The Louisiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will help train energy industry officials from Russia and several central Asian countries on pipeline safety.

Executives of eighteen oil, pipeline and engineering companies will attend a pipeline safety seminar in New Orleans sponsored by DNR, the Louisiana Gas Association and the federal Office of Pipeline Safety on July 31 at the Royal Sonesta Hotel.

The executives – from Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Russia – are in the United States for a four-week training session run by the Special American Business Training Internship Training, a program of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

This four-week program takes participants across the U.S. and is designed to give them a comprehensive understanding of this nation’s oil transportation infrastructure.

“Thanks in part to our regulatory efforts, Louisiana has an excellent track record in pipeline safety,” said Brent Campbell, DNR Pipeline Division Director.

“The Commerce Department training program coincided with our safety seminar and the agency decided to invite the participants to attend,” Campbell said.

“This is the perfect opportunity to share Louisiana’s knowledge and expertise with our international colleagues,” Campbell said.

The participants will take part in seminars on pipeline design and construction, pressure testing, corrosion control and operations and maintenance.