Maintaining Pipeline Integrity

Pipelines are essential to move raw materials and products throughout the world.  According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), the U.S. alone has more than 200,000 miles of hazardous liquid pipelines and about 2.5 million miles of natural gas pipelines.  The Department of Transportation (DOT) maintains jurisdiction over pipeline operations, and delegates the responsibility to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  Common products that are transported on pipelines include natural gas, crude oil, gasoline, diesel, propane, LNG, and carbon dioxide. 

The pipeline industry is focused on safely delivering products to customers in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way

The pipeline industry is focused on safely delivering products to customers in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective way.  TRC companies is an industry leader that supports pipeline operators through design, engineering, construction, and operations of their pipelines.  Pipeline integrity is a major focus of pipeline operators, as it is the framework in which the products are transported to their destination. 

Pipeline integrity requires highly skilled employees to perform risk analysis and establish incident mitigation plans of pipeline operations and associated equipment, control internal and external corrosion, collect and assess field and internal inspection data, and evaluate companies’ programs and procedures against the regulatory requirements established by PHMSA.  By integrating all these elements, companies that own and operate these pipelines can safely and efficiently move the products from their source to destination. 

As the energy industry is transitioning to lower carbon options, pipeline companies are also investing in technologies to enable thetransition.  This transition ranges from pipelines transporting natural gas blended with hydrogen tothe design and installation of new carbon dioxide (CO₂) pipelines.  Technical experts have a depth of knowledge and experience to support pipeline operators and the challenges that may come with the energy transition.

Future Trends

• More CO₂ pipelines will be needed to transport captured CO₂ to suitable sequestration locations.  Today there are a few companies that are transporting CO₂ on pipelines throughout the United States, and there are several new companies that are at the beginning stages of new CO₂ pipeline projects.  Early engagement with stakeholders and the communities will be critical to the success of the projects. 

• With the additional incentive to sequester carbon, companies will remove the carbon from natural gas and transport a stream of natural gas blended with hydrogen.  Some pipelines may even be completely switched from natural gas service to hydrogen service.  Blending hydrogen or a complete switch to hydrogen will bring new safety and technical challenges to operating the pipelines.  Risk management and engineering solutions will be central throughout the transition.

• Compliance requirements for hazardous liquid and gas pipelines will continue to increase.  With an increase in CO₂ and hydrogen transportation, PHMSA will need to develop new regulations and revise existing regulations.  The new regulations for CO₂ and hydrogen are likely to cause existing regulations to also be updated.  Increasing regulation has been a theme for the past 50 years andcan be expected to continue into the foreseeable future.

• As communities grow, pipeline operators will see homes and businesses built closer to their assets.  Although operating pipelines in proximity to homes and businesses is not new for pipeline companies, the growth in addition to new products transported (natural gas blended with hydrogen and CO₂) will create new opportunities for operators’ interaction with stakeholdersalong the pipeline routes.

Pipelines have proven to be a safe and efficient way to transport hazardous liquids and gasses throughout the United States.  The companies operating these pipelines are focused on public safety and reliable operations of their assets.  Serving in this industry is challenging and enjoyable.