Pipeline Integrity Management: An Approach to Geotechnical Risks

Author(s):  
Hudson Re´gis Oliveira

Linear works, such as highways, power lines, gas and oil pipelines among others, as well as other types of engineering works can be threaten by natural hazards, such as landslides, floods, erosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, seaquakes and others, which may lead to great environmental impacts, very high sum of money lost and even deaths. Aiming to reduce geological and geotechnical risks, preventive or corrective actions can be executed from the design phase to the operational and maintenance stages in pipelines. In the last phase, an integrity management plan can be adopted to mitigate residual risks not covered on the design and construction phases. One of the alternatives to implement a gas pipeline integrity management is found in the code “Managing System Integrity of Gas Pipelines” – ASME B31.8S (2005). However, this code has some limitations in actions concerning to prevention, identification and correction of geological and geotechnical problems. This paper presents information about geotechnical risks in transmission pipelines and tools applied in identification, prevention and correction of geotechnical problems in pipelines, as well as, others that can potentially be applied in pipelines. A basic pipeline integrity management plan focused on geotechnical risks is proposed in the paper, transcribed as a contribution to ASME B31.8S Code. This plan is composed by actions: from identification, prevention, evaluation and analysis to correction of geotechnical instabilities in pipelines. It is composed by a flowchart with all actions selected for the geotechnical risk care. The plan was developed based on directions set in ASME B31.8S Code, including Brazilian, Italian and Canadian experiences.

Author(s):  
Hudson Régis Oliveira

Linear works, such as highways, power lines, gas and oil pipelines among others, as well as other types of engineering works can be threaten by natural hazards, such as landslides, floods, erosions, earthquakes, hurricanes, seaquakes and others, which could lead to great environmental impacts, very high sum of money lost and even deaths. Aiming to reduce geological and geotechnical risks, preventive or corrective actions can be executed from the design phase to the operational and maintenance stages in pipelines. In this last phase, an integrity management plan of these facilities can be adopted, with the purpose of mitigating residual risks that had not been covered on the design and construction phases. One of the alternatives to implement an integrity management of gas pipelines is found in the code “Managing System Integrity of Gas Pipelines” – ASME B31.8S (2005). However, this code has some limitations in actions concerning to prevention, identification and correction of geological and geotechnical problems. This paper presents information about geotechnical risks in transmission pipelines and tools applied in identification, prevention and correction of geotechnical problems in pipelines, as well as, others with potential to be applied in pipelines. A basic pipeline integrity management plan focused in geotechnical risks is proposed in the paper, transcribed as a contribution to ASME B31.8S Code. This plan is composed by actions: from identification, prevention, evaluation and analysis to correction of geotechnical instabilities in pipelines. The plan is composed by a flowchart with all actions selected for the geotechnical risk care. The plan was developed based on directions set in ASME B31.8S Code, together with Brazilian, Italian and Canadian experiences.


Author(s):  
Karine Kutrowski ◽  
Rob Bos ◽  
Jean-Re´gis Piccardino ◽  
Marie Pajot

On January 4th 2007 TIGF published the following invitation for tenders: “Development and Provision of a Pipeline Integrity Management System”. The project was awarded to Bureau Veritas (BV), who proposed to meet the requirements of TIGF with the Threats and Mitigations module of the PiMSlider® suite extended with some customized components. The key features of the PiMSlider® suite are: • More than only IT: a real integrity philosophy, • A simple intuitive tool to store, display and update pipeline data, • Intelligent search utilities to locate specific information about the pipeline and its surrounding, • A scalable application, with a potentially unlimited number of users, • Supervision (during and after implementation) by experienced people from the oil and gas industry. This paper first introduces TIGF and the consortium BV – ATP. It explains in a few words the PIMS philosophy captured in the PiMSlider® suite and focuses on the added value of the pipeline Threats and Mitigations module. Using this module allows the integrity analyst to: • Prioritize pipeline segments for integrity surveillance purposes, • Determine most effective corrective actions, • Assess the benefits of corrective actions by means of what-if scenarios, • Produce a qualitative threats assessment for further use in the integrity management plan, • Optimize integrity aspects from a design, maintenance and operational point of view, • Investigate the influence of different design criteria for pipeline segments. To conclude, TIGF presents the benefits of the tool for their Integrity Management department and for planning inspection and for better knowledge of their gas transmission grid.


