In order to maximize the safety of liquid pipelines and other oil country tubular goods, an Integrity Management Plan (IMP) is required of any pipeline operator who oversees at least 500 miles of line pipe. This is mandated by federal regulations from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.
Here’s a look at some of the elements that must be included in an IMP for oil country tubular goods:
Identifying High Consequence Areas
High consequence areas (HCAs) are areas along a pipeline where a leak or break has the greatest potential to harm humans or the environment. This includes centers of population, urbanized areas, or areas with large population density; commercially navigable waters; and areas especially sensitive to environmental damages, such as a nearby food or water source.
Line pipe operators are required to pinpoint any HCAs that could be impacted by their portion of oil country tubular goods and assess the potential impact of any incident by examining the area’s topographical and environmental characteristics, the design characteristics of the pipeline itself, and the liquid transported through the line pipe.
Assessing the Oil Country Tubular Goods
Once the HCAs have been identified, the next step in an IMP is to evaluate the current condition of the pipeline and establish procedures for regular inspection and maintenance.
Beginning with a baseline assessment, operators use pressure-testing and inline inspection to detect any corrosion, deformities and other abnormalities, such as cracks or dents, in the oil country tubular goods. All liquid pipelines must be fully re-inspected every five years, and the results are compared to the baseline assessment in an effort to detect any trends or subtle changes over time that may indicate a potential problem.
Careful Documentation
All of these assessments must be meticulously documented, along with schedules for repair and excavation and any actions taken to repair, mitigate or prevent damage to HCAs. The IMP should also include instructions for any staff or contractors responsible for the condition of the line pipe system, detailing the manner in which staff should complete pipeline assessments and execute preventative or reparative alterations to the line pipe.
[Photo by: cogdogblog]
