What is a Process for Continual Evaluation and Assessment to Maintain a Pipelines Integrity?
The integrity assessment requirements do not stop with the baseline integrity assessment. An operator must continue to assess the integrity of the line pipe and evaluate the integrity of each pipeline segment that could affect a high consequence area. The rule requires an operator to conduct a periodic evaluation of each pipeline segment, as frequently as needed, to assure the pipeline’s integrity. An operator would determine frequency based on specified risk factors plus other factors specific to the pipeline segment. The evaluation is based, in part, on the information analysis the operator has made of the entire pipeline to determine what history and operations elsewhere could be relevant to the segment. The evaluation must also consider the past and present integrity assessment results, and decisions about repair, and preventive and mitigative actions. The evaluation must be done by a person qualified to evaluate the results and other related data. As with the baseline assessment,
Related Questions
- How often must periodic integrity assessments be performed on pipeline segments that can affect an HCA after the baseline assessment is completed?
- What kinds of information must be integrated in performing a continual evaluation of pipeline integrity?
- What are the state Pipeline Safety agency roles in the integrity management inspection process?
