Pipeline Research Council

International, Inc.

Collaborative Model for

Pipeline Safety and
Integrity

Cliff Johnson
President
ASME International Pipeline
Geotechnical Conference
July 25, 2017
Lima, Peru

www.prci.org

Overview
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ƒ Overview of PRCI
ƒ Research program
ƒ Geotechnical Research

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Pipeline Research Council International, Inc.

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PIPELINE RESEARCH
ƒNatural Gas ƒKnowledge
ƒCrude Oil & Petroleum Products ƒTechnology
ƒBiofuels ƒDeployment & Transfer
ƒCO2 ƒInnovation
ƒRelated Facilities

COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL
ƒForum for Ideas & Opportunities ƒNorth America
ƒPeer-based ƒEurope
ƒIndustry-driven ƒSouth America
ƒSource of Research Inventory ƒMiddle East
ƒAsia
ƒAustralia
ƒAfrica

www.prci.org

PRCI Mission
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To collaboratively deliver relevant and

innovative applied research to continually
improve the global energy pipeline systems.

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Strategic Plan 2018 - 2022

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1. PRCI will enhance the tech transfer of the research portfolio with
a focus on usability and relevance to the operator members.
2. PRCI will improve the execution of the research portfolio and
achievement of the Research Objectives.
3. PRCI will create a community of collaborative research that
enables/establishes a culture of participation for members at all
levels: that enables networking, leadership development, and
professional development.
4. Identify, and when appropriate, pursue innovative, step-change,
pro-active solutions.
5. Ensure the sustainability of the Technology Development Center.

www.prci.org

PRCI Membership
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ƒ 33 Energy Pipeline Operating Companies

ƒ 17 Natural Gas Transmission; 8 Liquid
ƒ 8 Liquid/Natural Gas

ƒ 4 Pipeline Industry Organization (PIO) Members

ƒ American Petroleum Institute (API)
ƒ Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL)
ƒ Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)
ƒ Operations Technology Development (OTD)

ƒ 35 Associate Members & Technical Program Associate Members

ƒ Australia, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, Mexico, U.S.

ƒ Worldwide Research Organization

ƒ 41 U.S. Companies
ƒ 34 Non-U.S. (Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Japan, & Mexico)

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 Current Operator Membership
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ƒ Natural Gas ƒ Liquid

ƒ Alliance ƒ AOPL Mileage by  Operations
ƒ ATCO ƒ Buckeye
ƒ Boardwalk ƒ Chevron
ƒ Dominion ƒ Colonial
ƒ Energy ƒ ExxonMobil
Transfer ƒ Koch
ƒ ENGIE ƒ Marathon
ƒ Gassco ƒ Phillips 66
Natura l Gas  
ƒ Gasunie ƒ Plains 33%
ƒ National Fuel
ƒ National Grid ƒ Combo Combo
50%
ƒ OTD
ƒ ConocoPhillips
ƒ PG&E
ƒ Enbridge
ƒ SoCalGas
ƒ Enterprise
ƒ Spectra*
ƒ Kinder Morgan
ƒ Total
ƒ Petrobras
ƒ TransGas Liquid
ƒ PetroChina 17%
ƒ Williams
ƒ Shell
ƒ TransCanada

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History
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1952 Established in AGA to Solve Long-running Brittle Fractures

1975 First Biennial Joint Technical Meeting with EPRG
1980 Holland’s Gasunie First Non-North American Member
1999 Incorporated as a Not-for-Profit Corporation
2000 Separated from AGA
2001 Agreement with GTI to Consolidate Programs
2002 Business Plan Adopted by PRCI, INGAA, and AOPL Boards
2003 AOPL & 8 Liquid Pipelines Join; PRCI becomes an “Energy Pipelines” Organization
2003 Research Engagement with DOT/OPS Begins
2004 PRCI Terminates Relationship with GTI; Now Wholly Independent
2004 Membership Expanded to Include Associate Members
2005 “Vote Your Dollars” Adopted for Setting the Annual Program
2007 Tripartite MOU Between PRCI, EPRG, APIA
2010 Developed Strategic Plan for 2012 – 2017
2012 Established Technology Development Center
2013 Completed the Pipeline Industry Global R&D Roadmap
2015 New Technology Development Center Opening in Houston

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RESEARCH

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Research Objectives
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Research Objective Est. Timeline to 
meaningful 
impact
Develop and/or validate technology and  3 years
analytical processes that are capable of 
1 characterizing pipeline material properties 
with sufficient accuracy for application in 
pipeline integrity assessments.
Develop and enhance ILI technology to reliably  5 years
detect, size and characterize indications that 
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may be harmful to the integrity of the 
pipeline. 

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Research Objectives
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Research Objective Est. Timeline to 
meaningful 
impact
Develop, evaluate and enhance NDE technologies  5 years
and operator & data analyst performance to 
3 define the condition and assess the integrity of 
pipeline, facilities and associated infrastructure 
from outside or above the pipeline or facility.
Improve the accuracy and application of Fitness  5 years
for Service methodologies by reducing 
uncertainties.  Define, understand and improve 
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the key factors, including models that are involved 
in design, construction or integrity assessments of 
any component in systems covered by PRCI.

