Paper 1

One of the major concerns in pipeline organizations today is to efficiently monitor the events happening over the pipeline Roght-of-Way (ROW). Monitoring is an important part of ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of hydrocarbons. Events occurring inside ROW corridors require accurate monitoring and mitigation. These events can be physical intrusions such as encroachment from growing settlement, impact of vegetation, pipeline leakage and geo-environmental hazards (e.g. landslides) across the right of way of a pipeline.

Analysis of satellite imagery can provide an efficient and low cost solution to access and quantify environmental change across the ROW. To study these events over a periodic interval requires implementation of specific methods that can support the on-going monitoring and decision making practices.

Remote sensing image classification provides the ground cover information that can be interpreted over a period of time to retrieve change. The fundamental concept of remote sensing lies in the observation of reflected electromagnetic spectrum. These reflected spectrums are stored in different spectral bands arranged in the form of pixels and describe specific characteristics of the object being observed.  This information can be classified into groups using image classification methods. Using two or more satellite images provides the basis for e.g. time series analysis approaches.

This paper reports on the development of a methodological approach for environmental change analysis using high resolution satellite images that can help decision making in pipeline systems. Analysis results and maps produced during this work provide an insight into landcover change over the study area and expected to support in on-going pipeline management practices. Two methods, Vegetation index differencing and post classification comparison have been implemented to identify change areas in the Taranaki region of the North Island of New Zealand.

Vegetation index differencing with NDVI shows increase or decrease of overall vegetation within the study area. Special focus was given on large area increase and decrease with area threshold value above 0.2 hectare. Detailed analysis of change was conducted with post classification comparison method that uses land cover classification results of year 2010 and 2013. An overall change of 10% has been observed throughout the study area with large area change of approximately 5%. Results obtained from post classification comparison method were further analyzed with 6 focus areas and compared with the existing soil data and rainfall data of year 2010 and 2013.

To summarize, significant changes are identified along the pipeline ROW, caused by vegetation increase/decrease, human intrusions and settlement increase. Accuracy assessment of landcover classification shows overall accuracy above 70% and kappa above +0.5 for both years suggesting the landcover classification process to be appropriate for change detection study. The methods adopted during this study are expected to provide a base for environmental change analysis in similar pipeline corridors to support improved decision making.
One of the major concerns in pipeline organizations today is to efficiently monitor the events happening over the pipeline Roght-of-Way (ROW). Monitoring is an important part of ensuring the safe and efficient transportation of hydrocarbons. Events occurring inside ROW corridors require accurate monitoring and mitigation. These events can be physical intrusions such as encroachment from growing settlement, impact of vegetation, pipeline leakage and geo-environmental hazards (e.g. landslides) across the right of way of a pipeline.

Paper 2

In July 2012, a 26-inch high pressure gas pipeline ruptured in the west of Venezuela. The event occurred in a Class 1 location resulting in a fire in the surrounding area with no human injuries and negligible environmental consequences. The failure involved three pipe joints through which a fracture propagated.

This was the first rupture reported for this pipeline since its commissioning in 1976. It had been internally inspected in 2008 using MFL technology with only minor manufacturing defects recorded at the failure location; this internal inspection was part of a rehabilitation plan in order to increase its current operating pressure from 750 psi to 900 psi which was its original operating condition for a period of time following commissioning. After a detailed investigation, it was found the root cause of the failure was a combination of low ductile tearing resistance of the steel and the presence of crack-like milling defects in the failed pipes.

The evaluation found an unusual steel microstructure surrounding the milling defects. The pressure reversal effect was found to be a contributing cause to the failure. The failure investigation process included: immediate onsite visual inspection after the failure, metallography analysis of the material involved in the failure, steel properties testing, fatigue and pressure reversal assessments. This paper presents the main results for the different stages of the investigation and the options for managing the future integrity of the pipeline.

Paper 3

In many cases, the implementation of a PIMS system requires changes to the way data is handled, sometimes where it is located, changes in workflows, and a focus upon interoperability of the systems. In order to adequately manage such a transition, an analysis of the clients enterprise environment is required, including business rules, technology (e.g. server infrastructure), applications (e.g. presence of web services) and data (e.g. databases) currently in place. This paper presents a case study of the installation and migration of integrity tasks to Rosen Asset Integrity Management Software (ROAIMS) for a major South American gas operator.

The approach is through a ROSEN modified OGA framework (TOGAF), focusing on business layers. Firstly, the Framework layer, which represents the existing organizational framework: structure and layers, is defined. Secondly, the Business layer is analyzed. This includes the Departmental structure and relevant business workflows, how integrity processes are currently handled (e.g. in a GeoEnabled workflow), and business architecture components. Thirdly, the Technology layer, such as operating system(s), DBMS’s, GIS/Web server(s) and extensions, programming language(s), and web browsers. Fourthly, the Applications layer, which includes existing GIS client or server applications, custom applications, data matrices. Finally, the Data layer, which includes existing data flows, maintenance and lifecycle, data dissemination.

Data collection was performed by means of a questionnaire and  supplementary interviews conducted on-site with the client experts. Based upon the information captured in the questionnaire and within the context of the five framework layers identified above, the migration strategy from the client’s exsting data model to a PODS data model was defined, including updated business workflows and IT architecture.

The results and outcomes were prepared as a report which provides the basis for development of the Project Work Plan. Within the scope of this project the client’s geodatabase will be migrated to ROAIMS databases designed to store pipeline related integrity information. The data which will be migrated derives from an Oracle Enterprise Geodatabase, ILI final reports and other documents and document links.

