A Practical Approach to Continuous Quality Control of Pipeline System Records

Author(s):  
Andrew R. Lutz ◽  
Thomas A. Bubenik

In recent years there has been an industry wide initiative to verify operating pressures by reviewing source records and ensuring they are traceable, verifiable, and complete. A methodology was presented in a recent paper (A Practical Approach to Pipeline System Materials Verification by Lutz and Bubenik) to systematically review and organize records into an auditable framework (i.e. a GIS compatible listing or database). Once operators have completed their systematic records review, they are advised to maximize their investment by performing appropriate on-going records maintenance. An effective records maintenance program will include the following elements to ensure effective management-of-change and continuous quality assurance and quality control. 1. Source documents will be made available to the company engineers and technicians that use the verified information to make everyday integrity and operational decisions (i.e. use a GIS interface to link verified information to the source documents). 2. A controlled process for management-of-change that effectively integrates new construction and replacement records into the existing database. 3. Continuously verify and cross-check pipeline system material properties with… a. …destructive material testing of any pipe that is removed or replaced. b. …in-the-ditch NDE methodologies, such as UT wall-thickness measurements and hardness to yield strength testing. c. …global survey data such as GIS and in-line inspection. 4. A controlled process to resolve records failures that includes the following steps: a. Identify and isolate the data point(s) that are the cause of the records failure. b. Establish a boundary around the potential extents of the records failure. c. Systematically investigate within the established boundary and verify the data discrepancies until the records failure is resolved to a reasonable certainty. By implementing a records maintenance program with these elements, operators will ensure that their records database will be maintained and that the information being relied upon for daily integrity and operational decisions is reliable. Operators will decrease the likelihood of issues resulting from records failures and will ensure their records organization will with stand the scrutiny of future audits and records investigations.

1991 ◽  
Vol 3 (05) ◽  
pp. 22-28
Author(s):  
D.L. Purvis ◽  
R.J. Novotny ◽  
B.T. Carlson

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 48-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Soegner ◽  
Th Rettenbacher ◽  
A Smekal ◽  
D Zur Nedden

summary The Tyrolean telemedicine pilot project linked the University Clinic of Innsbruck and the district hospital in Reutte. Five medical specialties were investigated: teleradiology, telepathology, teledermatology, tele-ophthalmology and tele-oncology. A Tyrolean ‘four-column model of quality management in telemedicine’ was introduced to ensure a global view of the project and to avoid mistakes. In teleradiology, a 12-step workflow was developed, which described the medical responsibilities at each stage. We found that the defined teleradiology workflow and the technical equipment for data security and data exchange worked without problems in over 79% of a total of 424 cases. To ensure continuous quality assurance, the whole teleradiology workflow was ISO 9001:2000 certified.


Author(s):  
C. M. Refaul Ferdous ◽  
Amanda Kulhawy ◽  
Jessica Farrell ◽  
Chris Beaudin ◽  
Anthony Payoe ◽  
...  

The Enbridge Liquids Pipeline system is comprised of a large number of facilities including storage terminals, pump stations, injection sites, and delivery sites. Given the vast amount of small diameter piping (SDP) within company Pipeline facilities, SDP represents a significant portion of total facility integrity risk. An event such as equipment failure or product release can cause significant business impacts, and adverse consequences to the environment and/or safety of operations personnel. A quantitative risk based approach is required in order to establish robust, risk-based plans and programs to maintain the integrity of these SDP sections. Small diameter piping lengths are relatively short. Consequently, it is impractical to use SDP length as a unit of likelihood and risk measure. Instead, the preferred methodology is to determine the total number of assemblies for each type of SDP. In support of this approach, an inventory of SDP sections throughout the system has been gathered. For illustrative purposes, an example of a small diameter section would be a pressure transmitter branch connection. The isolatable section that would be risk assessed would start from the surface of the main station piping connection and continue up to the transmitter. This paper presents the framework for likelihood and consequence assessment of SDP based on the system description above. This framework quantitatively estimates the risk of SDP failure and risk-ranks SDP sections in support of implementing and establishing a system wide Risk Based Inspection and Maintenance program for SDP.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Lohr ◽  
Johannes Kiesel ◽  
Stephanie Luther ◽  
Johannes Hellrich ◽  
Tobias Kolditz ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Jhony Habbouche ◽  
Ilker Boz ◽  
Benjamin Shane Underwood ◽  
Cassie Castorena ◽  
Saqib Gulzar ◽  
...  

The objective of this paper is to provide information from multiple perspectives on the current state of the practice with regard to using recycled materials and recycling agents (RAs) in asphalt concrete mixtures. This information was collected through a survey of U.S. transportation agencies and RA suppliers combined with a search of RA-related specifications and pilot projects previously constructed. Moreover, a case study describing the Virginia Department of Transportation’s experience with RAs provides a tangible example of how at least one agency is approaching the potential implementation of these technologies. This practice review was achieved by documenting the experience, lessons learned, and best practices of multiple asphalt experienced contractors and asphalt binder suppliers in the Virginia area. This paper follows a similar survey conducted in 2014 as part of NCHRP 09-58 and provides a second look at the use of RAs across North America. Not all state departments of transportation have experience with using RAs. Factors preventing the use of RAs included specification limitations, lack of expertise in processing recycled materials, supporting data, and negative prior experiences. Developing a performance-based testing framework is mandatory for the successful use of RAs. In general, good and frequent communication with the RA supplier is critical and necessary during the planning stages, the production of mixtures, and the continuous quality control by the supplier to resolve issues when they arise. Finally, a strong quality control and quality assurance-testing program should be implemented to ensure that materials meet the properties needed to produce a good-performing mixture.


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