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Research Objectives
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Research Objective Est. Timeline to 
meaningful 
impact
Develop, demonstrate and validate repair  4 years
systems, including those that can be deployed 
5 on in‐service facilities.  Determine the useful 
life and safe operating envelopes of such 
repair systems. 
Develop, demonstrate and validate intrusion  9 years
monitoring and surveillance technologies to 
6 enhance detection of third‐party activities, 
ground movement and interferences 
potentially affecting pipeline infrastructure.

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Research Objectives
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Research Objective Est. Timeline 
to meaningful 
impact

Reduce all releases, i.e., leaks and emissions, from all parts of  10 years

hydrocarbon production, storage and transport infrastructure 
7 by developing, demonstrating and validating processes and 
technologies to detect, locate, measure, quantify and mitigate 
such releases.
Enhance operational efficiency, flexibility, and availability  4 years
including measurement functionality, accuracy, 
characterization of flows and custody transfer at all points in 
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production and delivery infrastructure including liquid 
pumping and gas compressor stations and all storage systems.

Pipeline Technical Committees & Focus

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ƒ Design, Materials & Construction

ƒ Assessment & Repair
ƒ Construction
ƒ Design
ƒ Fracture
ƒ Geohazard Management (Overlap with SOM)
ƒ Materials
ƒ Welding & Weld Inspection
ƒ Structural Integrity Assessment
ƒ Corrosion
ƒ Detection, Assessment, Prevention, & Management of Galvanic Corrosion
& SCC; Coatings
ƒ Improvement & Enhancement of Cathodic Protection; Design & Operations
ƒ Quantitative Risk Assessment

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Pipeline Technical Committees & Focus

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ƒ Integrity & Inspection

ƒ NDE Technology Development & Inspection Methods
ƒ Mechanical Damage
ƒ Pipeline Integrity
ƒ Subsea (Overlap with DMC)

ƒ Surveillance, Operations, & Monitoring

ƒ Threat Analysis & Damage Prevention
ƒ ROW Management – Environmental & Third-party
Interference
ƒ ROW Protection & Monitoring
ƒ Leak Detection (liquids)

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Facilities Technical Committees & Focus

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ƒ Compressor & Pump Station

ƒ Cost-effective Emissions Reduction and Emissions Monitoring (Overlap with SOM)
ƒ All Equipment in Stations – Engines, Turbines & Drives
ƒ Equipment Reliability, Availability & Life Extension
ƒ Improve Fuel Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Mitigation & Reporting
ƒ Measurement
ƒ Improve Custody Transfer Accuracy and Reduce Metering Errors and Bias
ƒ Support the Technical Underpinnings of Measurement Standards
ƒ Reduce Lost & Unaccounted For Gas and Reduce Measurement O&M Expenses
ƒ Expand the Operating Range of Existing Equipment
ƒ Underground Storage
ƒ Storage Reservoirs, Bedded Salt Structures & Salt Caverns
ƒ Wellbore and Cavern Integrity and Inspection
ƒ Field Deliverability and Facility Integrity & Reliability

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The Last Five Years Research Funding

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2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

CPS $1,152K $1,349K $1,163K $1,276K $1,746K

MEAS $599K $869K $893K $1,076K $786K

US $212K $159K $194K $298K $254K

CORR $1,161K $914K $895K $782K $1,163K

DMC $2,176K $1,957K $1,551K $1,795K $2,047K

I&I $4,163K $4,542K $5,038K $7,276K $3,735K

SOM $2,188K $2,053K $1,858K $838K $587K

Total $11.652M $11.843M $11.592M $13.341M $10.678M

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GEOTECHNICAL RESEARCH

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Pipeline Right-of-Way
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Encroachment

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Pipeline Route Selection

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Geohazards: Landslides
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Pipeline

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Major River Crossings

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Geohazards: River Crossings

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Geohazards: Fault Crossings

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Wind Loading & Structural Failure

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Wind Loading & Structural Failure

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www.prci.org

Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
ENV-1-1 Guidance for Establishing Geohazard Integrity Performance Goals

Objective
This project seeks to provide guidance and procedures that can be used by
pipeline operators to establish performance requirements for managing
pipeline integrity in the context of geohazards that include

ƒ Earthquakes
ƒ Landslides
ƒ Subsidence

Benefits
Establishment of a set of guidelines using various methods aimed to provide a
check and balance for operators geohazard risk in their pipeline integrity
programs.

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Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
ENV-4-1 Modernize the Assessment of Exposed Pipelines
Crossing Rivers

Objective
Investigation of the software methodology including hydrodynamic loading,
screening/allowable free spans and Vortex Induced Vibration (VIV) fatigue
loading.
Comparison with the state of the art formulations and validation of the
methodology. Propose further advancement in calculations where applicable
and add value

Benefits
The proposed project will update the software and give member companies an
enhanced tool with additional updated parameters to aid in integrity
assessments.

www.prci.org

Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
ENV-5-1 Update of PRCI Seismic Design and
Assessment Guidelines

Objective
This proposed project will update the PRCI seismic design and
assessment guidelines that, while published in 2004, reflect
information available prior to 1998.

