More than 500 attend CTW!

Corrosion Technology Week (CTW), the annual "work week" sponsored by the Technical Coordination Committee (TCC) of NACE International, attracted 520 registrants, the largest number in almost 10 years. The purpose of CTW is to provide a series of technical committee meetings focusing on various methods of identifying, preventing, and combating corrosion problems in many industries. It is through the activities at CTW that NACE?s wealth of corrosion knowledge and expertise is established and nurtured.

This year's meeting was kicked off by a welcome address by Neil McCrank, Chair of Alberta?s Energy and Utilities Board, which is responsible for regulating pipelines, utilities, and other energy resources. Mr. McCrank's presentation was timely, succinct, and described how corrosion failures on Alberta's pipelines have been significantly reduced in the last few years. Thanks to the NACE Calgary Section for arranging for Mr. McCrank's appearance.

Following the opening address, attendees enjoyed a buffet reception sponsored by CC Technologies, Dublin, Ohio, greeting old friends and colleagues and meeting new ones, including Tabletop Exhibitors at CTW.

Because CTW is a smaller gathering and there are fewer activities than at Annual Conference, it provides a less hurried atmosphere for committee work and networking. The "movers and shakers" of technical committee activities, which provide the backbone for many NACE activities (including symposia at Annual Conference), are there, and it is easy to meet and talk with them.

For the second year in a row, joint meetings between NACE Specific Technology Group (STG) 34 on Petroleum Refining and Gas Processing and the API Subcommittee on Corrosion and Materials were held. The joint and separate meetings of NACE and API task groups and administrative committees were planned to reduce time and travel for many people who are members of both groups.

TEG 205X (formerly Group Committee T-8) held its twice-yearly refining technical information exchange (TIE) in which attendees discuss problems and solutions connected to their work in the refining industry. The minutes of these information exchanges, held since 1957, are documented in REFIN*COR 7.0 software, available from NACE.

A number of Task Groups working on pipeline integrity standards, and Technology Exchange Groups (TEGs) discussing pipeline integrity issues, had overflow crowds eager to learn the latest information to aid them and their companies in complying with recent pipeline safety legislation. NACE committees are working on proposed standards on internal corrosion direct assessment (ICDA) for both dry gas and wet gas systems, ICDA for liquid petroleum pipelines, close-interval surveys, and control of internal corrosion on product pipelines, to name a few.

A Rap & Rye on "Salt Contamination, Allowable Limits and Their Effects on Coating Performance" sponsored by coating manufacturers participating on NACE technical committees on Tuesday evening generated a lively discussion.

A number of technical committees on coatings for both pipelines and railcars also met to work on standards and reports and discuss new developments.

Next year's Corrosion Technology Week will take place in Orlando, Florida, September 10-14. Watch for information on this event, and contact Ann Miller at ann.miller@nace.org if you would like to be a sponsor or tabletop exhibitor.