# Presentation: 344022

## OPS Direct Assessment Workshop

**OPS Direct Assessment Workshop**

- OPS Direct Assessment Research and Development Projects
- James Merritt
- R&D Program Manager,
- Office of Pipeline Safety
- james.merritt@RSPA.DOT.GOV
- November 4, 2003

**Notes:**
Good Morning 
I plan on looking into the Crystal ball today and focus on IMP & OPS R&D role
Some of these slides were just added and are not in your handouts.

## OPS GOAL

- OPS R&D effort stimulates economic activity, creates job opportunities and strengthens the industry’s competitive position in global markets.
- OPS will match one-for-one industry’s R&D contribution to collaborative research. This will stretch industry’s research dollar and ensure OPS research priorities accurately reflect the sector’s real needs. Speed up the process of transferring new technology into the private sector.

**Notes:**
The OPS R&D Goals are to fill the technical Gaps and insure safe and reliable delivery of the nations energy needs.

## New Standards and RulesDriving Recognition of R&D Needs

- Need for Integrity Management Requirements Recognized
- New Assessment Technologies Available
- Ineffective Risk Data Integration Contributed to Major Incidents & Accidents
- Development of Consensus Standards and Rules Highlighted Knowledge and Technology Gaps

**Notes:**
Standards & Rules are the drivers 
New DA technologies are needed
OPS working with industry partners is planning to validate and showcase the new technologies though hosting workshops and public forums

## Examples of IdentifiedGaps

- Cost effective methods to Assess Pipes that cannot be Inspected using ILI
- Improved Leak Detection over a wide range of Leak Rates
- Ability to Real-Time Monitor Parameters affecting Pipe Integrity
- Ability to Integrate Risk Factor Data

**Notes:**
OPS is investigating three different approaches using Ultrasonics to inspect un-piggable pipe
Shorter response time in control room operations is an area OPS has identified for future R&D activitiey
Using DA information along with historical data to better predict failure analysis is a cost effective & time saving tool

## Continuing R&D Needsfor Direct Assessment

- Validate ECDA Techniques
- Validate Confirmatory Direct Assessment
- Validate Application of ECDA for Detection of Mechanical Damage
- Verify ICDA Consensus Standard
- Develop and Validate Wet-Gas ICDA Process
- Develop and Validate SCC DA Process

**Notes:**
OPS is planning a workshop on DA with other government agencies and industry 
We can research the heck out of something. New technologies also need to be validated in the field
In addition, new and or modified standards need to be put into place

## Recent R&D Projects

**Recent R&D Projects**
**Map**

## OPS co-funded DA R&Dactivities

**Remote-Field Eddy Current to Inspection of Unpiggable Pipelines ($87,500) – SwRI**
**Long-range Ultrasonic Method for Detection of Degradation in Buried, Unpiggable Pipelines ($500,000) –PetroChem Insp.**
**ICDA of Gas Transmission, Gathering & Storage Systems($260,165) -SwRI**
**Improvements to ECDA Assessment Methodology by Incorporating Soils Data & Managing the Integrity of Early Transmission Pipelines ($297K) –Battelle Corporation**
**Develop high-amplitude guided wave for long range pipeline inspection ($272,420)  -SwRI**

**Notes:**
The OPS R&D Goals are to fill the technical Gaps and insure safe and reliable delivery of the nations energy needs.

## Remote-Field Eddy Current toInspection of Unpiggable Pipelines

- GOAL: Demonstrate a pipeline inspection method that:
- Is sensitive to pipe wall thickness loss
- Implemented into a ILI tool
- Small enough or partially collapse to allow passage through internal restrictions
- TASK:
- Technology Assessment
- RFEC coil design
- Breadboard system
- RFEC evaluation

**Notes:**
The OPS R&D Goals are to fill the technical Gaps and insure safe and reliable delivery of the nations energy needs.

## Remote-Field Eddy Current toInspection of UnpiggablePipelines

**Notes:**
The OPS R&D Goals are to fill the technical Gaps and insure safe and reliable delivery of the nations energy needs.

## Remote-Field Eddy Current toInspection of UnpiggablePipelines

**Notes:**
The OPS R&D Goals are to fill the technical Gaps and insure safe and reliable delivery of the nations energy needs.