bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Applying the Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA) to Improve Safety Management of Oil and Gas Pipeline Stations in China
Authors: Feng Wenxing , Xiang Xiaoqiang , Jia Guangming , Dai Lianshuang , Gu Yulei , Yang Xiaozheng , Feng Qingshang , Zhou Lijian 
Published: July 2013

The oil and gas pipeline companies in China are facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges because of China’s increasing demand for oil and gas energy that is attributed to rapid economic and social development. Limitation of land resource and the fast urbanization lead to a determinate result that many pipelines have to go through or be adjacent to highly populated areas such as cities or towns. The increasing Chinese government regulation, and public concerns about industrial safety and environmental protection push the pipeline companies to enhance the safety, health and environmental protection management.
In recent years, PetroChina Pipeline Company (PPC) pays a lot of attention and effort to improve employees and public safety around the pipeline facilities. A comprehensive, integrated HSE management system is continuously improved and effectively implemented in PPC. PPC conducts hazard identification, risk assessment, risk control and mitigation, risk monitoring. For the oil and gas stations in highly populated area or with numerous employees, PPC carries out quantitative risk assessment (QRA) to evaluate and manage the population risk. To make the assessment, “Guidelines for quantitative risk assessments” (purple book) published by Committee for the Prevention of Disasters of Netherlands is used along with a software package.
The basic principles, process, and methods of QRA technology are introduced in this article. The process is to identify the station hazards, determinate the failure scenarios of the facilities, estimate the possibilities of leakage failures, calculate the consequences of failures and damages to population, demonstrate the individual risk and social risk, and evaluate whether the risk is acceptable. The process may involve the mathematical modeling of fluid and gas spill, dispersion, fire and explosion. One QRA case in an oil pipeline station is described in this article to illustrate the application process and discuss several key issues in the assessment.
Using QRA technique, about 20 stations have been evaluated in PPC. On the basis of the results, managers have taken prevention and mitigation plans to control the risk.
QRAs in the pipeline station can provide a quantitative basis and valuable reference for the company’s decision-making and land use planning. Also, QRA can play a role to make a better relationship between the pipeline companies and the local regulator and public. Finally, this article delivers limitations of QRA in Chinese pipeline stations and discusses issues of the solutions.
Digital Analysis of Rod Coupons for NACE Test Method TM0172: “Determining the Corrosive Properties of Petroleum Cargos”
Authors: Place Trevor , Murray Dave , Kosik Tom 
Published: July 2013

NACE Test Method TM0172, “Determining the Corrosive Properties of Petroleum Cargoes” [1] is a simple and valuable test to determine whether refined products, such as motor fuels, are sufficiently dosed with inhibitor to prevent corrosion in the event that water enters the product stream. This test is based on optical examination of the area of the coupon affected by corrosion after a specified exposure to a hydrocarbon/water mixture. Letter “grades” from A to E are subjectively determined by the technician performing the test. Experience has shown that if enough inhibitor is present to produce B+ or better results as defined in this standard, general corrosion in flowing pipelines may be controlled. Grade “B+” or better represents a practical absence of corrosion (less than 5% area).
For the purposes of confirming a practical absence of corrosion, the subjective evaluation by a technician is adequate. However, as this test may be applied to less refined, uninhibited products where larger areas of corrosion may be observed, the letter grading does not provide discrimination within very wide ranges of corrosion affected area (20–25% of coupon area). Pipeline integrity managers interested in the relative susceptibility to internal corrosion caused by uninhibited hydrocarbons may be interested a higher level of corrosion discrimination and precision.
Enbridge Pipelines proposed a digital image analysis technique in 2009, and this technique has been developed, refined, and successfully employed by Alberta Innovates - Technology Futures (AITF). This paper discusses the development of this technique, as well as comparative results using both the original letter grading system and the digital analysis method. Other observations regarding the application of the TM0172 method on a variety of hydrocarbon categories are presented.
Cathodic Disbondment Testing Comparison of Carbon Fiber, Fiberglass, and Hybrid Composite Repair Systems for Pipelines
Authors: Green Matthew A. , Deaton Larry , Lazzara Christopher J. 
Published: July 2013

Composite repair systems are being successfully and heavily utilized for the repair of a wide variety of pipeline systems operating at high internal pressures worldwide. Many of these pipelines employ cathodic protection systems as a preventative measure of insuring that the pipeline does not corrode. Even with advanced cathodic protection systems, there are still times that a pipeline may become damaged or corroded and composite repair systems are a popular choice. In order to qualify a composite repair system for use on a cathodically protected pipeline, the repair system must undergo specific testing to insure that there will be no issues of disbondment of the composite due to the cathodic protection system.
This paper discusses the testing of composite repair systems with varying fiber types, resins, and installation methods. Results have been gathered for several repair system options and indicate that there is variance in the results depending on the above mentioned variables. The results of each of these systems and the impact of the fibers utilized will be discussed and conclusions made as to the effect of cathodic protection on each.
Development and Production of Heavy Gauge X70 Pipeline Plate for Deep Water Pipe Applications at Shougang Steel
Authors: Li Shaopo , Jiang Zhonghang , Li Yongdong , Stalheim Douglas , Li Qun , Zhang Guodong 
Published: July 2013

