By John Bucci
General Manager
PII Pipeline Solutions

It’s been a busy year for pipeline integrity, to say the least. Here are just a few highlights:

Threat monitoring in Germany

ThreatScan’s real-time monitoring capabilities are getting a lot of attention. We are currently involved in a two-phase installation for Germany’s E.ON Ruhrgas. The first on a 50-km section of pipeline located near a construction site in southern Germany, and the second in conjunction with E.ON Ruhrgas and the German Scientific and Technical Association for Gas & Water (DVGW) for a 12-month test by pipeline operated by DVGW members.

Data management in Brazil

We are providing Comgás, Brazil’s largest distribution company, with advanced pipeline data management solutions. PII’s PipeView Integrity suite will use information collected by GE Energy’s Smallworld Global Transmission Office, enabling Comgás to more effectively manage its pipeline assets which include over 4,000 km of pipelines through 57 cities. The contract also involves our External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) application.

Next-generation Crack Ranking

Our new, advanced crack-ranking methodology helps pipeline operators prioritize repairs and remediation programs, based on the severity of any cracks detected in a given pipeline. Traditional, conservative methods only report on the maximum depth and overall length of cracks. But our next-generation Crack Ranking process also reliably discriminates cracks based on their true likelihood of failure. The methodology utilizes fracture mechanics to provide an “Estimated Severity Factor” and criticality ranking for every crack. By combining this new process with our proven UltraScan™ CD inspection service, we produce higher-quality crack descriptions, similar in detail to RSTRENG calculations of corrosion defects. For operators, the net result is more comprehensive remediation planning for any individual cracks and even SCC colonies.

Comprehensive integrity in Qatar

PII has also been awarded a five-year contract to provide integrity management services to ensure the uninterrupted operation of Dolphin Energy’s critical sea and export pipelines in Qatar. Project scope includes a comprehensive integrity management program for two, 36-inch sealines, each about 70 km long, and a 48-inch subsea export line that spans about 364 km from Qatar to the UAE. Work during this first year has been development of Dolphin’s Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS), a network risk assessment, baseline inspection, condition assessments, and the implementation of a comprehensive, Web-based data management system. Our project team is based in Doha with support from our Center of Excellence in Cramlington, England.

ATEX worldwide

We are honored to be involved in these important projects, and a number of others, that are helping us break new ground in pipeline integrity. Something else we’re very excited about is our leadership in safety standards. Since mid 2005, we’ve led the pipeline inspection industry in ATEX certification of in-line inspection tools, facilities and procedures. We uphold the standards in all our pipeline inspection activities worldwide because it is the safe and prudent thing to do. ATEX certification is something we take very seriously – for our own safety and regulatory security as well as that of our customers.