Building a Target Reliability Adaptive to China Onshore Natural Gas Pipeline

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jinyuan Zhang ◽  
Zhenyong Zhang ◽  
Zhifeng Yu ◽  
Wen Wu ◽  
Yingshuai Chen
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Limit State ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Ultimate Limit State ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Average Population Density ◽  
Average Population

To introduce and apply Reliability-Based Design and Assessment (RBDA) method to China’s onshore natural gas pipelines, China Petroleum Pipeline Engineering Corporation (CPPE) undertook a research project based on achievements from a series of researches sponsored by PRCI. RBDA method aims to maintain a consistent risk level throughout the lifecycle of pipelines by rational designs, professional operations and scientific maintenance. The basis of RBDA method is a set of risk-based reliability targets for pipelines, especially the target value of Ultimate Limit State (ULS). CPPE has developed a database for 37,000km natural gas pipelines in China and defined 148 operating conditions corresponding to various pressures, pipeline diameters, steel grades and pipeline lengths in different location classes. Failure calculation models are modified according to the corrosion and equipment impact under each specified operating condition. While calculating the failure consequences, 20,000 kilometers pipes from different locations classes were selected and statistics of average population density was made. Statistics of failure consequences were made again. Finally, the overall risk level of built natural gas pipelines was calculated. This paper introduces 148 operating conditions, failure probabilities, calculation method regarding failure consequences and average population density of all locations of different classes. Based on target reliability of pipelines set on country level, design and construction plan for newly-built pipelines are optimized by using RBDA method for rationally guiding subsequent operation and maintenance to reach the most optimal and cost-efficient plan in whole lifecycle of pipelines.

A Population Density Based Location Category System for Onshore Natural Gas Pipelines

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenxing Zhou ◽  
Maher Nessim ◽  
Joe Zhou ◽  
Brian Rothwell
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Class System ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Category System ◽  
Location Class ◽  
Structure Count ◽  
New System

The location class system used in current North American pipeline standards (ASME B31.8 and CSA Z662) is based on structure count included in a specified assessment area. Because the number of people occupying different structures can vary significantly, the population density can also vary significantly for the same location class. Given that the risk (in terms of human safety) imposed by onshore natural gas pipelines is directly proportional to the population density, the current location class system leads to a large variation in the risk level for pipelines with the same class. To achieve more risk consistent designs, a new location category system is proposed in this paper using actual population density data collected from over 19,000 km of gas pipelines in North America. The boundaries between different categories in the proposed system are directly based on population density rather than structure count. One of the key features of the new system is that it uses a separate category for pipelines in unpopulated areas, which are a significant majority of the pipelines included in the study. The implications of the new system are discussed by comparing the lengths of pipelines falling into each category with the lengths of pipelines falling into each location class for all the pipeline data analyzed.

An Upheaval Buckling Limit State Function for Onshore Natural Gas Pipelines

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Matheson ◽  
Wenxing Zhou ◽  
Joe Zhou ◽  
Rick Gailing
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Limit State ◽  
State Function ◽  
Operating Pressure ◽  
Limit State Function ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Upheaval Buckling ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Axial Forces

The reliability-based design and assessment (RBDA) methodology has gained increasing acceptance in the pipeline industry, largely due to a multi-year PRCI program aimed at establishing RBDA as a viable alternative for the design and assessment of onshore natural gas pipelines. A key limit state of buried pipelines that operate at elevated temperatures is upheaval buckling. The elevated temperatures generate large compressive axial forces that can cause Euler buckling susceptibility. The tendency to buckle is increased at vertical imperfections (i.e. a series of cold formed bends) that primarily occur due to topography. Upheaval buckling in itself is not an ultimate limit state but can lead to high strains, local buckling, high cycle fatigue, expensive remediation measures, and even loss of pressure integrity. The critical forces at which upheaval buckling occurs for typical hill-crest type imperfections present in onshore pipelines cannot be readily predicted using analytical methods. A parametric study is therefore undertaken using non-linear finite element analyses to generate a matrix of upheaval buckling responses. The critical force for the onset of upheaval buckling is then developed using a series of empirical relationships to capture the influences of all key parameters. An upheaval buckling limit state function is subsequently developed by comparing the critical buckling force with applied compressive force, which is a function of operating pressure and temperature differential between the operating and tie-in conditions. The limit state function can be readily implemented in a reliability analysis framework to calculate the pipeline failure probability due to upheaval buckling.

