Welcoming New Members to PRCI PRCI is pleased to welcome back ConocoPhillips as a Pipeline Operating Company Member and to announce that Shell Global Solutions US Inc., RCP Inc. and Riccardelli Consulting Services have joined as Associate Members. ... AuthorPRCI Read More
PRCI R&D Highlighted at 2013 Banff Pipeline Workshop PRCI staff and member company representatives played a significant role in the proceedings at the 2013 Banff Pipeline Workshop , which was held from April 8-11, 2013, in Banff, Alberta, Canada. The workshop was attended by nearly 800 pipeline professionals and included a series of tutorials ... AuthorPRCI Read More
PRCI Initiates a Comprehensive Study on ILI Crack Tool Reliability Through its Operations & Integrity Technical Committee, PRCI is implementing a project to evaluate data and establish the reliability of in-line inspection (ILI) crack detection tools. The project will include a complete and comprehensive study of existing ILI and NDE/in ditch data that is ... AuthorPRCI Read More
Final Preparations Underway for 19th Joint Technical Meeting One of the great benefits of PRCI is access to world renowned leaders in the energy pipeline industry. Every two years PRCI and its tripartite R&D partners, the European Pipeline Research Group (EPRG) and the Australian Pipeline Industry Association’s Research and Standards Committee ... AuthorPRCI Read More
PRCI Submits Proposals to PHMSA for R&D Projects and Consolidated Programs Following notification by US DOT PHMSA on the approval of the three White Papers that PRCI submitted in response to the PHMSA Research Announcement for pipeline R&D projects, PRCI prepared and submitted technical proposals to more fully describe the scope of work and provide detailed ... AuthorPRCI Read More
PRIME is Getting a Makeover An essential element of member participation in PRCI is the database software tool to support the operation of our research program called PRIME (Pipeline Research Implementation Management Engine). PRIME is built for various classes of users within PRCI’s operations including: 1.) ... AuthorPRCI Read More
Underground Storage Brine String Vibration Field Test Solicitation The limiting factor for storage cavern injection and withdrawal rates is typically the stability of the hanging brine string, the pipe that protrudes from the wellbore into the cavern. Brine string failures can occur due to buckling or from interference with the casing at the top of the cavern ... Read More
Solar Turbines Part Load Efficiency Solar Turbines completed a project to improve the fuel efficiency of their Mars gas turbine operating at part load conditions. The effort successfully developed equipment to reliably reduce part load fuel consumption that also significantly increased the operating power range. Key Results ... Read More
Sleeve End Fillet Weld Stress Intensity Factor Solutions Full encirclement repair sleeves with fillet-welded ends are often used as permanent repairs on pipelines to reinforce and develop pressure retaining repairs on areas with defects, such as cracks, dents, or corrosion. In-service failures have occurred at pressure retaining sleeves as a result of ... Read More
Report Out from 2013 Winter Facilities Technical Committee Meetings Compressor and Pump Station Technical Committee Meetings The Compressor and Pump Station Technical Committee held their winter meeting in January. The first day of the meeting was a joint session with the Gas Machinery Research Committee. A representative of INGAA was also in attendance. The ... Read More
Pipeline Program Technical Committees to Meet in May 2013 for 2014 R&D Program Development PRCI’s Pipeline Program Technical Committees (TCs), including Corrosion, Design, Materials, & Construction (DMC), and Operations & Integrity O&I, will be meeting from May 21-23 in Chicago, IL to develop the 2014 R&D program annual voting ballot. The ballot will be developed ... Read More
Mechanical Seal Auxiliary System Guideline Centrifugal pumps are used in a variety of applications throughout the world and these pumps rely on mechanical seals to prevent the process fluid from being released into the environment. In order to get the highest level of performance from the seals, auxiliary systems are used to condition the ... Read More
Leak Detection Program: Completed Field Testing for PL-1-1 A field test was conducted to evaluate the ability of various negative-wave technologies to detect small leaks on liquid pipelines. A series of fluid withdrawals were conducted to simulate releases from a 41-km segment of a 30-inch diameter heavy-crude pipeline. The objectives of the test are to ... Read More
Field Testing and Verification of Existing Tool Capabilities for Mechanical Damage Detection and Characterization The primary objectives of this study was to conduct a performance evaluation of current technologies for detection and discrimination of mechanical damage using improved in-ditch tools, with the objective of minimizing errors for in field validation/measurement of dents. This research is an ... Read More
Evaluation of the Corrosiveness of Glycol-Water Mixtures in Dry Gas Transmission Pipelines Nearly all natural gas transported by pipelines must be processed to remove moisture content in order to meet the pipeline specification for both economic and pipeline integrity reasons. The absorption method, the most commonly used approach to remove water from natural gas, uses liquid desiccant ... Read More
Enhancements to Meter Station Design Tool Completed The second phase of the Meter Station Design Tool (MSDT) has been completed. The MSDT is an updated software application that leads facility designers and engineers through the design process for a natural gas flow meter station. The MSDT helps ensure new meter stations being designed from ... Read More
Engine Continuous Performance Assessment and Diagnostics The Compressor and Pump Station Technical Committee continues to develop tools and methods to continually assess the performance of engines used at compressor stations. These tools are intended to be used to verify the operation of the engine is operating within its permitted ... Read More
Criteria for Susceptibility to Circumferential SCC Most leaks or ruptures due to stress-corrosion cracking (SCC) originate at clusters of cracks that are oriented in the longitudinal, or axial, direction of the pipe. This mode of failure has been under investigation since 1965, when high-pH SCC was first discovered, and near-neutral-pH SCC ... Read More
Comparative Analysis of Performances of Pipeline Inspection Technologies Using Guided Waves and Ranges of Applicability PRCI has completed a comprehensive study on the performance of Long-Range Guided Wave Ultrasonic Technology (GWUT) and completed review of the Draft Report prepared to describe the results and key findings of this work. The work was completed by GDF Suez at their CRIGEN R&D Facility in Saint ... Read More
Characterization of Detection & Measurement Uncertainties Associated with ILI Crack Detection Tools The Draft Final Report presents the findings of a two-phased study completed by C-FER Technologies on evaluating the performance capabilities of ILI crack detection tools with regard to detecting and sizing/characterizing crack features. The evaluation of ILI tool performance is based on API 1163 ... Read More
Baseline Work Load Study for Control Room Operations PRCI is presenting the 2012 project developments at the 2013 API Pipeline Conference as part of a panel scheduled during the Control Room Session; this panel includes PRCI, pipeline operators, and PHMSA on the panel to provide a broad perspective on Control Room Management issues. The PRCI project ... Read More