Enhancement of Mechanical Damage Crack Evaluation

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a project undertaken to enhance previously developed tools being adopted in an industry recommended practice (API RP 1183) for pipeline mechanical damage (MD) integrity assessment and management. This project builds on MD assessment and management tools, developed on behalf of Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI), Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), American Petroleum Institute (API), other research organizations and individual pipeline operators and were included in API RP 1183. The specific tasks in the current project included the assessment and improvement of indentation crack formation strain estimation methods, evaluation of the impact of ILI measurement accuracy on dent integrity assessment, and level of conservatism (safety factor) inherent in different levels of dent fatigue life assessment incorporated in API 1183.