Route selection for onshore pipelines has become progressively more complex over the past several decades due to ongoing land development and expansion of public and private infrastructure, coupled with increased population. During the same period, protection of the environment and avoidance of negative impact to sensitive cultural features have become paramount objectives for all cross-country pipeline projects. With these issues, regulatory and permitting requirements have become more challenging, and compliance has become more arduous. Recognizing these challenges, the Pipeline Research Council...
Route selection for onshore pipelines has become progressively more complex over the past several decades due to ongoing land development and expansion of public and private infrastructure, coupled with increased population. During the same period, protection of the environment and avoidance of negative impact to sensitive cultural features have become paramount objectives for all cross-country pipeline projects. With these issues, regulatory and permitting requirements have become more challenging, and compliance has become more arduous. Recognizing these challenges, the Pipeline Research Council International (PRCI) initiated a project to evaluate current route selection methodologies and identify aspects in need of improvement. The final product of this effort is this guidance document, Guideline for Onshore Pipeline Route Evaluation and Selection. The route selection guideline was developed to provide pipeline owners, engineering organizations, and pipeline specialists with comprehensive guidance for onshore pipeline route evaluation and selection. The guideline is expected to benefit pipeline owners and contractors alike by eliminating or reducing costs resulting from failure to anticipate conditions that could impact construction. More specifically, pipeline construction contractors should benefit from more confident route definition that will allow the reduction of contingency items in their cost estimates.