Benefits
The proposed project will update published guidelines and make
available research based on technology advancements made in the
last 10+ years

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Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
SBD-1-2 Integrity Management of Buried Pipeline Subjected to Ground
Movement

Objective
Deliverables are: an industry methodology for safety factors and
probabilistic design, Strain Based Design guidance documents and
operational guidelines that are suitable for industry standards and
codes.

Benefits
Benefits include more accurate pipeline design for complex/demanding
environments and loading situations, greater safety and reliability and lower
cost.

www.prci.org

Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
SBD-1-3 Significance of Ground Movement on
Pipeline Integrity

Objective
The overall objective of this project is to develop guidance for
decisions related to the severity of observed geotechnical events on
existing pipelines based upon the design and surface observations
(no-excavation).

Benefits
This work will provide better understanding of the pipeline response to
localized slope failures and thus the operator may focus maintenance
efforts or design resources on those cases that pose a threat to
pipeline integrity

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Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
SBD-1-4 Assessment of Effect of Pipeline Wall Loss (Corrosion) on Strain
Capacity

Objective
The objective of the project is to experimentally evaluate the effect of
wall loss on strain capacity and to validate finite element modeling
results of the wall loss.

Benefits
Currently no systematic methods exist for Fitness for Service (FFS)
assessment of strain-based pipelines with wall loss damage. By
developing sound engineering methodologies for assessment,
operators will experience cost savings through reduced analysis and
intervention effort.

www.prci.org

Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects
Project Name
ROW-3 Conceptual Pipeline Integrity & Security
Management

Objective
The objective of the project conceptual
demonstration of a combined pipeline integrity
and security management surveillance system
and the development an overall framework for
its implementation

Benefits
Increase pipeline integrity and reliability
and secure critical infrastructure through
timely and cost effective ROW monitoring.
Reduction in 3rd party strikes.

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Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Active Projects

Project Name
ROW-3K Demonstration of the Use of Long
Endurance Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) to
Conduct Machinery Threat Detection and Oil Spill
Detection on a Pipeline Corridor

Objective
Demonstrate the operation of long endurance
(12-16 hour) UAS to conduct pipeline patrols.
Evaluate the performance differences between
manned & unmanned aircraft.

Benefits
Enhancing existing technology and processes
for monitoring pipeline safety.

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Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Completed Projects

Project Name
ABD-1-2 Review of Compressive Strain Capacity Assessment Methods

Deliverable
Pipelines may experience large longitudinal strains in areas of large
ground movements. Safe and economical design methodologies for
such large strain scenarios have been under development in recent
years.

This project examined the compressive buckling limit state that PRCI
and others had previously developed for compressive buckling.

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Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Completed Projects

Project Name
MAT-4-2 Develop an Understanding of Pipe Material Properties
including the Stress-Strain Curve Shape on Strain Demand

Deliverable
The final report provides an understanding of the influence of pipe
material property including stress-strain curve shape on strain demand
which enables optimization on pipe material specification to minimize
strain demand.

www.prci.org

Geohazards related to Pipelines

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Completed Projects
Project Name
ROW-6A Demonstration of Second Generation
Satellite-based Pipeline Integrity Management -
Lateral Ground Movement Detection Capabilities
Objective
Evaluate the use of SAR satellites to provide 3-
dimensional motion analysis of ground
movement along the pipeline right-of-way and
assist in identifying points where pipeline stress
may be accumulating from ground movement.
Benefits
To provide the pipeline industry with a cost
effective demonstration of the using satellites
with high-frequency coverage for monitoring
long-term geohazard management, particularly
in areas of high seismic activity or risk.

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TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
CENTER

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Technology Development Center - TDC

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TDC Existing Capabilities

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ƒ Services available to PRCI members and nonmembers

ƒ Pull test facility for In-line Inspection tools
• 24”, 16”, 12” & 8” pipe strings containing hundreds of fully characterized real &
manufactured defects.
• Main winch is capable of running consistent velocities from 1 mph to 11 mph
while pulling over 5,000 lbs.
ƒ Liquid loop test facility
• 12” & 6” nominal pipe utilizing water as the liquid medium
• Variety of configurations ranging from easily piggable to "difficult to inspect"
• Design incorporates the ability for continuous test cycles at a pressure of ANSI
Class 150 (285 psi)
ƒ Large inventory of pipe Samples with real-world and manufactured
defects
ƒ Qualification testing of NDE professionals and tools
ƒ Technology demonstrations
ƒ Warehouse space for conducting research and storing pipe samples
sensitive to the elements
ƒ State-of-the-art meeting space with conferencing capabilities

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Pull Test Strings Liquid Test Loop

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Pipe Warehouse & Testing Space

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Pipe Sample Inventory at TDC

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ƒ 1,158 total pipe samples; pipe size range from 2” to 52”

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QUESTIONS?

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Contact Info

Cliff Johnson
President
cjohnson@prci.org
www.prci.org
703-205-1600 ext. 114

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