Geographic Information Systems

One of the best ways to analyze and manage pipeline data is via a geographic information system (GIS) that displays this data in convenient 2-D or 3-D graphic format. GIS databases enable engineers to overlay any type of information — including design, inspection, and geographical information — in a way that reveals distinctive patterns, and then evaluate the resulting patterns. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) is expert at developing easy-to-use graphical databases for its clients that may contain site photographs; aerial or satellite imagery; road features; digitized scale drawings; inspection data; design, operation, and maintenance details; risk analysis results; and elevation profiles and inclination analyses for either ICDA or spill-release model evaluation.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Penstock Evaluations

FERC and other regulators have become increasingly concerned about the number of penstock failures and other potentially dangerous penstock operation incidents. As a result, penstock inspection and assessment are more important than ever. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) is known for its specialized expertise in this area, with assessments of over 45,000 feet of steel penstock completed to date. SI can assess penstocks for internal and external wall loss with a range of NDE technologies, quantify areas of degradation, and conduct engineering analyses — including fracture mechanics analyses — to assist with remediation, repair, or re-inspection determinations. SI can also report assessment results via GIS; develop penstock inspection guides; and implement penstock integrity management plans.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Related Webinars:

• Overall Approach to Penstock Inspection & Assessment

Management of Aging Buried Nuclear Piping

Management of aging buried piping systems at nuclear power plants is an emerging issue, one with implications for plant license renewal. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) offers its nuclear industry clients a comprehensive MAP (Managing Aging Piping) program for buried or embedded piping and tanks. SI's MAP program encompasses the data collection, baseline assessment, indirect and direct inspections, regulatory requirements, and remediation or mitigation needed to ensure the integrity of aging piping. This approach relies on SI's proprietary MAPPro™ (Managing Aging Piping Pro), an engineering database that includes asset historical information, inspection data, and analysis data to help SI and its nuclear clients expedite data management, risk modeling, decision-making, and process documentation. MAPPro is further enhanced by SI's MAPProView™, a state-of-the-art program that provides spatial analysis tools and visualization of MAPPro database information. Applying both MAPPro and MAPProView together, SI can identify pipe and tank locations that require particular attention.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Related Webinars:

• Management of Aging
  Buried Nuclear Piping

Pipeline Failure & Root-Cause Analyses

The metallurgical engineers of Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) have decades of experience in pipeline failure and root-cause analysis, providing the sharp insight that enables clients to prevent or minimize future failures by making necessary changes to equipment, policies, procedures, and training. These incisive failure and root-cause analyses are supported by SI metallurgical laboratories in Austin, Texas, and Cerritos, California, which are fully equipped to perform optical metallography and fractography; quantitative microstructural analysis; mechanical property analysis; scale and deposit analysis; scanning electron microscopy; soil analysis; and specialized corrosion testing.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Measurement of Strength & Hardness in the Field

Nondestructive field-portable tests can provide pipeline operators with certain yield strength and hardness data on selected pipe materials, which may be acceptable, given appropriate waivers, to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). However, the accuracy of data from nondestructive field-portable tests depends on selecting the most appropriate test method for a specific application, and following absolutely correct procedures for surface preparation, testing, and data assessment. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) can train clients in the correct application of field hardness tests, including use of hardness test data to estimate yield strength. Alternatively, SI is available to conduct field hardness tests for clients wherever needed.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Soil Corrosiveness Testing & Corrosion Analyses

Estimates of the corrosion rates of buried steel pipe or other components permit pipeline operators to schedule timely re-inspection or mitigation of anomalies before they reach critical size. Soil corrosiveness is a key factor in corrosion rates, but conventional methods for estimating soil corrosivity rely on just a few soil parameters, or use coupons or probes to measure quantitative corrosion rates. SoilPro™ incorporates much more comprehensive data, considering up to 13 different soil parameters in addition to cathodic protection data to develop a quantitative estimate of worst-case pitting rate for buried pipelines. With the sole exception of cathodic protection data, all data necessary for applying SoilPro can be gleaned from laboratory analysis of a pipeline backfill soil sample, eliminating the need for probes and coupons. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) performs proprietary SoilPro corrosion analyses in a range of client projects, including external corrosion direct assessment (ECDA) and nuclear MAP projects. SI can also develop procedures for collection and analysis of soil samples, as well as develop SoilPro databases for managing soil information.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Related Webinars:

• Soil Analysis & Corrosivity Calculations

Cathodic Protection Services

Cathodic protection (CP) systems protect buried metal piping and tanks from soil-side corrosion, but only if the CP systems in question are properly designed, carefully maintained, and regularly tested. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) offers its clients comprehensive CP system design, enhancement, and effectiveness testing to ensure that these systems perform as intended. SI staff duly certified by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers International can evaluate the effectiveness of external coatings and existing CP systems to recommend modifications and upgrades and design new systems. Test methods used include close-interval surveys (CISs) and alternating current/direct current voltage gradient (ACVG/DCVG) surveys, as well as area potential earth current (APEC) gradient surveys for in-plant piping.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Related Webinars:

• Cathodic Protection:
  Application & Testing in Plants

Welding Engineering

Without appropriate welding processes and procedures supported by well-trained welding personnel, the pipelines that transport oil, gas, or hazardous liquids are susceptible to flaws and failures. Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. (SI) offers welding engineering support services to ensure pipeline integrity, including development and review of welding programs; selection and development of welding processes; qualification of weld procedures and welding personnel; weld inspection; review and evaluation of weld failures; welding training; audit or inspection of welding vendor shops; and weld code compliance. SI also rises to the challenge of unusual pipeline situations by developing innovative weld and repair techniques.

For information, please contact
info@structint.com

Related Training:

• Welding Technology for Pipeline Engineers and Technical Staff

DIMP Solution

The SI DIMP solution consists of the following:

• A comprehensive plan framework that addresses each point of the DIMP regulation in detail.
• A user guide that enables easy customization of the plan framework to create a written plan specific to an operator's system. The user guide consists of 7 Optional Plan Sections, 77 Sample Data Tables and Forms, A discussion of 49 common distribution threats and 3 Risk Assessment & Ranking approaches.
• A software solution that is equipped with template files to easily link to and align with various data sources and implement the quantitative risk ranking provided in the plan.
• A full range of engineering services to offer plan customization, turnkey program management, and implementation support as needed.

The Northeast Gas Association and Southern Gas Association member companies funded development of the Plan framework and implementation user guide. 47 member companies participated. These companies serve more than 40% of the distribution customers in the U.S. View list of member companies. The plan price is $18,950. To learn more about the plan as well as gain access to the table of contents and a short excerpt the from the user guide click here to request access.

SI has teamed with New Century Software to leverage their industry-leading Spatial Risk Analyst platform with specialized templates and report forms for the plan offering an integrated solution to DIMP.

Related Press:

• Complete DIMP Solution Announced by Structural Integrity Associates, Inc. and New Century Software

For a quotation, please contact
info@structint.com

DIMP Plan Member Companies

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