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle-East & Africa. North America for pipeline maintenance services has the largest market currently and is anticipated to hold its position in the forecast period. North America has the largest network for oil and gas transmission and distribution pipelines in the world.
 

Some of the prominent players in the Pipeline Maintenance Services market are Halliburton, Baker Hughes, EnerMech, Technipipe, Intertek, Dacon Inspection technologies, NDT Global, IKM Gruppen, Bonatti International, and Gate Energy.
 

In January 2020, Skyfire Consulting, a public safety drone consultancy, partnered with Doosan Mobility Innovations Inc., subsidiary of South Korean conglomerate Doosan Group, to utilize its DS30 hydrogen fuel cell-powered aircraft. Skyfire’s team of pilots, along with Doosan’s support on engineering and hardware, will set off on a six-month-long project to establish inspection procedures along a significant US gas pipeline – both for emergency response and routine inspection.
 

In December 2019, Kinder Morgan, Inc. has announced that the Pembina Pipeline Corporation (Pembina) has acquired the US portion of the Cochin Pipeline for US$1.546 billion. In addition, Pembina has acquired all of the outstanding common equity of Kinder Morgan Canada Limited, including the 70% majority voting interest held by Kinder Morgan Inc.