In recent years, there has been development of several significant offshore pipeline projects for the transmission of oil and gas from harsh, deep water environments. The production of gas transmission pipelines for offshore application demands heavy thickness, high strength, lower temperature toughness, good weldability and sour service crack resistance.
This paper reports on the experience with the production of linepipe up to 31.8mm in wall thickness grade X70 intended for offshore applications in China. The plate was produced at Shougang Steel’s 4.3 m heavy wide plate mill in Qinhuangdao China (Shouqin). Alloy/processing design along with production parameters are introduced. The achieved mechanical properties in both plate and pipe are reported. The pipe tensile test results in transverse and longitudinal directions achieved yield strength and ultimate tensile strength of 571MPa and 668MPa respectively, which are higher than plate yield and ultimate strengths of 510MPa and 658MPa respectively. The increase of strength during pipe making is due to the creation of a fine uniform acicular ferrite microstructure from the alloy/processing design. Even with this X70 strength level and heavy wall thickness the low temperature fracture toughness achieved was excellent. Transverse charpy impact testing resulted in absorbed average energy of 480 J @ – 20 °C with 100% shear. Drop weight tear testing (DWTT) achieved an average of 94% shear at −15 °C.
Evaluation of the heavy gauge X70 sour service performance was performed according to specifications of NACE TM 0284 and DNV-OS-F101 utilizing HIC and SSCC testing in low pH (∼3) solution A. The low carbon, low sulfur, clean steel and homogeneous fine acicular ferrite microstructure had extremely high resistance to HIC and SSCC failure in the testing. All of these results demonstrated that the heavy wall X70 production at Shougang Steel’s 4.3 m wide heavy plate mill (Shouqin) can meet the technical specifications of “The South China Sea Deepwater Gas Development” and DNV-OS-F101.
Accounting for Natural Crack Growth Shapes During Environmental Cracking
Authors: Shim Do-Jun , Brust Fredrick , Wilkowski Gery 
Published: July 2013

Environmental cracking, such as stress-corrosion cracking (SCC), is a significant issue for a variety of industries, such as those dealing with power generation — nuclear, oil and gas production, and pipeline transmission, etc. SCC is particularly of concern in that catastrophic failures can occur even at low applied stress levels (e.g., residual stress produced by welding). Thus, it is critical to evaluate the behavior of SCC for structural integrity assessments.
In this paper, three different crack growth methods (i.e., idealized crack growth analysis, crack growth analysis using finite element alternating method; FEAM, and the natural crack growth method) are summarized. These methods all utilize the stress intensity factor for crack growth evaluations. Thus, these methods can be used for assessment of environmental cracking that is based on stress intensity factor. Various examples are shown in this paper to demonstrate the applicability of these methods. Comparisons of results obtained from different methods are also provided in this paper.
On the Influence of the Fluid Dynamics Over the Valve Line Break Set Point in a Dual Phase Gas Pipeline
Authors: Baptista Renan Martins , de Oliveira Paulo Henrique Mello , dos Santos Renata Nunes Ramos , da Silva Marcos José Moraes 
Published: July 2013

Shut down valves (SDV) actuated by a reaction against a pressure decay are an approach to face pipeline leakages, full ruptures, amidst several other important operational events. They are ordinarily employed at single phase pipelines throughout the world. Their usage at a dual phase gas pipeline is however subjected to specific scenarios in which their actuators (usually line breaks) are not impacted somehow by the presence of liquids, and other particular effects of fluid dynamics.
This paper approaches a study based on dual phase numerical flow simulations, using a commercial flow simulator, performed for a Brazilian pipeline, in which a relevant amount of liquid is always present, as well as one or two pigs. The main focus is on the upper bound of the time derivative of pressure distributed along the developed length, aiming to produce a sensitivity analysis, describing situations in which this variable may falsely and appropriately trigger a SDV closure.
As most of other important flow events, the critical moment is when the pig approaches the pipeline tail, when major variations on important variables such as flow, pressure and holdup are experienced. Those effects may be deeply augmented when worst case scenarios are imposed and coupled with pigs’ arrivals/withdrawals, such as a pipeline blockage at it’s head or flow rate relevant increase at the tail. These scenarios are simulated and analysed, and the way pressure may relate to the dimensioning of line brakes, is commented.
Fitness-for-Service Analysis of Skelp-End Welds in Spiral Pipes
Authors: Liu Ming , Wang Yong-Yi , Rapp Steve 
Published: July 2013

