May 15, 2013

MEETING 

PRESENTATIONS
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

I n s t i t u t e o f N u c l e a r P o w e r O p e r a t i o n s

INPO Perspectives

NRC Buried and Underground Piping Meeting

April 25, 2013 

Joe Sears

Manager, Chemistry
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Key Topics

• INPO’s NEI 09-14 role 

• Industry Performance 

–Plant evaluations

–Operating experience

•ICES reporting

• Questions
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

NEI 09-14 INPO Responsibilities

• Evaluate programs

• Communicate issues to the 

industry

• Compile and report operating 

experience to NSIAC
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Key Topics

• INPO’s NEI 09-14 role 

• Industry Performance 

–Plant evaluations

–Operating experience

•ICES reporting

• Questions
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Areas for Improvement

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

Leaks Program U/G & CP CP TOTAL AFIs

Performance deficiencies not included
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

2012 AFI Summary

• Nine AFIs; Four Performance Deficiencies

– Five – underground piping

– Four – cathodic protection

• Improvement needed

– Risk ranking review thoroughness

– Leak extent of condition addressed

– Leaks occurring and the source is unknown

– Cathodic protection health or none installed

– Input results in ICES (small number unacceptable)
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Good Underground Piping Program 

Attributes

• Failure causes identified

• Risk ranking challenge board

• Cathodic protection installation

• Zero leak tolerance – especially in piping 

containing radioactive fluids

• Effective station and corporate oversight

• Healthy collaboration between UP, CP and GW

• Effective use of corrective action program 
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Key Topics

• INPO’s NEI 09-14 role 

• Industry Performance 

–Plant evaluations

–Operating experience

•ICES reporting

• Questions
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

April 2013 Number of Reported Events 

by Year and Failure Mode

78

99

81

69

8

8

14

5

5

8

4 4

2

4 15 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

Adverse 

inspection 

finding (requires 

immediate 

repair)

Other 

degradation or 

maintenance

Significant leak

Leak

Source: ICES
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Most Commonly Affected Systems

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

Potable

Water

Distribution

System

Fire

Protection

System

(Water)

Essential

Service

Water

System

Sanitary

Waste

Processing

System

Nonessential

Service

Water

System

No Industry

Std. Name

for this

system

CVC/Makeup

and

Purification

Sys. (PWR)

Circulating

Water

Structures

Condensate

Storage and

Transfer

System

Wastewater

Disposal

System
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Essential Service

Water System

Sanitary Waste

Processing System

CVC/Makeup and

Purification Sys.

(PWR)

Condensate Storage

and Transfer System

Wastewater

Disposal System

Number of Events

Most Commonly Affected Systems 

Relative to NEI 09-14
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Contains 

Licensed Material

6%

Safety Related

9%

Contains 

Environmentally 

Hazardous Fluid

5%

Other Buried 

Piping-run to 

failure

68%

Other Buried 

Piping-not run to 

failure

12%

Buried Pipe Events Classification
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Cracking

8%

Galvanic Corrosion

1%

General Corrosion

19%

Other Internal

21%

Selective Leaching

0%

Flange, seal, or 

mechanical joint 

failure

2% Other

36%

Mechanical Overload

8%

Pitting

5%

UPTI Failure Codes
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

Questions
© 2013 Institute of Nuclear Power Operations 

I n s t i t u t e o f N u c l e a r P o w e r O p e r a t i o n s

To promote excellence in the 

operation of commercial 

nuclear power plants.