Det Norske Veritas is preparing a new recommended practice for offshore pipeline integrity management and is inviting upstream producers and pipeline operators to participate in this joint industry project.
There are over 20,000 mi of pipeline infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico servicing and transporting about 30% of US domestically produced oil and gas. The challenge is that some lines remain in operation after 40 years of service, and many beyond their originally anticipated service life. Recent hurricane events in the Gulf of Mexico demonstrated the vulnerability of this supply network and the consequences of disruptions.
While some potential leaks or failures might be attributable to events such as subsea mudslides or hurricanes, most are a result of the condition of the pipeline itself. It is imperative to manage and maintain the integrity of the subsea pipelines, DNV says.
DNV, in cooperation with the industry, is preparing a new Recommended Practice (RP) for offshore pipeline integrity management. The RP will address in-service issues from the early design phase through to the operational phase. The objective is for the RP to be a state-of-the-art document, developed in close cooperation with the industry and reflecting industry practices and sound engineering practices for establishing and maintaining the integrity of subsea pipeline systems, DNV says.
The RP will identify the components of a subsea pipeline integrity management program and will provide a highly detailed framework that producers or pipeline operators can use when preparing the integrity management programs for their own pipeline systems. It will also include a detailed framework for a direct assessment methodology, which would be applicable to the subsea pipelines and would be submitted to the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, International (NACE) for review and approval.
This project is a follow-up to a 2006 project for the US Department of the Interior (DOI) Minerals Management Service (MMS), in which DNV assessed the integrity practices used by operators in the GoM.
DNV encourages upstream producers and pipeline operators to participate in the development of this JIP, which is intended to be practical and cost effective, while maintaining a commitment to system integrity, safety, and the protection of the environment, the company says.
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