There is a need to improve the industry understanding of leak sources, failure mechanisms and causes within pipeline facilities through statistical analysis, and to use the findings of this effort to develop a PRCI Facilities Integrity Management Program, if appropriate, by developing processes and/or procedures for reducing/preventing leaks that could affect safety, the environment, and operations. This document presents an analysis of reportable incidents and releases from facilities for hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline systems in the U.S. For liquid pipelines, facilities includes...
There is a need to improve the industry understanding of leak sources, failure mechanisms and causes within pipeline facilities through statistical analysis, and to use the findings of this effort to develop a PRCI Facilities Integrity Management Program, if appropriate, by developing processes and/or procedures for reducing/preventing leaks that could affect safety, the environment, and operations. This document presents an analysis of reportable incidents and releases from facilities for hazardous liquid and gas transmission pipeline systems in the U.S. For liquid pipelines, facilities includes facilities releases studied from the Pipeline Performance Tracking System (PPTS) database for the 8-year period from 1999-2006. Gas transmission facilities releases were studied from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) gas transmission database for the 5-year period from 2002-2006 and some additional data obtained from PRCI members that operate gas transmission pipelines. The detailed analysis and examinations presented are directed at providing pipeline operators with the appropriate information to understand the key elements for developing a management system that addresses each type of failure on each type of equipment.