Author(s):  
Alex J. Baumgard ◽  
Tara L. Coultish ◽  
Gerry W. Ferris

Over the last 15 years, BGC Engineering Inc. has developed and implemented a geohazards Integrity Management Program (IMP) with 12 major pipeline operators (consisting of gas and oil pipelines and of both gathering and transmission systems). Over this time, the program has been applied to the assessment of approximately 13,500 individual hydrotechnical and geotechnical geohazard sites spanning approximately 63,000 km of operating pipelines in Canada and the USA. Hydrotechnical (watercourse) and geotechnical (slope) hazards are the primary types of geohazards that have directly contributed to pipeline failures in Canada. As with all IMPs, the core objectives of a geohazard management system are to ensure a proactive approach that is repeatable and defensible. In order to meet these objectives, the program allows for varying levels of intensity of inspection and a recommended timescale for completion of actions to manage the identified geohazards in accordance with the degree of hazard that the site poses to the pipeline. In this way, the sites are managed in a proactive manner while remaining flexible to accommodate the most current conditions at each site. This paper will provide a background to the key components of the program related specifically to existing operating pipeline systems, present pertinent statistics on the occurrence of various types of geohazards based on the large dataset of inspections, and discuss some of the lessons learned in the form of program results and program challenges from implementing a geohazard integrity management system for a dozen operators with different ages of systems, complexity of pipeline networks, and in varied geographic settings.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Puras Trueba ◽  
Jonathan Fernández ◽  
Carlos A. Garrido-Mendoza ◽  
Alessandro La Grotta ◽  
Jon Basurko ◽  
...  

Abstract Efficient operation of mooring systems is of paramount importance to reduce floating offshore wind (FOW) energy costs. MooringSense is an R&D project which explores digitization to enable the implementation of more efficient integrity management strategies (IMS) for FOW mooring systems. In this work, the MooringSense concept is presented. It includes the development of several enablers such as a mooring system digital twin, a smart motion sensor, a structural health monitoring (SHM) system and control strategies at the individual turbine and farm levels. The core of the digital twin (DT) is a high-fidelity fully coupled numerical model which integrates simulation tools to allow predictive operation and maintenance (O&M). Relevant parameters of the coupled model are updated as physical properties evolve due to damages or degradation. The DT assimilates information coming from the physical asset and environmental sensors. Besides, a smart motion sensor provides feedback of the attitude, position, and velocity of the floater to allow the computation of virtual loads in the mooring lines, the detection of damages by the SHM system and the implementation of closed-loop control strategies. Finally, the IMS takes advantage of the mooring system updated condition information to optimize O&M, reduce costs and increase energy production.


2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ajith Kumar Thankappan ◽  
M. Fazli B. M. Yusof

This paper highlights the key differences in practices employed in managing hull structure integrity of permanently moored floating offshore structures as against sailing vessels which are subject to periodic dry docking. During the design phase, the structural integrity management over the life of a sailing vessel is primarily taken into account by means of Class prescribed Nominal Design Corrosion Values which are added to minimum scantling requirements calculated based on strength and fatigue criteria. In contrast, for permanently moored offshore installations like FPSOs, FSOs etc. the hull structure integrity over the entire design life of the asset is a key design consideration both for new buildings and conversions. Analytic methods and tools (primarily those developed by Class Societies) are available to evaluate the strength requirements (based on yielding, buckling and ultimate strength criteria) and fatigue life of the hull structure. Typically three levels of analysis with increasing degree of complexity and analysis time are used to predict the structural response and fatigue life of the Hull during design phase. The degree of detailed analysis required needs to be determined in light of the expected optimization in terms of savings in scantlings for new building or for steel renewal requirements in case of conversions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 04040
Author(s):  
Hongtao Wang ◽  
Fajie Yang ◽  
Rongguang Li

