OFFSHORE AUTOMATION SOLUTIONS
Ian Verhappen
Industrial Automation
Networks Inc.
Pipeline integrity has always been a critical issue. The US has more than 2. 5 million
mi ( 4 million km) of pipe distributing hydrocarbon fuids across the country. Despite
the fact that new proposed pipelines such
as Keystone XL have become political lightning rods, pipeline operators are continuously managing 185,000 mi (298,000 km) of
liquid petroleum pipelines, nearly 320,000
mi (515,000 km) of gas transmission pipelines, much of it offshore.
However, like an airline accident “makes
the headlines” versus the number of vehicular accidents per day, a pipeline event is far
more “newsworthy” than a similar spill from
a transport truck. This is in part because
special interest groups can get headlines
with a 20 second sensational sounding clip
for which an explanation of any sort requires three to 10 times as long, which by
that time the “appeal” or attention span no
longer exists. Unfortunately, this is the present reality – while the current state of much
of the abovementioned infrastructure nears
end of life.
As some pipeline infrastructure approaches 50 years in the ground, in swamps, under rivers, or subsea, it is no surprise that
corrosion causes 15%-20% of all signifcant
pipeline incidents. Fortunately, technology
helps to reduce this number. Leak detection systems based on algorithms, sensors
using fber optics and continuous corrosion
monitors provide real-time measurement of
pipeline integrity, and smart pigs inspect the
reliability of the pipe.
The real-time sensors are continuously
monitored from remote control centers that
are equipped with computerized sensing
and control systems, including automatic
leak detection alarms and shut-off devices in
case of emergency. These control systems
are normally widely distributed along the
length of the pipeline and use a number of
technologies to enable each local controller
node to communicate to the central control
room.
There are a number of organizations that
develop standards for the various parts of the
pipeline design process such as American
Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)
for the pipe and fttings, American Petroleum
Institute (API) for materials handling and a
new cybersecurity document, American Gas
Association (AGA) for measurement, and of
course the various national regulators as well.
One US-based group dedicated to improving the integrity of pipelines is the Pipeline
Research Council International (PRCI) that
was established in 1952 as the Pipeline Research Committee of the AGA to address
the problem of long-running brittle fractures
in natural gas transmission pipelines. Since
its inception, PRCI has served as a collaborative forum for industry to jointly investigate and solve a range of problems in the
areas of corrosion location and assessment;
mechanical damage location and assessment; right of way monitoring; growth of
construction defects; compressor and pump
stations; and measurement bias reductions
for custody transfer. The funding for PRCI’s
research programs comes from the pipeline
industry through the annual subscriptions
of member companies. In addition to the allocation by members of their subscriptions,
members may also contribute supplemental
funding to programs they determine worthy
of commitment.
One document that will affect pipeline
integrity is the recently released PRCI “
Industry Guidelines for Subsea Pipeline Integrity Management” (SPIM). The SPIM
guidelines are intended to provide operators
with a structured, comprehensive approach
to the integrity management of subsea pipeline system for any stage of feld life. The
guidelines developed by PRCI require that
the operator demonstrate how the seven elements of the SPIM guideline will be met:
planning; competence and accountability;
communications; information management;
management of change; performance assurance and learning; and preparedness and
emergency response.
Pipeline integrity starts with planning.
This includes the initial design following
proper standards including construction
criteria to prevent damage to the line itself
or any of the other pipelines in which it may
come near. The planning and approval pro-
cess will also include the systems for moni-
toring, inspections, and maintenance proto-
cols. Part of the design includes suffcient
wall thickness to not only contain the stress-
es of the line pressure but also to provide
suffcient corrosion allowance to extend the
life of the pipeline. Additional line integrity
is provided through proper selection of the
pipeline coating with specially designed ma-
terials to protect against corrosion and envi-
ronmental damage.
The PRCI industry guidelines apply to subsea pipeline systems that transport gas, oil, water, or provide any other subsea service. The
SPIM documents are intended to cover production, transmission, and off-loading systems
for all parts of the physical subsea facilities
through which fuid is transported – including
fowlines, risers, jumpers, manifolds, pipeline
end manifold (PLEM), pipeline end termination (PLET), umbilical systems, subsea distribution units, valves, control modules, pumps,
and separators.
The other elements of the SPIM guideline
build off the initial plan and design to support safe reliable operations of the facilities
and systems for the remainder of the pipeline life cycle.
With approximately 27,000 mi ( 43,000
km) of operating pipeline in the Gulf Coast
and an additional 18,000 mi ( 29,000 km) of
pipe “out of service,” the integrity of these
systems is an important part of not only
bringing approximately half of the country’s
conventional oil to the processing facilities
located onshore while also protecting the
ecosystems through which they pass but
also in the process guaranteeing a social
license to operate and thus provide livelihoods to everyone working in the region
whether that be as a fsherman or a member
of the hydrocarbon industry. •
The author
Ian Verhappen, P.Eng. is an ISA Fellow, ISA Certifed
Automation Professional (CAP), Automation Hall of
Fame member, and a recognized authority on process
analyzer sample systems, Foundation Fieldbus and
industrial communications technologies. Verhappen
provides consulting services in the areas of feld level
industrial communications, process analytics, and
hydrocarbon facility automation. Feedback is always
welcome via e-mail at iverhappen@gmail.com.
Reference
http://prci.org/index.php/site/projects_single/subsea_
pipeline_integrity_management_best_practices/
PRCI develops comprehensive approach
to subsea pipeline integrity management
The guidelines developed
by PRCI require that the operator
demonstrate how the seven elements
of the SPIM guideline will be met.