For large diameter spiral pipes, there can be one skelp-end weld (SEW) in every 5–7 joints of pipes. The industry acceptance of SEWs is uneven although API 5L permits SEWs in finished pipes. A joint industry project (JIP) [1] was formed to develop uniformly acceptable inspection and test plans (ITPs) for SEWs. The development was conducted through two parallel processes: (1) fitness-for-service analysis of the SEWs under a variety of loading conditions expected in their life time and (2) consensus building based on the best practice and quality control protocols.
This paper details the fitness-for-service analysis of SEWs. A companion paper provides a summary of the recommended ITPs developed in the JIP [2]. In the fitness-for-service analysis, the SEWs were subjected to a variety of loading conditions covering construction, commissioning, and normal service with and without internal pressure. For in-service loading, both static and cyclic loading was considered. The extensive fitness-for-service analysis demonstrated that there is no inherent integrity risk associated with the SEWs when these welds are manufactured, tested, and inspected using generally accepted quality control measures applied to helical seam welds. Additional inspection and quality control for coil end properties and T-joints are recommended in the companion paper.
Fate and Transport Modeling: Quantifying Potential Impacts for Pipeline Integrity and Emergency Response Preparedness
Authors: Humber Jason , Cote Edgar Ivan , Glass Mitch , Denby Allison 
Published: July 2013

Regulations for pipeline operators within the Oil and Gas Pipeline Industry are becoming increasingly rigorous especially in the fields of pipeline integrity and emergency response and as such the need for equally rigorous approaches to analyzing, understanding, managing, and reporting of the effects of a pipeline release has increased.
Trans-Northern Pipelines (TNPI) undertook a detailed fate and transport modeling project for its Ontario and Quebec based pipeline systems. These pipeline systems are relatively complex products delivery systems that handle multiple fluids and, for some pipeline segments, allow for flow in either direction. The goals of the project included understanding and improving risk management of the systems through consequence reduction and to identify and quantify potential impact to surrounding areas and risk receptors within the vicinity of the pipeline systems. The receptors are the focal points that receive the negative impact if there is a leak (i.e. pin-hole, small and large scenarios) or rupture of the pipeline. These can include health/safety, environmental, property damage, reputation and public disruption, and financial impacts.
The outcomes from the project included a continuum of potential release volumes along the pipeline systems for each product and operational scenario from which a spatial representation of the potential impact areas (due to overland flow) along the pipeline system were derived and locations were identified where potential release volumes (i.e. initial and drain down volumes) could affect streams and could possibly be transported along the stream. Potential impact areas and representations of the stream transport were used to identify possible risk receptors.
A unique aspect to this modeling project was that it was undertaken utilizing a four dimensional (4D) model thus allowing for the results to be visualized within a GIS and as animations; both of which facilitated visualization of potential release impact over time (e.g. a 48 hour period). Utilizing the time domain provided unique insights that were used to augment TNPI’s emergency response plan.
Based on a review of the preliminary results Trans-Northern undertook additional effort to investigate what-if scenarios for valve placement. The purpose of these what-if scenarios was to quantify the improvement of additional valves on lowering the overall potential impact and thus allowing for a quantitative basis for valve placement.
3-D Image Measurement System for Small Machine Parts With Glossy Metal Surfaces
Authors: Sato Motoyoshi , Shimamoto Ryo , Mizoguchi Masanobu 
Published: July 2013

Keeping core parts of machines in proper condition is essential to improving productivity and quality of products. Metallic wear of knitting needles for circular knitting machines should be controlled within specific conditions. Currently, inspections of them are visually performed by skilled examiners, and automated inspection systems, which can measure 3-D shapes, are demanded. Because the needles have mirror glossed, complexly shaped surfaces, conventional lighting method, such as dome lights and diffuse on-axis lights, cannot irradiate the light evenly throughout the object and causes brightness unevenness, and that leads to 3-D measurement errors in image processors. To increase accuracy, we propose a new 3-D measurement system which equips omnidirectional EL (electroluminescence) lightings and DEHF (Dynamic Enhancement of High Frequency) method. Here, the system applies the shape from focus method, which moves the optical system vertically with respect to the fixed object and obtains a sequence of images that correspond to different levels of object focus. In the formation process of shallow depth of field microscopic images, a defocused imaging system plays the role of a low-pass filter. For this reason, the regions with high frequency components can be regarded as a focused area. The high frequency components are finally regarded as the contour of the object by the method. It recovers the 3-D shape of the object by estimation of height of the contours each image and arranging in the original order of the sequence of the height of the contours. The followings are novelties of our proposed system.
Firstly, omnidirectional EL lightings irradiate an object with uniform lights from all directions. They are composed of the following lights: coaxial through objective lens, object lens perimeter, side and bottom lights, and each of which can adjust brightness; therefore they can reduce unevenness of brightness on the object. We adopted inorganic EL sheet as the lighting device. EL sheet is capable of plane emission and prevent the occurrence of the unevenness of the irradiated light by the point source of light.
Secondly, algorithm for shape from focus can be improved by our DEHF method. Even if the above lightings are applied, there still remains low frequency non-uniformity of brightness. DEFH method removes the low frequency by subtracting mean filtered image from original one, and remaining high frequency content can be emphasized.
We built a microscope based prototype system and conducted experiments. Through them, the validity of our proposed method was confirmed.
Drivability Control to Optimize the Operating Freedom in the Hybrid Vehicle Propelling System
Authors: Moriwaki Katsumi 
Published: July 2013