China energy pipeline industry commonly faced with aging and abandonment problem. The research on pipeline abandonment was still in preliminary state, because there are no pipeline abandonment standards and guidelines. The foreign developed countries formulated pipeline abandonment standards, advanced experience and technology of residual cleaning and the crossing section grouting. But it not totally suitable for china because of difference between china and foreign country, such as the pipeline residual has a very high paraffin and resin-asphaltenes content. It is very hard to remove. So china pipeline company faced with many environmental issues and challenges in the pipeline abandonment. Study on abandonment of pipeline was conducted by pipeline company of Petrochina from 2013. A case of Petrochina abandonment pipeline was introduced in the paper, and it showed good effect. Some experience and technology of chemical cleaning were formulated from previous study and several pipeline abandonment projects. The first China industry standard on abandoned pipeline is applying for by pipeline company of Petrochina. This standard will assist pipeline company make pipeline abandonment plan to ensure public safety and environment protection.


2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW R. JENKINS ◽  
KOOS H. DE GOEDE ◽  
LOVELATER SEBELE ◽  
MEGAN DIAMOND

SummaryIn the Karoo region of South Africa, eagles nesting on high voltage power pylons are responsible for frequent short-circuits or faults, which reduce the quality of commercial power supply and escalate costs to the country’s energy supplier, Eskom. Between 2002 and 2006 we conducted annual helicopter surveys of eagle nests on 1,400 km of power line and located 139 large nest structures, making up 96 eagle territories occupied by three species: Martial EaglePolemaetus bellicosus(66 pairs), Verreaux’s EagleAquila verreauxii(13 pairs) and Tawny EagleAquila rapax(17 pairs), and detailed 357 pair-years of breeding activity, including 241 breeding attempts. Roost sites and active nests were associated with line faulting, and more so at particular pylon configurations. We developed a three-step management plan to reduce eagle-related faulting while still accommodating eagles on the power lines: (i) all (potentially) problematic nests were relocated from high-risk positions above the power conductors, to specially provided platforms placed below the conductors; (ii) perch deterrents were installed above the conductors on all nest pylons and on high-risk pylons up to 10 structures on both sides of each nest tower; and (iii) the welfare of the eagles was monitored before and after management. In this way, line faulting was reduced on actively managed lines by > 75%, with no obvious deleterious effects on the eagle population. The study revealed that: (i) power lines can support substantial breeding populations of threatened large raptors, (ii) these birds can be a source of commercially significant line faulting, and (iii) nest relocations and perch deterrents are effective in reducing faulting without negatively impacting eagle populations.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Kitson ◽  
D. Ramsay ◽  
D. Kemp ◽  
Y. Moslehy ◽  
R. Sheppard

Author(s):  
David J. Warman ◽  
Dennis Johnston ◽  
John D. Mackenzie ◽  
Steve Rapp ◽  
Bob Travers

This paper describes an approach used by Duke Energy Gas Transmission (DEGT) to manage dents and mechanical damage as part of its overall Integrity Management Plan (IMP). The approach provides guidance in the process for evaluating deformation anomalies that are detected by high resolution magnetic flux leakage (HR-MFL) and multi-channel geometry in-line inspection tools, the process to determine which deformations will be selected for excavation, the process to conduct pipeline field excavations, assessments, and repairs for pipeline integrity purposes. This approach was developed, tested and fully implemented during pipeline integrity work over a two year program involving over 1,100 miles of HR-MFL and 900 miles of geometry in-line inspection. Integration of data from high resolution ILI tools (HR-MFL and multi-channel deformation tools) was used to identify and characterize dents and mechanical damage in the pipeline system. From subsequent field assessments and correlation with ILI results, the processes were refined and field procedures developed. The new guidance provided in the 2003 edition of ASME B31.8 was used as the governing assessment criteria.


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