Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/492982
a p r i l / m a y 2 0 1 5 www.resourceworld.com 53 it has been maintained and monitored appropriately. Reicher said a pipeline could last for decades, though, as it ages, it may require more upkeep and maintenance. It might become apparent that a part used during a certain era may be susceptible to particular issues, but knowing this allows operators to inspect that part more frequently, with special attention to the type of wear and tear they've come to expect, based on experience. "The technology and materials used dur- ing certain eras of pipeline construction are much more important than the age. These 'influencers' are known to pipeline opera- tors and this information is factored into their operations and maintenance schedules so they're unlikely to miss any problems," he said, adding that factors include pro- tective coatings, joining methods, and the properties of the steel used for pipes. Depending on the defects found, dif- ferent methods can be used to repair pipelines: replacements of damaged sections with new pipeline, and using cas- ings, sleeves and protective coatings. "For example, when dealing with corrosion, control methods such as cathodic protec- tion, protective coatings and appropriate material selection are all utilized to mini- mize external corrosion," Reicher said. Internal corrosion monitoring, coatings, use of a cleaning machine, and periodic injection of a chemical corrosion inhibi- tor are common practice to protect against internal corrosion. Reicher noted that main trunk pipelines typically flow at suf- ficiently high rates that the inside of the pipe is kept quite clean and internal cor- rosion has little chance to develop. But the flow speed in crude oil pipelines is below the level at which the material being trans- ported could be abrasive to the pipe. This is done to keep friction from the fluid and resulting power costs at a reasonable level. Oil pipelines typically flow at about 5 kph, the best balance between the need to keep the speed sufficiently high so batches don't mix and low enough to minimize energy loss from friction. Oil sands crude is run through strainers and meters before entering the pipeline system, so there is no "sand" in the pipeline to scratch or cor- rode the interior of the pipe, he added. Reicher said CEPA is focusing on new technologies that include using special coatings to prevent corrosion, monitoring pipeline right-of-ways with advanced con- trol room technologies, and using inline inspection tools to scan for leaks and irregu- larities – even in small-diameter pipelines. "Good maintenance is the key. You can't prevent time-dependent hazards such as corrosion, but you can mitigate it through different methods of corrosion control. And technology is also constantly evolv- ing," he said. (Visit http://www.cepa.com/ mother-nature-unpredictable-pipeline- technology-is-trying-to-change-that) To ensure that new pipelines are as safe as possible, Reicher said, their design involves consideration of several factors, including the distance to be traveled, the expected volumes to be received and delivered over the pipeline, and the type and range of products to flow through the pipe. These factors determine how thick the pipe needs to be to ensure safety and how many pumping or compression stations are needed to keep the energy products flowing smoothly and safely through it. For example, a different mate- rial is used for a pipeline crossing a water body than one not crossing a water body. CEPA says that since 2002 most trans- mission pipeline failure incidents have been minor, with little risk to the public or the environment. The number of 'signifi- cant' incidents in that period – involving serious injury or fatality, a liquid release of greater than 50 barrels, an unintentional ignition or fire, or a line break – has aver- aged 3.5 per year. "…99.9995% of the liquid product was safely delivered [by pipeline]" Protesters cite the dangers inherent in pipeline transmission – hundreds of acci- dents annually; antiquated pipes (over a million kilometres of US pipe are more than 50 years old); minimal oversight and inadequate precautions. Tony Iallonardo of the National Wildlife Federation has called pipelines "ticking time bombs", suggest- ing that as they age and are exposed to the elements spills are inevitable. But Philippe Reicher, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) vice-president of external relations, says age is a "minor factor" in the integrity of a pipeline – if