| Client | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Transco | IGE/TD/1 Audit | Audit of the design and operation of over 3000km of gas transmission pipelines against latest code recommendations. |
| Allseas | Girth Weld Defect Acceptance Limits | Determination of the acceptable girth weld defect limits for pipelay (taking into consideration static, dynamic and fatigue loading during installation and operation). |
| Transco | Wrinkled Field Bends | Fitness-for-purpose assessment of wrinkled field bends, including a finite element analysis of the bend. |
| Conoco | Crude Oil Import Line Integrity Assessment | Pipeline integrity assessment of a crude oil import line based on tethered ultrasonic intelligent pig inspection data. |
| Laing | Pipeline Protection for Crossings | Qualitative risk-based study looking at pipeline protection methods. The work involved assessing the effect on the failure frequencies due to third party damage of various pipeline protection options. |
| BP | Feasibility Study for Greater than 80% SMYS Operation | A reliability-based limit state design feasibility study of a high pressure onshore gas transmission pipeline with a design factor in excess of 0.8. The work involved an assessment of all credible failure modes using structural reliability methods, and a consideration of the implications of the high design factor on inspection and maintenance requirements. |
| TFE | Integrity Assessment | An analysis of the significance of internal and external features detected in a high-temperature, high-pressure multiphase pipe-in-pipe system. |
| ADMA OPCO | Probabilistic Life Assessment | Remnant life prediction of two large diameter tanker loading lines using probabilistic methods to take account of inspection measurement uncertainty. |
| Amerada Hess | Water Injection Line | Fitness-for-purpose assessment of defects identified by ultrasonic pig in a water injection pipeline. |
| TFE | Oil Loading Line | Fitness-for-purpose assessment of a mothballed tanker loading pipeline. The study included a detailed review of the inspection data, evaluation of the corrosion process, and advice regarding repair and future operation. |
| TFE | Pipeline Fitness-for-Purpose Verification | Independent verification of the fitness for purpose of a 24" offshore wet gas pipeline containing severe top of line corrosion. The study included consideration of the failure mode, defect interaction, complex effect geometry, and external loading. |
| Chevron | Integrity and Pipeline Inspection Study | Review, inspection, and remedial work on an onshore gas system (above and below ground). This review included field surveys, and integrity and risk assessments of all pipeline segments. The suitability of the pipeline for both cleaning and smart pigging was assessed. We provided the Client with a cleaning scope, and sourced cleaning vendors or tools to get the best option. We then scoped an on-line inspection, and sourced three reputable vendors. We obtained prices and negotiated contracts for the Client. |
| OMV | Integrity Review | Risk-based integrity review of an onshore gas pipeline system in Pakistan to assess options for uprating the pipeline. |
| Joint Industry Project | Pipeline Defect Assessment Manual | Development of a simple manual summarising many of the currently available defect assessment methods applicable to the broadest range of pipeline defects and failure modes. The manual provides an easy to use guide, with supporting electronic work files and examples, to permit quick assessment of damage. Twelve international oil and gas pipeline operators and regulatory bodies jointly fund the work. |
| ADMA-OPCO | Zakum 30 in. Main Oil Line Remnant Life Assessment | Remnant Life Assessment of a major pipeline system. The project included the reconciliation of MFL and U/T Intelligent Pig Inspections and localised external ultrasonic inspections. Predictions for future corrosion were made using process calculations based on historic and future operating conditions, prediction of future corrosion rates for the determination of a risk-based inspection strategy. |
| ADMA-OPCO | GGII 18 in. Gas Line Remnant Life Assessment | Remnant Life Assessment of pipeline system. Reconciliation of MFL and U/T Intelligent Pig Inspections and external ultrasonic localised inspections. Predictions local operating conditions using process calculations based on historic and proposed future operating conditions, prediction of future corrosion rates for the determination of a risk based inspection strategy. |
| ADOC (Japan) Ltd | Mubarras 4 in. Main Oil Line Remnant Life Assessment | Remnant Life Assessment of pipeline including reconciliation of two MFL intelligent pig surveys, analysis of local operating conditions and estimation of expected local corrosion rates for use in a risk-based inspection strategy. |
| BP | Spoolpiece Corrosion Assessment | Fitness-for-purpose assessment of corrosion of spoolpieces at a BP platform. The work involved a statistical evaluation of defect growth and probabilistic analysis, using the results of several inspections of the corroded area. The probabilistic predictions of corrosion rates were used with appropriate fitness-for-purpose methods to assist BP in developing a risk-based inspection strategy. |
| AMOCO | Valhall Pipeline | Development of Risk-Based Inspection strategy (also including maintenance and repair) at the design stage of the pipeline project, with particular attention given to the monitoring of seismic movements. |
| BG | Rough Field Submarine Pipeline | Development of Risk-Based Inspection strategy for the monitoring of critical spans, depth of cover, third party interference and riser integrity. Subsequent work included the updating of the RBI strategy on the basis of new inspection results. |
| Shell/PDO | Corrosion Model | A study to develop a probabilistic based model for assessing corrosion. The approach used a time dependent reliability analysis of the defect growth mechanism and determined the probability of a leak or burst. This was subsequently used to assess the inspection plan and repair strategies for a particular pipeline. |
