Pipeline Transportation of Hazardous Materials - an Updated Quantitative Risk Assessment Methodology

摘要

Pipeline transportation of hazardous materials is increasing globally. Major accidents involving pipelines continue to occur. A wide range of guidance is available from various sources for robust quantitative risk assessment (QRA) of mobile and pipeline transportation of hazardous materials. Derived from the aforementioned sources, this paper describes new hazardous pipeline risk assessment capabilities implemented in the Safeti QRA software package. The methodology includes automatic loss of containment case generation based on pipeline construction, topography and operating parameters. The geometrical nature of pipelines and their associated risk footprint relating to people, surrounding assets and the environment are often long and relatively narrow. Creation of risk contours around such geometries requires use of high aspect ratio grids. The calculation algorithm required for high aspect ratio hazard and risk zones such as those presented by pipelines is a challenge to traditional risk contour based risk assessment techniques for process plants. The new methodology introduces a method for adaptive grid solution for long pipelines for optimal computation and result accuracy. The new adopted risk analysis method also introduces a time-varying fire simulation to account for the time-varying flow phenomenon typically experienced with pipeline breaches. In summary this paper demonstrates how these QRA methodology enhancements provide analysts with the tools necessary to perform rigorous assessment and management of pipeline risks in a consistent and efficient manner using validated models.