Pipeline safety consequences

The Safety Board has addressed deficiencies in RSPA s accident data on several previous occasions [82], Most recently, in a 1996 special investigation report, the Safety Board evaluated RSPA s collection and analysis of accident data for petroleum product pipelines [83], In that report, the Board concluded that RSPA s failure to fully implement the Safety Board s original 1978 safety recommendations to evaluate and analyze its accident data reporting needs has hampered RSPA s oversight of pipeline safety. Consequently, the Safety Board recommended that RSPA... 

The safety consequences of a pipeline failure depend on the product carried, pressure, diameter, time to shut off, distance between isolation points, and proximity to persons who could be affected. Historically, most of the harm from accidents has been to workers near the line. Some notable incidents have involved the public. 

Pipeline safety pipeline integrity management in high consequence areas (hazardous liquid pipeline operators with 500 or more miles of pipeline). In Federal Register, 49 CFR Part 195 Department of Transportation, Research, and Special Projects Administration Vol. 65 (232) 75, 378, Dec 1, 2000. 

A location that is specially defined in pipeline safety regulations as an area where pipeline releases could have greater consequences to health and safety or the environment. For oil pipelines, HCAs include high population areas, other population areas, commercially navigable waterways, and areas unusually sensitive to environmental damage. Regulations require a pipeline operator to take specific steps to ensure the integrity of a pipeline for which a release could affect an HCA, and thereby the protection of the HCA. 

Continuous monitoring is necessary on critical machines where problems can develop rapidly and have severe financial consequences. Typical machines in this category are unspared process compressors. Remotely located machinery such as pipeline gas compressors also require continuous monitoring. Also, continuous monitoring may be dictated by safety considerations. Even though the cost of a failure is small, machines should be continuously monitored if a failure will result in hazards to personnel. Figure 8-38 depicts a typical continuous monitoring system. 

Effective remedial actions are an important element in pipeline integrity and safety. They include repair, replacement, and relocation of pipe. Standard methods are used for repair of defects due to corrosion or outside force damage on pipelines. This includes line pipe, components, and pipe coatings. If the pipe is unsuited for repair, then replacement is made of appropriate lengths, which can range from a few feet to miles. In some cases, a solution to threats and potential adverse consequences is relocation. A new pipe is installed at a new location to deliver product between two specified points. 

The inverse frequency factor is then divided by the consequence parameter to arrive at a dimensioifless inverse risk parameter. Thus, a higher value of the resultant parameter indicates higher safety of a pipeline segment. 

The second hazard is the tank s location close to ultra-high compressed air lines and equipment. A high pressure pipeline explosion could result Ifom a malfunctioning safety valve, a human error in operating the equipment, damage to a pipeline, or from other causes. Blast or flying debris could conceivably strike the propane tank, rupture it and cause it to explode with the same consequences as for a run-away vehicle. 

An erosion corrosion allowance is present in the pipeline wall. The thickness is defined also by taking into account these factors. This represents a further safety barrier mitigating material degradation and preventing worse consequences, such as unscheduled repair and maintenance, loss of production or loss of containment. 

The integrity of pipelines is very important to companies, government agencies, consumers, and other stakeholders, due to the potential adverse consequences related to public health, safety, the environment and financial expenditure on correcting whatever type of system failure may occur. However, a pipeline is subject to deterioration due to age, aggressive environmental factors, inadequate design and improper maintenance and protection. In this context it is observed that some accidents have occurred over the years, which have often generated critical consequences. 

HAZOP Qualify process safety systems by identifying potential deviations and their causes and consequences A process plant, as documented in e.g. piping and instrument diagrams (PScID) Breakdown of plant into process units (tanks, pipelines, reactors, etc.) Checklist of process parameter deviations Consequences of deviations... 

As already mentioned, the huge economic impact of corrosion of metallic structures is a very important worldwide issue. Engineered structures which suffer from corrosion attack include bridges, pipelines, storage tanks, automobiles, airplanes, ships and offshore installations. Corrosion has an impact on our daily life, very often causing not only economic consequences but also safety concerns, sometimes even resulting in life-threatening situations. 

The primary goal of an asset management program is to maintain a desired rehabUity of the pipelines at an acceptable cost. As discussed earher in Section 1.1, pipe rapture has potentially severe life safety, property damage and water loss consequences at the failure site, and service interruption consequences downstream. The cost of a pipe... 

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