Framework of pipeline integrity management

Abstract

Pipeline integrity is the cornerstone of many industrial and engineering systems. This paper provides a review and analysis of pipeline integrity that will support professionals from industry who are investigating technical challenges of pipeline integrity. In addition, it will provide an overview for academia to understand the complete picture of pipeline integrity threats and techniques to deal with these threats. Pipeline threats are explained and failures are classified. Design practices are discussed using pressure criteria. Inspection techniques are studied and used as a basis for describing the corresponding integrity assessment techniques, which are linked with integrity monitoring and maintenance criteria. Finally, pipeline integrity management system design is presented using activity models, process models, and knowledge structures. The paper will be useful for further development of automated tools to support pipeline integrity management.