Risk-based integrity management: a report on the gas pipeline safety program

摘要

An average of 11 people have been killed or injured in the United States due to natural gas transmission pipeline incidents each year for the last 10 years, according to a report released by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) (Washington, D.C.). Further, the number of incidents increased from 77 in 1996 to 122 and 200 in 2004 and 2005, respectively. To improve upon this safety record, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002 requires that operators assess 20,000 miles (32,180 km) of pipeline segments (out of more than 295,000 miles [474,655 km] of pipeline nationwide) that run through highly populated or frequented areas. The pipeline segments are to be evaluated for such safety risks as corrosion, welding defects, or incorrect operation.