Richard Norsworthy, Edward J. Ondak and Frank E. Rizzo, PhD, FERA Engineering and Training, USA, discuss the steps required for the successful use of direct assessment to test pipeline integrity, as well as common errors to avoid. Under US PHMSA regulations 49 CFR 192, operators of gas pipelines containing high consequence areas must create and comply with an integrity management (IM) plan. The purpose of an IM plan is to demonstrate that the subject pipelines have integrity and are safe to operate. This plan must state how the operator will avoid future damage to the pipeline. A valid IM plan must describe how the operator will monitor the pipeline to assure that threats to it have been successfully mitigated or neutralised.
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