Enhanced Pipeline Integrity at Lower Cost: A Pipeline Integrity Prioritization Model

Author(s):  
Ron S. Burdylo ◽  
Audrey L. L. Van Aelst

Strategic, focussed application of pipeline integrity monitoring and mitigation techniques will significantly improve pipeline integrity program effectiveness while reducing overall maintenance costs. These achievements have been demonstrated through the development of Maintenance Prioritization Models (MPM) that pinpoint areas along the pipeline with the highest susceptibility to failure and identify the most cost effective mitigation strategy. A MPM identifies areas along the pipeline that exhibit a higher relative susceptibility to failure and consequence in the event of a pipeline rupture. Used as part of the owner’s pipeline integrity management program, it assists with optimization, planning and focusing of integrity related preventative maintenance activities. Areas that require short-term mitigation are identified and maintenance budgeting and planning can be prioritized while long-term planning needs are forecast. It enables integrity engineers to manage resources more efficiently by focusing on areas of highest need, thereby extending the useful life of the pipeline section that will, in turn, extend its revenue generation capabilities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahiro Kinoshita ◽  
Kensuke Moriwaki ◽  
Nao Hanaki ◽  
Tetsuhisa Kitamura ◽  
Kazuma Yamakawa ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hybrid emergency room (ER) systems, consisting of an angiography-computed tomography (CT) machine in a trauma resuscitation room, are reported to be effective for reducing death from exsanguination in trauma patients. We aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of a hybrid ER system in severe trauma patients without severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods We conducted a cost-utility analysis comparing the hybrid ER system to the conventional ER system from the perspective of the third-party healthcare payer in Japan. A short-term decision tree and a long-term Markov model using a lifetime time horizon were constructed to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and associated lifetime healthcare costs. Short-term mortality and healthcare costs were derived from medical records and claims data in a tertiary care hospital with a hybrid ER. Long-term mortality and utilities were extrapolated from the literature. The willingness-to-pay threshold was set at $47,619 per QALY gained and the discount rate was 2%. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results The hybrid ER system was associated with a gain of 1.03 QALYs and an increment of $33,591 lifetime costs compared to the conventional ER system, resulting in an ICER of $32,522 per QALY gained. The ICER was lower than the willingness-to-pay threshold if the odds ratio of 28-day mortality was < 0.66. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicated that the hybrid ER system was cost-effective with a 79.3% probability. Conclusion The present study suggested that the hybrid ER system is a likely cost-effective strategy for treating severe trauma patients without severe TBI.



Obesity Facts ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 487-498
Author(s):  
Ewa Bandurska ◽  
Michał Brzeziński ◽  
Paulina Metelska ◽  
Marzena Zarzeczna-Baran

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Obesity and overweight, including childhood obesity and overweight, pose a public health challenge worldwide. According to the available research findings, long-term interventions focusing on dietary behavior, physical activity, and psychological support are the most effective in reducing obesity in children aged 6–18 years. There are limited studies showing the financial effectiveness of such interventions. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The objective of the present study was to evaluate cost-effectiveness of the 6-10-14 for Health weight management program using pharmacoeconomic indicators, i.e., cost-effectiveness analysis using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We used anthropometric data of 3,081 children included in a 1-year-long intervention with a full financial cost assessment. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The cost of removing a child from the overweight group (BMI &#x3e;85th percentile) was PLN 27,758 (EUR 6,463), and the cost of removing a child from the obese group (BMI &#x3e;95th percentile) was slightly lower, i.e., PLN 23,601 (EUR 5,495). Given the obesity-related medical costs calculated in the life-long perspective, these results can be considered encouraging. At the same time, when comparing the total costs per participant with the costs of other interventions, it can be noted that they are similar to the costs of school programs containing more than 1 type of intervention. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> The 6-10-14 for Health program can be considered cost-effective. As a result of committing financial resources in the approximate amount of EUR 1,790 per child, around half of the children participating in the program have improved their weight indicators.



Author(s):  
Reshmi Morris ◽  
Ronald Feinstein ◽  
Martin Fisher

Abstract Due to the growth of the epidemic of obesity and the association of obesity with both short-term and long-term medical complications, many professional organizations have recommended performing laboratory testing as part of the initial evaluation of overweight and obese children and adolescents. We report on the results of laboratory testing performed on 110 patients (mean age 14.0 years, range 8–20 years) referred to our weight management program between 2011 and 2013. Our results showed mild abnormalities in levels of cholesterol, glucose, liver enzymes, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in fewer than 5% of patients for each test and no changes in management based on these results for any of the patients. We call for re-consideration of the recommendations for laboratory testing in children and adolescents being evaluated and treated for overweight and obesity.



2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shixi Tang ◽  
Jinan Gu ◽  
Keming Tang ◽  
Rong Zou ◽  
Xiaohong Sun ◽  
...  

The goal of this work is to improve the generalization of remaining useful life (RUL) prognostics for wheel hub bearings. The traditional life prognostics methods assume that the data used in RUL prognostics is composed of one specific fatigue damage type, the data used in RUL prognostics is accurate, and the RUL prognostics are conducted in the short term. Due to which, a generalizing RUL prognostics method is designed based on fault signal data. Firstly, the fault signal model is designed with the signal in a complex and mutative environment. Then, the generalizing RUL prognostics method is designed based on the fault signal model. Lastly, the simplified solution of the generalizing RUL prognostics method is deduced. The experimental results show that the proposed method gained good accuracies for RUL prognostics for all the amplitude, energy, and kurtosis features with fatigue damage types. The proposed method can process inaccurate fault signals with different kinds of noise in the actual working environment, and it can be conducted in the long term. Therefore, the RUL prognostics method has a good generalization.