| Mobil North Sea Limited | Beryl Pipelines | Development of a Risk-Based Inspection strategy for all of the Beryl area pipelines. |
| Elf Caledonia Ltd. | Pipeline Criticality Review | Remnant Life Prediction for 30 in. Main Oil Line from Piper B and Claymore, 16/6 in. Gas Export and McCulloch Gas and Oil Export Pipelines. Long term integrity and inspection advice was given. |
| BP | Miller | Risk-Based Inspection strategy for setting the optimum inspection intervals for subsea pipeline inspections. Probabilistic models were developed for the analysis of spanning, buckling and on-bottom stability. |
| BP | Forties | Probabilistic corrosion assessment. |
| BP | Forties | Risk-Based Inspection strategy for setting the optimum inspection intervals for subsea pipeline inspections. Probabilistic models were developed for the analysis of spanning, buckling and on-bottom stability. |
| BP | Ninian | Probabilistic corrosion assessment. |
| Shell | External Inspection | Risk-Based Inspection strategy for subsea pipelines for setting the optimum inspection intervals for RoV inspections for spans. |
| Total Oil Marine | North Sea Pipeline System | A Risk-Based Inspection strategy for all of Total's pipelines in the North Sea was developed. |
| Conoco | Sand Erosion | A reliability model was developed to predict sand erosion in a pipeline system. The probabilistic model was incorporated into a simple cost-benefit model and used to predict inspection intervals. |
| Apache Energy | Uprating | Probabilistic methods were applied to assessing whether or not it was acceptable to operate the pipeline at a higher pressure. |
| BP | Wilton to Grangemouth Ethylene Pipeline | Assessing the probability of failure of a land-based product pipeline, and using a cost model to assess the best year to start inspection and the optimum intervals between inspections. |
| BP | 30 in. Reuse Project | A study using structural reliability and statistical methods to determine whether it was acceptable to re-commission a 'mothballed' subsea pipeline. |
| Transco | Uprating of the Bulk Supply System | Reliability-based, limit state design analysis of defects in pipeline welds and of failure due to fatigue loading, to assess the increase in the probability of failure due to the uprating of the pipeline to a pressure above the code allowable limit. Additional work included a review of inspection requirements in high pressure pipelines, and an assessment of the implications of the new operating pressure on the inspection and maintenance requirements. Assistance was also given to Transco on the formal submission of the Safety Case to the Health and Safety Executive. |
| Transco | 85 bar Uprating Project | Independent audit of the DNV and Transco calculations of the probability of failure due to external interference. |
| Amoco | Valhall Inspection Requirements | Demonstration of requirement for pre-commissioning baseline survey against the need for pre-commissioning hydrotest. Substantial statutory pressure for 'finger-print' in-line inspection was allayed in light of the proposed inspection strategy. |
| Joint Industry Project | Guidance for Limit State Design, and Reliability Methods Applied to Pipelines. | Development of a 'toolbox' of techniques used in the structural reliability assessment of design, construction, operation and maintenance of transmission pipelines. The objective of the project is to provide an industry accepted methodology for the structural reliability assessment and decision making process for pipeline design, operation and maintenance. This involves probability concepts, risk-based design, risk-based inspection, code calibration, uprating using risk comparison, fault tree analysis, cost minimisation, and other techniques that have been applied in the pipeline arena, and also in associated industries. Eight international companies sponsor this project. |
| Gas Research Institute | Quantifying Pipeline Design at 72% SMYS as a Precursor to Increasing the Design Stress Level | A study to provide quantitative evidence of the potential to operate gas pipelines at a higher design factor than 72% SMYS. The work involves conducting statistical analysis of input data, correlating variable and assessing the accuracy of various deterministic failure states, and combining them into a limit state model in order to determine the probability and consequences of failure. The outcome will be used to either produce guidance on the risk or establish new class locations for consequence. |
| Joint Industry Project | High Temperature/High Pressure Pipelines | Development of industry accepted design practice for high pressure, high temperature subsea pipelines. The project includes material selection, loading duty and appropriate design analysis, pipe-in-pipe systems and operational and inspection practices. Material testing and full-scale tests are also included in this project. Seven international oil and gas companies are sponsoring this project. |
| Stena | Alwyn Liquids Export Pipeline, Trawl Board Interaction Study | A study to investigate the likely fishing gear interactions that may take place over the design life of the pipeline, and to assess to what extent the resulting damage may affect the integrity of the pipeline. The work included the development of a probabilistic model for fishing gear interaction, and the prediction of a statistical relationship for the predicted dent depth. This work was combined with a study of the effect of dents on the static and fatigue strength of the pipeline. |
| BG Technology | Linepipe Corrosion Group Sponsored Project | Involved in a joint industry project, run by BG Technology, for the development of improved guidelines for the assessment of corrosion defects in pipelines. The project involved a complete revision of the existing ANSI/ASME corrosion assessment guidelines, based on the results of full-scale tests and finite element analysis. Subsequently, assisted in the development of DNV RP-F101, for the deterministic and probabilistic assessment of corroded linepipe. |
| AIOC | Impact Study of Chirag-Export Pipeline | Assessment of impact damage in an offshore pipeline, together with a study of the types of impact (dropped objects, anchors, etc.) that may have caused the damage. |