Paper 4

Near-neutral and high pH Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) are the most prominent forms of Environmentally-Assisted Cracking (EAC) in pipelines. SCC remains a threat for safe operation of pipelines susceptible to EAC worldwide and is focused by many studies and industry wide collaborations. Pipeline failures, which had been attributed  to SCC occurred first in Canada in 1985. Subsequently SCC has been identified as a possible threat in other countries as well.

In South American countries large integrity programs were started in the early 2000, when SCC was becoming a global phenomenon for mainly gas transmission pipelines. Meanwhile a proactive process using high resolution in-line EMAT inspections has been established based on the experience gained in North America. This process supports the early detection of critical SCC incorporated into a tailored program to mitigate the risk of in-service pipeline failures. Actively growing SCC colonies need to be properly addressed before individual cracks coalescence over time which ultimately leads to rapid fracture of the pipe. Management of SCC in gas pipelines includes hydrostatic pressure testing of pipe valve sections, direct assessment of pipe ranked as being susceptible to SCC and smart In-line Inspection (IlI) tool surveys.

The high-resolution Electro-Magnetic Acoustical Transducer (EMAT) In-line Inspection (IlI) technology has been developed to address the SCC threat. The technology, smart IlI tool data analysis and non-IlI data integration techniques evolved for almost a decade to a process that has been extensively validated. This contribution demonstrates current capabilities of the EMAT technology and associated processes to successfully manage SCC in line pipe.

Validation is outlined by results obtained from pipe inspected that is known to have an SCC history. Correlation of EMAT IlI crack calls to non-destructive as well as destructive measurements lead to a comprehensive understanding of the capabilities of the EMAT technology and associated processes.

Paper 5

As Oil and Gas exploration moves even farther and deeper offshore, pipeline operators worldwide tend to look closer at the future inspectability of the pipelines they are planning to build.

History has shown that operating- and pipeline conditions of vintage pipelines often prohibit or limit inline inspections, as these inspections have not been considered in the design phase of the pipelines.

The ROSEN approach to offer ILI Concept Studies provides operators with the confidence that their pipeline design is ‘ILI-proof’ and a thoroughly engineered, reviewed and tested ILI solution is available for future inspections based on latest technology and in full compliance with operator requirements. The study results provide operators with the guarantee that all circumstances and options have been reviewed and the best option(s) has(ve) been put forward, taking into account commercial as well as integrity and technological aspects.

Done in time prior to any pipeline installation, an ILI concept study will point out all limiting factors and provide the operator a concept at hand which he can use during the pipeline design phase – to ensure ILI inspections can be conducted throughout the pipelines life span.
 

Paper 6

“The global market conditions influence the extraction of resources onshore as well as offshore, whereby particularly offshore exploration pipelines need to cope with high temperatures and pressures as well as products containing corrosive elements. This leads to potentially higher corrosion rates in a high temperature environment. Pipelines made of ferritic steels are susceptible to corrosion attack, especially if specific types of medium are transported in the line or the pipe is situated in a critical environment.

The industry is addressing this issue through various means, also including the development of new materials and pipe types. More and more corrosion resistant materials like stainless steel are used, e.g. duplex steels or different types of corrosion resistant alloy (CRA) pipes.

Over the past 30 years thousands of kilometers of CRA and duplex pipelines are laid and there is still a growing demand. However, in the carbon steel but also in the CRA layer or in the duplex steel, different types of defects and/or features can appear, whereby the ILI technologies so far focusses on carbon steel pipes only.

This paper will provide an overview of the various defects types in CRA and duplex pipes and capabilities of state-of-the-art ILI technologies to detect and size them.

Paper 7

More than 50% of the global oil or gas pipelines have until recently been considered “un-piggable”. This term is used when a pipeline cannot be inspected with a free-swimming in-line inspection tool for instance because of missing  launching and receiving facilities, diameter variations, tight bends,  low pressure and flow conditions or high pressure and high temperature environments, onshore or offshore.

In this paper a new concept is introduced, the so-called “toolbox approach”. The driving idea behind the concept is based on having a large variety of services with all the required  technologies, including magnetic flux leakage (MFL), eddy current  or ultrasound, enabling tailor made solutions to be packaged utilizing exactly the right technical resources for a specific inspection and integrity challenge.

But it is not limited to a technology perspective. It also uses market information to identify mid- and long term market needs as well as special operational procedures. The resulting  combination of understanding market needs, requisite know-how regarding optimized methods for service execution and the right set of inspection technologies and transportation means results in utmost flexibility and optimal solutions for operators faced with managing the integrity of their challenging pipelines.

In addition it must be stated that this type of work relies heavily on the  expertise and experience of the crew involved, because of the often extremely complex boundary conditions and operational parameters encountered during the job performance.

This paper will introduce the concept and use three case studies to illustrate specific tailored solutions.
First  the case study of a highly complex inspection of flow lines, where access to the 10” oil-multiphase lines was only possible by using 3-way ball valves originally designed for cleaning scrapers. Here a specially designed 10” bi-directional free swimming magnetic flux leakage tool was used, short enough to be launched through the ball valve, but still incorporating full high resolution capabilities. The advantage of using MFL was that the job could be performed during operation of the pipelines.

The case study will also introduce additional and complimentary services from the toolbox, in this case an automated and remotely operated benchmark identification system as well as a high resolution approach monitoring system which was used to precisely detect tool movement and final approach to the receiving ball valve.

Secondly an inspection will be described where a highly specialized robotic system, the so-called Helix system was used to inspect challenging horizontal gas  storage tanks  with complex operating conditions and limited access. The inspection itself was also performed with MFL  technology.

The third case study describes the inspection of upstream laterals without regular launching and receiving facilities, where another specialized robotic tool, the Multi-Trotter-Crawler was used to pull a MFL unit to inspect for metal loss and corrosion.

All three case studies describe the technology used, the procedures applied as well as an overview of the results obtained.