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This month sees registration open for our next Fundamentals of Gas Processing webinar, “Flow Assurance”, alongside the latest updates from across GPA Europe.

Flow assurance sits at the intersection of process engineering and operational reliability. As pipeline networks increasingly carry more complex streams - hydrogen blends, CO₂-rich mixtures, and multiphase hydrocarbons - alongside conventional natural gas, keeping fluids moving safely and efficiently is becoming ever more technically demanding. This month's webinar explores exactly these challenges, from traditional hydrocarbon pipelines through to the emerging requirements of hydrogen and CO₂ transport: a timely reminder of how the fundamentals of our industry are evolving to meet the energy transition.

Read on for full details of the September webinar, an update on the GPAE Technical Meeting & AGM, this month's Paper of the Month, and more.

Looking Ahead: GPAE Events in 2026

Full details and registration information can be found here: gpaeurope.com/events/

GPAE Webinar Series - Registration Now Open

Fundamentals of Gas Processing: “Flow Assurance”

Thursday 24 September 2026  |  11:30–13:00 BST (12:30–14:00 CET)  |  MS Teams  |  FREE to attend

Our Fundamentals of Gas Processing webinar series continues with its second session, exploring the operational challenges and technologies involved in maintaining safe and efficient hydrocarbon, hydrogen, and CO₂ transport, including fluid behaviour, hydrate management, pipeline integrity, and operational flow assurance strategies.

The programme features three presentations:

• Flow Assurance in Natural Gas Pipelines - Martin Watson, Wood Group
• Flow Assurance in H₂ Pipelines - Craig McKay, Wood Group
• Flow Assurance in CO₂ Pipelines - Paul McDermott, Kent Energies

Register Now

Save the Date

GPAE Technical Meeting & AGM 2026

19 November 2026  |  London, UK  |  Theme: Unconventional Processes

A one-day event in London alongside our AGM, featuring high-quality technical presentations throughout the day, our Annual General Meeting following the lunch break, and a Networking Drinks Reception from 4pm. A virtual option is available for the AGM only.

Registration will open September 2026 - details to follow…

Save the Date: 2027

Looking further ahead, here's what's on the GPAE calendar for 2027:

• 22 April 2027 - GPAE April Webinar (Fundamentals of Gas Processing) | MS Teams
• 1 June 2027 - GPAE Young Professional Training Day | Cologne Marriott Hotel, Cologne, Germany
• 2-4 June 2027 - GPAE Annual Conference | Cologne Marriott Hotel, Cologne, Germany
• 23 September 2027 - GPAE September Webinar (Fundamentals of Gas Processing) | MS Teams

Full details and registration information will be available at: gpaeurope.com/events

GPAE is Seeking a Vice Chairperson

Samantha is due to step down as GPAE Chairperson, having served for two years. Paul Hopkinson, our current Deputy Chairperson, will be stepping into the Chairperson role at this year’s AGM.

We are therefore seeking volunteers to fill our Vice Chairperson role. If you are interested, please submit your name to [email protected] by 01 November 2026.

Get Involved

If you would like to:

• Present at a GPAE event
• Sponsor or exhibit an event
• Contribute to In Brief
• Support our Young Professional initiatives

We would love to hear from you.

For all enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

Have You Listed Yourself in Our Members Directory?

GPAE has a Members Directory on our website where members can appear if they opt in via their account - making it easy for other members and industry contacts to find and get in touch with you. View the Members Directory

To be listed, go to My Account > Members Profile and check “List profile in Members Directory,” and make sure your details are kept up to date.

New Edition of In Brief Available

If you have an article, technical insight, or news to share - or would like to sponsor an In Brief publication - please contact [email protected]

Our Spring/Summer 2026 issue of In Brief is available now - click here to explore. In this issue, we explore how high-integrity CO₂ measurement systems are helping unlock the full potential of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). Our cover story examines how Carbon Centric and Bohr Limited are enabling the “U” in CCUS through advanced CO₂ quality assurance, supporting the development of commercially viable circular carbon economies. Elsewhere, GPA Europe reflects on the growing importance of attracting and developing the next generation of engineering talent, as Chairperson Samantha Nicholson highlights Europe's widening STEM skills gap and the vital role young professionals will play in the future of gas processing. We also share highlights from the GPAE Technical Conference 2025, covering carbon capture, hydrogen, LNG innovation, debottlenecking, and net zero strategies. The lead article, “Enabling the ‘U’ in CCUS Through CO₂mplete Measurement,” is authored by Andrew Alcock and Nishadi Perera of Bohr Limited, alongside Raymond Forbord of Carbon Centric.

Get Involved

Paper of the Month

This month we are looking back at the most-viewed Past Paper from last month's Library activity, presented by Saipem.

“Designing the Blowdown Systems in CO₂ Handling Facilities to Efficiently Manage Overpressure Protection, Depressurization Requirements and Solids Formation”

As the natural gas industry accelerates its decarbonisation efforts, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) facilities are becoming essential - whether integrated into existing plants or built as stand-alone hubs. Getting the venting and blowdown systems right is critical to their safe operation.

CO₂-rich streams pose distinctive design challenges: their high saturation water content affects hydrate formation, and their critical point sits close to typical operating conditions, raising the risk of dry ice formation during depressurisation. Conventional venting solutions such as ignited flares are often impractical for these streams, making reliable prediction of these phenomena essential to safe design.

Drawing on Saipem's experience delivering multiple CCUS projects as EPC contractor, this paper presents a thorough analysis of the process design considerations for overpressure protection and depressurisation in CO₂ handling facilities - covering asset integrity scenarios, solids management, and the design of dedicated blowdown systems.

Download the Paper

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