High Design Factor Pipelines: Integrity Issues

This paper considers the key design and operation parameters that affect a pipeline’s operational integrity. It then relates these parameters to pipelines with high design factors (above 0.72). It concludes that pipeline failure is dependent on many factors: design factor is one. However, in-service defects and damage have consistently been the major cause of pipeline failures in the developed world. This means that the safety of our pipeline is critically dependent on how we manage its condition during its service. The paper concludes with key recommendations for pipeline design and operation at high design factors. 1 Technical Director, Penspen Integrity, Hawthorn Suite, Units 7-8, St Peter’s Wharf, St Peter’s Basin, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. email p.hopkins@penspen.com. This paper is an update of the presentation ‘Benchmarking AS 2885.1: Pipeline Integrity’, by the author at the International Seminar for the launch of the public comment draft of the revision of AS 2885 in Wollongong, Australia, December 2004, hosted by APIA and the paper ‘High Design Factor Pipelines: Integrity Issues’, WTIA International Pipeline Integrity Conference, Wollongong, Australia. 7-9 March 2005. Page 1