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Pipeline Integrity Management
Integrity Management is the result of a Federal law that came from the
successful legislation of the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. Among
other things, the law requires that the operators of transmission pipelines
perform thorough evaluations of pipelines in High Consequence Areas.
What is a high consequence area?
A High Consequence Area (HCA) is an area located within close proximity of a
transmission pipeline (generally less than 660 feet away) that is an area of
common congregation, highly populated area, or a facility having persons that
may be difficult to evacuate. Generally, in the first two cases, the areas must
have 20 or more people, 50 or more times per year. In 2006, Alaska
Pipeline Company (APC), subsidiary of SEMCO Energy, Inc. had 81 high consequence
areas that totaled more than 29 miles in length. These areas are found
across more than 400 miles of transmission pipeline spanning from Beluga to
Ninilchik.
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What kinds of
evaluations must be performed on the pipelines?
Federal law provides several methods for operators like Alaska Pipeline
Company (APC) to evaluate and test their pipeline system, for example:
1) Operators may use in-line inspection
tools (commonly referred to as “pigs”) that are bullet-shaped tools
which travel through the pipeline recording information about the
conditions of the pipe.
2) Operators may also hydrostatically
test a pipeline, in which case the pipeline is filled with
water to a pressure 1.5 times that at which it normally
operates.
3) Operators may perform Direct
Assessment of the pipeline, which includes an electrical
evaluation of the pipeline, coating evaluation, and pipeline
data aggregation. This method involves electrical
current and coating surveys performed over the buried
pipeline and then digging in several locations of the survey
to confirm findings and evaluate the condition of the
pipeline.
4)
Operators may also use “Other Technologies” that may
be offered from pipeline experts and vendors that must be
approved by Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) prior to implementation.
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In each case of evaluation, if the pipeline is not
in satisfactory condition, repairs are made to ensure the pipeline's
safe and continuous operability.
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What is APC doing
for Pipeline Integrity Management?
APC is working diligently to perform evaluations of its
transmission pipeline system and making repairs accordingly. By
the end of 2007, APC will have successfully evaluated more than half of
its HCA mileage and spent close to $4 million on pipeline integrity
management. As a matter of prudence, APC is inspecting and
repairing many tens of miles of pipeline in addition to the required
HCAs to help ensure the safe and continuous operability of its system.
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Where can I get more information about
Integrity Management?
The United States Department of Transportation is responsible for oversight
on Integrity Management, specifically the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA). Information regarding Integrity Management can
be found at their website:
http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/gasimp/. Any inquiries regarding Integrity
Management, or for additional information about APC and ENSTAR's Integrity
Management Program, you may contact ENSTAR's Engineering Department at (907)
334-7740.
***Click
here to view ENSTAR's Pipeline Safety brochure***
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