Author(s):  
Len LeBlanc ◽  
Walter Kresic ◽  
Sean Keane ◽  
John Munro

This paper describes the integrity management framework utilized within the Enbridge Liquids Pipelines Integrity Management Program. The role of the framework is to provide the high-level structure used by the company to prepare and demonstrate integrity safety decisions relative to mainline pipelines, and facility piping segments where applicable. The scope is directed to corrosion, cracking, and deformation threats and all variants within those broad categories. The basis for the framework centers on the use of a safety case to provide evidence that the risks affecting the system have been effectively mitigated. A ‘safety case’, for the purposes of this methodology is defined as a structured argument demonstrating that the evidence is sufficient to show that the system is safe.[1] The decision model brings together the aspects of data integration and determination of maintenance timing; execution of prevention, monitoring, and mitigation; confirmation that the execution has met reliability targets; application of additional steps if targets are not met; and then the collation of the results into an engineering assessment of the program effectiveness (safety case). Once the program is complete, continuous improvement is built into the next program through the incorporation of research and development solutions, lessons learned, and improvements to processes. On the basis of a wide range of experiences, investigations and research, it was concluded that there are combinations of monitoring and mitigation methods required in an integrity program to effectively manage integrity threats. A safety case approach ultimately provides the structure for measuring the effectiveness of integrity monitoring and mitigation efforts, and the methodology to assess whether a pipeline is sufficiently safe with targets for continuous improvement. Hence, the need for the safety case is to provide transparent, quantitative integrity program performance results which are continually improved upon through ongoing revalidations and improvement to the methods utilized. This enables risk reduction, better stakeholder awareness, focused innovation, opportunities for industry information sharing along with other benefits.



1991 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Mutze

Warren ripping and poisoning were used to control rabbits on the flood-out plain of a major creek system on Manunda Station, a sheep-grazing property near Yunta in semi-arid South Australia. Rabbit numbers were initially reduced by >99 per cent, as indicated by the number of active entrances remaining in rabbit warrens. After nearly 10 years without follow-up control work, ripped warrens had only two per cent of the pre-control number of active entrances. Poisoning effectively reduced rabbit numbers in the short-term, but had no long-term effect on the number of active entrances, either in ripped or unripped warrens. Perennial shrubs regenerated on and around ripped warrens. Warren ripping on this part of Manunda is a cost-effective management option.



Author(s):  
Filipe Lage de Sousa ◽  
Mauricio Canêdo-Pinheiro ◽  
Bernardo Pereira Cabral ◽  
Glaucia Estefânia de Sousa Ferreira

One of the key drivers for a firm's productivity growth is management. One lean management practice considered cost-effective is Kaizen. Originally from Japan, the Kaizen basic concept is continuous improvement with the involvement of the full workforce. Using a firm-level dataset from Brazil's innovation and manufacturing surveys, this paper evaluates quantitatively whether Kaizen has impacted the performance of domestic firms. Our initial results suggest a productivity premium on Kaizen adopters, yet when it materializes is not detectable in the short term. Moreover, the impact on innovation is observable after Kaizen implementation. Understanding these outcomes with a qualitative approach, our analysis highlights the importance of Kaizen on innovation, especially by improving worker's time at the production line as well as the long-term vision of Kaizen on productivity. In summary, Kaizen is not a magic wand that improves firms’ performance in a wide array of indicators yet it may boost innovation outcomes in the short term aiming to improve productivity in the long term if it is implemented carefully and persistently, as established by its basic principles.



2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 1915-1919
Author(s):  
Ipniansyah Ipniansyah ◽  
Verra Aullia ◽  
Toyib Toyib

This Community Partnership Service Program (PKM) aims to provide science and technology solutions that are offered to community business groups in the Rapak Dalam Village, Loa Janan Ilir District, Samarinda City, East Kalimantan Province, namely in the form of Introduction to PLTS Roofing, Planning and Utilization of Rooftop PLTS. The method used in this PKM activity is socialization and assistance to the community. The results of achieving the targets include knowledge, understanding, and application of On Gid JTR - Rooftop PLTS, household community participation in preventing global warming, energy mix target of 23% by 2025; obtain the benefits of cost-effective PLN electricity (cheap electricity), meet human and environmental safety requirements, meet standards. The short-term category ranges from 60% to 70%, and the long-term category ranges from 90% to 99%. Components of PKM Activities and Variables Criteria for PKM Partners Business Groups as Household Consumers Using PLN Electricity and as PKM Business Groups Utilizing PLTS Roofs have been in accordance with the application of science and technology and meet applicable standards and regulations, where the qualitative level gains ranged from moderate to good, while the quantitative level is 70% to 90%.



2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 656-682 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol N. D’Onofrio ◽  
Joel M. Moskowitz ◽  
Marc T. Braverman

This article reports the development and evaluation of Project 4-Health, a theory-driven, research-based program to prevent tobacco use among youth enrolled in 4-H clubs throughout California. Additional goals were to involve youth in discouraging others’tobacco use and to develop youth leadership for tobacco control. To assess program effectiveness, 72 clubs were matched and randomly assigned to the program or control condition. Of 1,853 eligible club members, 88.6% completed the pretest. Of these, 79.5% completed a posttest 4 months after conclusion of program delivery, and 77.6% completed a second posttest 2 years later. Short-term effects were found on 7 of 24 outcome measures, indicating changes in knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intention, but not in social influence variables or behaviors. No long-term effects were observed. Discussion considers how the challenges of designing, delivering, and evaluating the intervention influenced results and implications for preventing tobacco use through community-based youth groups.



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