PRCI has completed a research project that addresses Industry Guidelines for Subsea Pipeline Integrity Management, or SPIM (PRCI Project Reference SPIM-1-1). The Final Report, prepared by Wood Group Integrity Management, presents Industry Guidelines and Best Practices for SPIM and consolidates current and existing PRCI studies, existing best practices, lessons learned, and guidance on the subject. PRCI sponsored the development of the Best Practices/Guidelines document based on the condition that there is no singular recognized industry standard approach for SPIM. Some existing standards focus on mechanical integrity of pipelines systems; while others identify underlying fundamentals to develop IM programs. PRCI member companies that operate subsea systems were concerned that separate methods may lead to inconsistencies when considering risk across an entire field system, leading to the development and implementation of the project. The guidelines are intended to provide operators with a structured, comprehensive approach to the integrity management of subsea pipeline system for any stage of field life. A comprehensive, systematic, and integrated integrity management program provides the means to improve the safety of subsea pipeline systems. Such a SPIM Program provides the information for an operator to effectively allocate resources for appropriate prevention, detection, and mitigation activities that will result in improved safety and a reduction in the number of incidents.
The SPIM Program consists of seven (7) Elements that are in a constant interaction, with the development of the SPIM Plan being the initial and fundamental step in the process and the key element (see figure below). The guidelines developed by PRCI require that the operator demonstrate how the requirements of the 7 Elements will be met.
The Industry Guidelines apply to subsea pipeline system that transport gas, oil, water or any other type of service. The guidelines are intended to cover production, transmission, and off-loading systems, and covers all subsea pipeline systems, including all parts of physical facilities through which fluid is transported, including flowlines, risers, jumpers, manifolds, PLEM, PLET, etc. To better describe what is covered by the SPIM guidelines and best practices, the report includes a series of drawing to graphically define the boundary conditions. An example of one of the drawings is shown below.
Through the development of the Industry Guidelines and Best Practices document, a number of gaps were identified that require additional focus and possibly even further research to address. PRCI has included a number of the identified gaps in its R&D Roadmap for Subsea Pipelines and will continue to progressively implement an R&D program for subsea pipelines that addressed these gaps on a prioritized basis.
PRCI member companies can access the preliminary Final Report on PRIME. If you would like further information on the Industry Best Practices report or the PRCI R&D Roadmap for Subsea Pipeline and Systems, please contact Mark Piazza, Director of PRCI’s Pipeline Program.