A method of drivability control is newly developed for hybrid vehicles. One of the significant advantages of this mechod is to make the most of operating freedom in a propelling system without disturbing drivability. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the significance of the oprating freedom, and then to deccribe the basic concept of the control method and its applications.
The drive control is preformed by tracking to satisfy a drive control criterion, which is given as a function of the accelerator pedal position, the vehicle velocity and its acceleration. The criterion, which does not include any characteristics of a power source, facilitates the effective utilization of the operating freedom.
Rail Track Defect Detection Using Derivative Wavelet Transform
Authors: Taheri Shahyar , Taheri Saied 
Published: July 2013

Railroad track monitoring systems are used for finding rail defects that may lead to a derailment of the train. The classical limit-value based defect detection systems are simple but are limited in their capability to detect small defects. As a cutting-edge supervision method, signal derivative filters can help to reveal information in the acceleration signal collected while the train is moving on the rail. The derivative filters are designed based on the required performance of the application. However, their design should be done with caution because they can greatly amplify the noise in the data, especially in high frequencies.
Derivative filters can be implemented in the sample domain of space or time. The derivative filters in time domain are not always sufficient to study all the features of a signal. To explore the signal content, wavelet transformation was chosen, because it gives accurate description of the frequency contents according to their position in time. It should be noted that the wavelet transform that gives the derivative of a signal, has the properties of smoothing and differentiation.
The proposed algorithm processes the data using continuous and discrete derivative wavelets filters, and is able to locate defects and provide information that may help to distinguish between various types of rail and wheel defects, including rail cracks, squats, corrugation, and wheel out-of-rounds. The wavelet-based algorithm developed was applied to a sample accelerometer signal and the results show the potential of this algorithm to locate and diagnose defects from limited bogie vertical acceleration data.
Analytical and Numerical Modelling of Shape Memory Alloy Negator Springs for Long-Stroke Constant-Force Actuators
Authors: Spaggiari Andrea , Dragoni Eugenio 
Published: July 2013

This paper explores the merits of shape memory Negator springs as powering elements for solid state actuators. A Negator spring is a spiral spring made of strip of metal wound on the flat with an inherent curvature such that, in repose, each coil wraps tightly on its inner neighbour. The unique characteristic of Negator springs is the nearly-constant force needed to unwind the strip for very large, theoretically infinite deflections. Moreover the flat shape, having a high area over volume ratio, grants improved bandwidth compared to any solution with solid wires or helical springs. The SMA material is modelled as elastic in austenitic range while an exponential continuum law is used to describe the martensitic behaviour. The mathematical model of the mechanical behaviour of SMA Negator springs is provided and their performances as active elements in constant-force, long-stroke actuators are assessed.
The SMA Negator spring is also simulated in a commercial finite element software, ABAQUS, and its mechanical behaviour is estimated through FE analyses. The analytical and the numerical prediction are in good agreement, both in martensitic and in austenitic range.
Modelling of Needle Domains in Barium Titanate Single Crystals Using Dislocation Theory
Authors: Sui Dan , Huber John E. 
Published: July 2013

A model is established to study needle domains in barium titanate single crystals using the theory of dislocations. Considering the mechanical and electrical compatibility in ferroelectrics, the fields produced by a needle domain are represented using the equivalent fields due to an effective edge dislocation coupled with a line charge. Accordingly, the dislocation fields derived by Barnett and Lothe for anisotropic piezoelectric media are used to analyze the stress and electric fields around needle domains.
The interaction of the pairs of needle domains in an infinite piezoelectric body is studied by computing the interactive force and the total energy. It is found that the needle tip interactions tend to be dominated by the electrostatic terms. Additionally, comb-like arrays of needle domains are investigated. Stable configurations of needle domains in a herringbone pattern are identified, consistent with experimental evidence. However, comb-like arrays of needles are found to be unstable if perfectly insulating conditions without lattice friction are assumed.