Since 2011, there have been attempts to update the ASME B31.8s document with regards to threats and risk assessment. The lack of updates to this important guidance document has resulted in continuing confusion for industry practitioners and wastes of resources on non-issues such as ‘threat interaction’ (which is almost entirely caused by the B31.8S language. […]
Topic: What’s New?
Analyses, Applications, Myths and Misconceptions, Risk Assessment, Risk Assessment Methodologies, Risk Management, What's New?
“Don’t Worry — We did an ILI”
Many newbies in our industry have never been without the ability to ILI a pipeline. ILI is now considered a normal and essential part of owning and operating many pipelines. However, we should take a moment to make sure we are not losing perspective. Let’s recall our origins. When ILI first became a practical tool, […]
Interview
The Outlook for Pipeline Risk Assessment A 2014* Interview with W. Kent Muhlbauer *but still relevant! PHMSA has recently expressed criticism regarding how Integrity Management Plan (IMP) risk assessment (RA) for pipelines is being conducted. Do you also see problems? There is a wide range of practice among pipeline operators right now. Some RA is […]
Is this the same as SRA, LSD?
This recommended pipeline risk assessment methodology is similar to SRA (Structural Reliability Analyses) and LSD (Limit State Design) or LRFD (Load and Resistance Factor Design). This is coincidental, since the methodology was developed independently from these techniques. However, despite the similarities, there are key differences. Similarities include: Focus on engineering principles rather than incident history Accommodates […]
Pipeline Risk Assessment—Controlling the Bias
In the first installment of this column, we introduced the concept of pipeline risk assessment Essential Elements. This is a list of ingredients that arguably must be included in any pipeline risk assessment. Last time, we covered one of these essential elements—the need for measurements. This time, we address another essential element, closely related to […]
PL Risk Management—The Essential Elements of Risk Assessment
As the desire for more robust pipeline risk management grows, so too does the need for superior risk assessment. A formal risk assessment provides the structure to increase understanding, reduce subjectivity, and ensure that important considerations are not overlooked. Associated decision-making is therefore more consistent and reliable when formal techniques are used. But has pipeline […]
What’s behind the EE guideline document that DNV and you recently released?
We are advocating a degree of standardisation that serves all stakeholders. This list of essential elements sets forth the minimum ingredients for acceptable pipeline risk assessment. Every RA should have these elements. A specific methodology and detailed processes are intentionally not essential elements, so there is room for creativity and customised solutions. DNV’s recognition of […]
So are there are now pipeline RA approaches that are both better and cheaper than past practice?
Yes. RA that follows the Essential Elements* (EE) guidelines avoids the pitfalls that befall many older methods. Yet, we can still apply all of the data that was collected for the previous approaches. Pitfall avoidance, full transparency, and re-use of data makes the approach more efficient than other practices. Plus, the recommended approaches now generate […]
It sounds like you have methods that very accurately predict failure potential. Is this true?
Unfortunately, no. While the new modelling approaches are powerful and the best we’ve ever had, there is still huge uncertainty. We are unable to accurately predict failures on specific pipe segments except in extreme cases. With good underlying data, we can do a decent job of predicting the behaviour of numerous pipe segments over longer […]
Are you advocating exclusively a quantitative or probabilistic RA?
Terminology has been getting in the way of understanding in the field of RA. Terms like quantitative, semi-quantitative, qualitative, probabilistic, etc. mean different things to different people. I do believe that for a true understanding of risk and for the vast majority of regulatory, legal, and technical uses of pipeline RAs, numerical risk estimates in […]