Course Description

If you are new to the pipeline industry, this course is intended to help you accelerate your ability to become a productive member of a technical staff.  It is intended to introduce the onshore oil & gas pipeline industry in the U.S. with particular emphasis on issues related to the steel infrastructure, including related regulatory codes and consensus standards, and the historical evolution of the infrastructure.  The presentation will include descriptions of available resources where attendees can access more detailed information on several of the topics.

1. A brief description of steel pipelines in the U.S.
   • Miles
   • Ages
   • Steel grades
   • Coating types
   • Stress levels
2. How steel pipelines fail:
   • Key mechanical properties that influence flaw survival v. failure
   • Mechanical damage
   • Corrosion (internal, external, SCC)
   • Improper operation
   • Weather and natural forces
   • Material/weld failure (pipe body, seams, other welds)
   • Equipment failure (example: overpressure from regulator failure)
3. Historical and modern steel pipe manufacturing methods and related flaws
4. Evolution of pipeline construction practices (focus on welding issues)
5. Testing and inspection practices
   • Pressure testing
   • NDT (UT, MT, PT, RT, other)
   • In-line inspection
6. Managing long-term degradation
   • Corrosion control
   • Fatigue
   • Examples of localized repair options
7. The regulatory environment (focus on onshore)
   • Federal: 49 CFR Parts 192, 195, and others
   • State and Local
8. Some key consensus standards for pipe and fittings
   • Design, Operation, and Maintenance
     • ASME B31.4 (liquids and slurries)
     • ASME B31.8 (fuel gas)
     • ASME B31.12 (H2)
   • Materials and Fabrication
     1. • NACE/AMPP (MR0175)
        • API (5L, 1104, etc.)
        • ASTM (various)
        • MSS (SP-75 and others)

9. On-going technical challenges
   • High level summary of knowledge gaps opportunities for improvement
   • Who sponsors related problem solving?
     • PRCI
     • DOT PHMSA
     • Individual consulting/service provider companies via group sponsored projects

Provided

• Certificate of Completion Awarding 2.5 PDHs
• Course Notes provided electronically

Instructor Bio

Bill Amend has 41 years of experience performing pipeline integrity management, failure analysis, metallurgical engineering, and welding engineering services. His background includes 26 years working for pipeline operators (Unocal and Southern California Gas Co.)  before working for engineering services providers. He is currently Principal Engineer at DNV. He is a co-author of the ASME report CRTD Vol. 91 regarding field measurement of hardness to determine the lower bound yield strength of pipe and has managed and conducted various research projects for ASME, DNV, NYSEARCH and PRCI addressing the continued development and validation of methods for nondestructive determination of pipe properties, chemical analysis of steel, tensile testing, and characteristics of early vintage pipeline girth welds.  He is a registered professional Metallurgical Engineer in California and graduated from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly SLO).

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