Determining pipeline fitness for purpose from high resolution smart pig inspections

Conference · Thu Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996

OSTI ID:268190

Grimes, K ^[1]; Jones, D G ^[2]

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1. British Gas plc, Houston, TX (United States)
2. British Gas plc, Cramlington (United Kingdom). Pipeline Integrity International

To gain a financial benefit, a smart operator views inspection as part of an overall strategy to maintain a safe pipeline. This paper shows how periodic internal inspections, followed by defect assessments using fitness-for-purpose criteria and selective repair, is the most cost beneficial way of maintaining the safety of a pipeline. It is highlighted that it is important to use (1) genuine high resolution pigs for the inspection and (2) expert fitness-for-purpose assessment. The cost savings on the optimized future safe operating strategies for the pipeline offset the costs of the inspection and expert assessment. 48 refs., 8 figs., 2 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 268190
• Report Number(s): CONF-960389--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
DATA ANALYSIS
DEFECTS
DETECTION
FAILURES
IN-SERVICE INSPECTION
MAINTENANCE
MAINTENANCE FACILITIES
NATURAL GAS
PATTERN RECOGNITION
PETROLEUM
PIPELINES
PROBABILISTIC ESTIMATION
SAFETY ENGINEERING
TRANSPORT