Aptech Engineering Services, Inc. has been acquired by Intertek USA, Inc. Please visit us at www.intertek.com/aptech.

APTECH Project Risk Consultants assisted a client with an operational integrity assessment of a world-scale oil and gas pipeline gathering and distribution system. The purpose of the assessment was to identify any issue that could lead to a major environmental or safety incident. The work included an evaluation of all the elements of process safety, with a focus on the following:

• Incident Investigations
  
• Liquids Line - Third Party Damage
  
• Natural Gas Line Collapse
  
• Offshore Pipeline Fracture Mechanics Analysis
  
• Design Support - Offshore Pipeline Risk Analysis
  
• Design Support - Alaskan Natural Gas Transmission System (ANGTS)
  
• Onshore Pipeline Risk Analyses

Industry Background

The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) has issued the Code of Federal Regulations CFR 192 and 195 which pertain to the pipeline integrity management of all gas and liquid transmission lines in the US. Each of these rules are enforced by the applicable State Regulatory Body.

The new rules required operators to develop and follow an integrity management program to insure the safe operation of the lines. These programs must include the continuous evaluation of the line through internal inspection (ILI), pressure testing and "Direct Assessment" (DA). The rules further dictate special attention must immediately be given to establishing the High Consequence Area (HCA) along each line. The timetable for implementation of each of these rules is contained in the rule itself.

Due to the complex nature of pipelines, routes, and internal/external corrosion problems, this type of pipeline evaluation techniques must be directed by companies with experienced pipeline RBI engineers and scientists. Industry codes and standards give guidance as to how we should implement such programs. APTECH uses and is familiar with ASME, API, and NACE codes and standards relating to pipeline design, new builds, inspection and maintenance and the risk assessment of pipelines.