ROSEN - MAOP Reconfirmation Uing Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA)

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The Challenge

Federal regulations require operators to reconfirm MAOP in accordance with §192.624. Many operators have identified Method 3 – Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) leveraging in-line inspection (ILI) – as the preferred method for some of their pipelines. However, the complex requirements of the ECA process detailed in §192.632 require a focus on many interrelated activities, which, when combined with various uncertainties, can lead to inefficiencies, inaccurate assessments and over-conservatism.

Engineering Critical Assessment

The Solution

ROSEN offers a turnkey solution to MAOP reconfirmation using ECA that is fully compliant with regulation based on industry best practice. An ECA is used to identify defects in the pipeline that require remediation at the required MAOP, mirroring what is achieved by a pressure test. The threats that need to be considered are critical to the entire ECA process. ROSEN has demonstrated in prior IPC publications that conducting an ECA using ILI data can effectively comply with the requirements of §192.624 while also reducing risk and inefficiencies. The solution incorporates both of the main components: ILI to define the defects remaining in the pipeline and the ECA analysis delivered by experienced and qualified subject-matter experts.

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Engineering Critical Assessment Framework

The ECA service is composed of the following key tasks¹, providing structure and a clear path to completion:

Definition of the ECA strategy
Definition of applicable threats considered in the ECA
Identification of defects remaining in the pipeline using appropriate ILI
ECA analysis in accordance with §192.632 and §192.712
Identification of defects that require a response in accordance with §192.933
Listing of outstanding actions for completion of MAOP reconfirmation using ECA
Reporting
Support for submissions to the regulator

ROSEN also offers the following services complementary to the ECA:

Definition of covered segments as per §192.624(a), including review of pressure test records
SME support to close out material-property and attribute verification in line with §192.607
SME support to write or review the procedures associated with §192.632, §192.624, §192.607 and §192.712

The Benefit

In addition to providing the resources for §192.632 compliance, the ECA service developed by ROSEN leverages the development of accompanying procedures and processes along with the invaluable learnings from a recent ECA pilot inspection presented to PHMSA.

The documented process is delivered in full by ROSEN Integrity Engineers and helps to identify all outstanding actions that are required for the ECA to be brought to completion, achieving the goal of MAOP reconfirmation.

¹ The tasks can be modified based on the operator’s existing plans and preferences for defect assessment.