Steady State Performance Simulation of Natural Gas Pipeline Driven by Compressor Stations

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Suleiman ◽  
Y. G. Li
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Simulation Approach ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Performance Simulation ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipeline ◽  
Pumping Stations

Natural gas pipeline plays an important role in transporting natural gas over a long distance. Its performance and operating behavior are affected by many factors, such as ambient conditions, natural gas flow rate, operation and control of compressor pumping stations, etc. Better understanding of the performance and behavior of an integrated pipeline-compressor system used for gas transmission will be beneficial to both design and operation of natural gas pipelines. This paper introduces a novel steady-state thermodynamic performance simulation approach for natural gas pipelines based on fundamental thermodynamics with the inclusion of the coupling between a pipeline and compressor pumping stations. A pipeline resistance model, a compressor performance model characterized by an empirical compressor map and a pipeline control schedule for the operation of an integrated pipeline-compressor system are included in the simulation approach. The novel approach presented in this paper allows the analysis of the thermodynamic coupling between compressors and pipes and the off-design performance analysis of the integrated pipeline-compressor system. The introduced simulation approach has been applied to the performance simulation of a typical model pipeline driven by multiple centrifugal compressor pumping stations. It is assumed in the pipeline control schedule that the total pressure at the inlet of compressor stations is kept constant when pipeline operating condition changes. Such pipeline operating conditions include varying ambient temperature and varying natural gas volumetric flow rate. The performance behavior of the pipeline corresponding to the change of operating conditions has been successfully simulated. The introduced pipeline performance simulation approach is generic and can be applied to different pipeline-compressor systems.

Assessing Hydrate Formation in Natural Gas Pipelines Under Transient Operation / Ocena zjawiska tworzenia się hydratów w warunkach nieustalonego przepływu gazu w gazociągach

2013 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144
Author(s):  
Andrzej Osiadacz
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Gas Flow ◽  
Hydrate Formation ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Hydrate Phase ◽  
Real Gas Effects ◽  
Classical Thermodynamics

This work presents a transient, non-isothermal compressible gas flow model that is combined with a hydrate phase equilibrium model. It enables, to determine whether hydrates could form under existing operating conditions in natural gas pipelines. In particular, to determine the time and location at which the natural gas enters the hydrate formation region. The gas flow is described by a set of partial differential equations resulting from the conservation of mass, momentum, and energy. Real gas effects are determined by the predictive Soave-Redlich-Kwong group contribution method. By means of statistical mechanics, the hydrate model is formulated combined with classical thermodynamics of phase equilibria for systems that contain water and both hydrate forming and non-hydrate forming gases as function of pressure, temperature, and gas composition. To demonstrate the applicability a case study is conducted.

Analysis of Two-Phase Stratified Flow and Liquid Hold Up at Dead Ends of T-Sectioned Natural Gas Pipelines

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaushik Das ◽  
Debashis Basu ◽  
Xihua He ◽  
Stuart Stothoff ◽  
Kevin Supak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Gas ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Liquid Water ◽  
Liquid Velocity ◽  
Analytical Data ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Gas Pipelines ◽  
Internal Corrosion ◽  
Natural Gas Pipelines ◽  
Superficial Liquid Velocity

T-sectioned configurations with a deadleg at the stopple are present in natural gas pipelines, where liquid water may accumulate, increasing the potential for internal corrosion. The objectives of the present study are to explore the pipeline operating conditions under which water enters the deadleg and define an operating protocol to prevent water accumulation in deadlegs. A combined computational fluid dynamics (CFD) experimental and analytical study was conducted to understand the behavior of liquid slugs at the T-junctions with dead ends. The flow equations were solved as an unsteady multiphase (gas and water) incompressible flow problem using the Volume of Fluid (VoF) Method. The analytical calculations were based on a modified form of the macroscopic mechanical energy balance equation. In order to computationally simulate the critical velocity at which water enters the deadleg, the inlet gas flow rate was specified to be a fixed value, while the water flow rate was gradually increased. The liquid entirely bypasses the deadleg until the liquid water velocity exceeds a critical value, which was noted as the critical superficial liquid velocity. The experimental study was conducted using a flow loop to understand the behavior of liquid water at the T-junction and determine the condition when liquid enters the deadleg. The analytical and computed solutions were compared with experimental observations. The computed results follow the same pattern as the experimental and analytical data. Solutions indicate that critical superficial liquid velocity is linearly dependent on superficial inlet gas velocity.

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