Canada may be just across the border, but when it comes to pipeline integrity management, the differences can make it feel like we’re oceans apart. Learn how each country balances the world of politics and regulators, the key differences in engineering approaches, and the distinction between performance versus prescriptive culture.

In this episode of Pipeline Things, Rhett and Chris bring on Dr. Nicki Robertson, who is currently standing up D2 Integrity’s Canadian office, to discuss pipeline regulations across borders.

Highlights:

• Key differences and similarities between each country’s regulatory environment
• How each country approaches interpreting regulations
• Relationships between operators and regulators
• Ensuring sound engineering for engineering assessments

Connect:

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon  

Nicki Robertson

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity 

On this episode of the Pipeline Things podcast, Rhett and Christopher sit down with guest Mark Ryan of Phillips 66 to discuss the impact of Part Three of the PHMSA Mega Rule on onshore gas gathering lines, 8-inch and up. The discussion confronts the reality that with its adoption, there are no longer any unregulated gas lines.

Highlights:

• Motivations behind the rule stem from a wide-scale effort to reduce emissions across the pipeline industry.
• Enhanced compliance thresholds for gas gathering lines have introduced challenges and opportunities for pipeline operators, like new classifications and reporting requirements.
• Implications of prescriptive vs. performance-based integrity management as the gas gathering space continues to evolve.

If you haven’t thought of the impact of the Mega Rule on gathering lines before, or if you’re knee deep in the new regulations, this episode is for you.

Connect:

Mark Ryan

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity

Excavating an anomaly flagged during an in-line inspection can sometimes feel like opening a box of chocolates. Say it with us, now: “You never know what you’re going to get.”

When determining whether a composite system is a suitable repair option, defining permanency (i.e., What does permanent mean to you?), evaluating the long-term strength of the system, and understanding the role of adhesion all come into play.

In this episode of Pipeline Things, Rhett and Chris sit down with special guest Tim Mally to discuss the ins and outs of using composites, common installation issues, and some of the major challenges with composite repairs.

Highlights:

• Essential variables considered when evaluating composite repair applicability

• The importance of surface prep and proper adhesion for a successful composite repair

• Exploring the heightened scrutiny of composite repairs compared to alternative methods

• Common questions with ensuring “permanency” of composite repairs

Connect:   

Rhett Dotson   

Christopher De Leon   

Tim Mally

D2 Integrity   

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!   

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.    

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.   

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity  

On this episode of the Pipeline Things podcast, Rhett and Christopher sit down with Fernando Curiel of ExxonMobil to discuss the technical and organizational challenges of managing water crossings.

Highlights:

• Real-world considerations, dependencies, risks, and implications of operator approaches to vortex-induced vibration (VIV)
• Lessons learned from the Yellowstone River pipeline failure
• Operator strategies for managing water crossings, including inventory of crossings, data collection and integration, and risk assessment, prioritization, & potential mitigations

This episode is a must-listen for pipeline integrity engineers or anyone focused on building a safer, more transparent pipeline industry.

Connect:

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon  

Fernando Curiel

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity 

There’s a lot to learn about MFL tools, and who better to learn it from than the one and only Bruce Nestleroth.

In this episode of Pipeline Things, Rhett and Chris sit down with returning special guest Bruce Nestleroth, as they dive headfirst into a heavily debated topics around MFL technology. It’s a conversation filled with details of MFL capabilities and advancements in recent years, how it has refined, and where future opportunities might lie.

Highlights:

• What “high resolution” really means for MFL tools
• MFL data, RSTRENG, and P-Square approaches for burst pressure predictions
• Capabilities for capturing true “river bottom” profiles for corrosion
• The questions operators should ask their MFL vendors

Connect:

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon  

Bruce Nestleroth

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity 

On this episode of the Failure Files series, Pipeline Things break down a significant geohazard incident: the 2023 rupture of Gulf South’s Index 381 pipeline near Jackson, Mississippi.

Rhett and Christopher unpack how a vintage weld flaw, masked geohazards, and the limitations of in-line inspection (ILI) tools came together to produce a high-cost failure. This episode is a must-listen for anyone working in integrity management or considering how to implement effective geohazard management programs.

Highlights:

• How a Mississippi pipeline was impacted by construction work on a reactivated retention pond
• The slow-moving, well-documented earth movement that still went unaddressed
• A girth weld defect from 1952 and why ILI didn’t catch it in time
• Why LiDAR and bending strain data weren’t enough without expert interpretation

Connect:  

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon  

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity 

In this episode of the Failure Files series, Pipeline Things tackles one of the most persistent and arguably preventable causes of pipeline failure in North America: third-party damage.

Rhett and Christopher walk through four real-world incidents, ranging from farmland to construction sites, where pipelines were struck. In some of these cases, lives were lost, all because no one called 811, or location information was ignored. From Brandon, MN to Dixon, IL, these stories reveal a pattern of missed warning signs, incomplete communication, and public awareness efforts that failed to translate into action.

This episode breaks down the responsibility on both sides of the fence and how even well-intentioned outreach can fall short without boots-on-the-ground follow-through.

Highlights:

• Why do over 160,000 third-party damages still happen each year, despite widespread awareness campaigns?
• A bulldozer strike in Georgia that turned deadly for a contractor’s family
• The repeat offender: a pipeline in Kansas hit multiple times by the same excavation crew
• How Kinder Morgan’s years of landowner outreach still couldn’t prevent a fatal accident
• What does DIRT data tell us about who’s not calling 811, and why?
• The limitations of signs, mailers, and brochures when human behavior doesn’t change
• What can pipeline professionals do to prevent future third party damage incidents?

“Three Seconds Later” (Dixon Incident Video): https://youtu.be/Ejxvrnfk2uE

Connect:  

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon  

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity 

On this episode of the Failure Files series, Pipeline Things breaks down the most talked-about safety-related incident in U.S. history: Challenger. Rhett and Christopher discuss the controversial choices made prior to the tragedy and how they hit close to home for anyone in asset integrity, risk management, or decision-making roles. Together, they examine how past success isn't a guarantee of future performance.

Highlights:

• Step-by-step failure chain that led to the Challenger explosion, including the infamous 11th-hour conference call
• The impact of deadlines and groupthink on decision-makers
• How quickly the flip switched between assumption of danger to assumption of safety, and the impacts on decision-making
• How risk communication and organizational pressure led to disaster
• Key takeaways for asset integrity professionals for the day-to-day protection of vital infrastructure

Connect:  

Rhett Dotson  

Christopher De Leon  

D2 Integrity  

Be sure to subscribe and leave a comment or rating!  

Pipeline Things is presented by D2 Integrity and produced by FORME Marketing.   

D2 Integrity (D2I) is providing this podcast as an educational resource, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of D2I policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by D2 Integrity. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by D2I employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of D2I or any of its officials. If you have any questions about this disclaimer, please contact Sarah Etier at sarah.etier@forme-mktg.com.  

Copyright 2025 © D2 Integrity