Project Starts: Geohazard Management - Multiple Projects

Project Starts: Geohazard Management - Multiple Projects

The Design Materials & Construction (DMC) Technical Committee’s focus for the past quarter has been on completing the updates of the research plans for the seven DMC Emphasis Areas leading to the development of research ideas for the coming annual funding cycle. These areas cover the spectrum of DMC responsibility including: Assessment & Repair, Design, Construction, Materials, Fracture, Geohazard Management and Welding.

Several DMC projects achieved significant milestones in the past year, delivering products that could be used by operators, now. These were presented to the membership at the annual Research Exchange that was completed in February.

By the end of the first quarter of this year over 80% of the projects funded for 2016 had been awarded. Project Teams have approved proposals for two of the remaining three projects with the other one being finalized now in response to guidance from that Project Team.

Geohazard Management – New Inititives. Research commenced on three initiatives to improve operator capabilities for the management of geohazard effects on energy pipelines.

• SBD-1-3 targets a better understanding of the effect of pipeline wall loss (Corrosion) on strain capacity, The other two projects are focused on guidelines that operators can use in the area of geohazards.
• ENV-1-1 will provide comprehensive guidance and procedures that can be used to establish performance requirements for managing pipeline integrity in the context of geohazards that include earthquakes, landslides, and subsidence.
• SBD-1-2 will provide fundamental guidance to operators for conducting strain-based assessment of buried pipelines subjected to ground movement.