Project Starts: Integrity Management of Vintage Girth Welds - 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.
Improvements in integrity management are another area of particular interest to industry.
Integrity Management of Vintage Girth Welds – Multiple Projects. The DMC TC has a suite of interrelated projects that are focused on improving the tools available to operators for the integrity management of vintage girth welds. These welds are generally considered to date from 1970 or earlier. The results will further assist in the prioritization of welds for inspection/remediation based on engineering evaluations. The following is an overview of this project suite: