An Effective Natural Gas Pipeline Integrity Management to be a

integral part of HSE Management system for Indian scenario.

Author Sathish Iyengar, Surveyor (Certification Engineers International Limited ,Navi
Mumbai (PSU and Subsidiary of EIL) ,Phone
sathishiyengar@ceil.co.in , sathish_iyengar@yahoo.co.in

No.

9820358551,

mail

Abstract :An effective PIMS (Pipeline Integrity Management System) is for uninterrupted supply of
gas to consumer safeguarding public ,environment ,asset and reducing risk.
This PIMS will benefit the HSE Management system of Indian Pipeline Operator and will
help in building the confidence in the public at large about the pipeline entity and In the
world further will improve the perception of pipeline in India being more reliable and
safer.
India has 15000 km (Approx.) Cross Country Pipeline having capacity of 401 MMSCMD
spread over 15 States & UTs for transmission of Natural Gas
PNGRB IMS Regulation on Natural Gas Pipeline year 2012 and CGD Network in year
2013 implemented in addition to PNGRB T4S and ERDMP Regulation.
In India we face major constraint pertaining Natural Gas pipeline integrity because of
Location class reclassification, Old Pipeline Design ,Non piggable pipeline, Non
availability of As built Data, No one point call system, Innovative and Integrated pipeline
surveillance, Ineffective Pipeline Leakage Detection System (Technology driven),
Unavailability of Indian failure database at public domain, Pipeline operators doesnt
have Pipeline Integrity department , Corrosion Engineer ,MIS on PIMS, Inadequate
usage of Fitness For Purpose (FFP)and Residual Life Assessment(RLA), No Indigenous
vendor for In Line Inspection. Pipeline operators across world and with in India are
adopting various innovative method to overcome above constraints and it is ongoing
process for improving PIMS and further HSE Management System.
Full Paper
1. Pipeline Integrity Introduction
Pipeline Integrity is the state of pipeline w.r.t Public Safety , Environmental
Protection And Operation Reliability. It is for Error - free , Leak free , Spill free
and incident free Operation with no ill effects on health , safety ,environment and
economy.
1.1

Pipeline Integrity Management Encompasses :(a) Developing a program /Plan.

(b) Assessing the threats.
(c) Carrying out mitigation , detection and prevention of all forms of pipeline
defect.
(d) Monitoring and review.

1.2

Elements of Pipeline Integrity Management Plan :1)

2)
3)
4)
5)

1.3

Integrity Management Plan

Performance Management Plan
Communication Plan
Management of Change Plan
Quality Control Plan

Integrity Threats Classification

Source Pipeline Research Committee International [PRCI]. There are 21
known threats defined in ASME B 31.8S and 1 Unknown and these threats are
classified as below :(a) Time-Dependent
(1) External corrosion
(2) Internal corrosion
(3) Stress corrosion cracking
(b) Stable
(1) Manufacturing related defects
(a) defective pipe seam
(b) defective pipe
(2) Welding/fabrication related
(a) defective pipe girth weld
(b) defective fabrication weld
(c) wrinkle bend or buckle
(d) stripped threads/broken pipe/coupling failure
(3) Equipment
(a) gasket O-ring failure
(b) control/relief equipment malfunction
(c) seal/pump packing failure
(d) Miscellaneous
(c) Time-Independent
(1) Third party / mechanical damage
(a) Damage inflicted by first, second, or third parties
(instantaneous/immediate failure)
(b) previously damaged pipe (delayed failure mode)
(c) vandalism
(2) Incorrect operational procedure
(3) Weather-related and outside force
(a) cold weather
(b) lightning
(c) heavy rains or floods
(d) earth movements
(4) Land Pattern
(a) creek area
(b) muddy land

(c) river bed

(d) Unknown
India has 15000 km (Approx.) Cross Country Pipeline having capacity of 401 MMSCMD
spread over 15 States & UTs for transmission of Natural Gas and Please note as per
NACE the total annual direct cost of corrosion in US is 276 Billion USD which is approx
3.1% of GDP which is inclusive of 300000 Miles of NG Pipeline and there other
upstream oil and gas pipeline.
2. Incident Analysis India & US
Source : PNGRB reported incident are as below for FY 2012-13 which clearly indicates
the importance various threats that are leading to pipeline incidents and affecting HSE
parameter of public at large and pipeline entity.

Source :NG Pipeline Incidents in U.S (data taken from Alberta Sweet Gas Pipeline
Failures ERCB Data)

Source : Pipeline and Pigging Technology by John Tiratsoo

From above all data it is very clear the incidents impacts economically and leading to
affecting the perception of public at large that pipeline are not being safer and reliable. It
is noted that all pipeline operator are taking continuous mitigation measure by means
pipeline integrity programme to address it. However it is ongoing process for continual
improvement by using Plan , Do ,Check and Act.
2.1 Regulatory and Standard scenario in India
When Pipeline Integrity is compromised leading to Oil or Gas leakage then by affecting
the Health, Safety, Environment and Economy. So Safety and Integrity go hand in hand
with each other. if assets are intact and its healthiness is maintained through application
of appropriate integrity assessment method leads to a safer pipeline network in india. This
is the philosophy adopted by Indian Hydrocarbon sector regulatory and standard
implementing authority and Pipelines are designed and constructed as per prevailing best
standard worldwide in India.
In US applicable ASME and NACE standards primarily focused on Corrosion and threats
identified to pipeline operation and its mitigation measure where as in India PNGRB IMS

Regulation /OISD Standard take holistic view of Pipeline Operation system including
Electrical & Instrumentation system.
The Indian Regulatory (PNGRB) and the Safety Implementing OISD in
Hydrocarbon Sector have done following activities for Pipeline Integrity for
safer and reliable pipeline :

In November 2012 ,PNGRB has issued Gazzete for Integrity Management System
for NG Pipeline and in May 2013 for CGD Network. IMS Regulation is based on
Prescriptive based assessment along with its previous regulation of T4S and
ERDMP being implemented in India.
List of critical activity as per IMS Regulation are;
CRITICAL
ACTIVITY

S/N

TIME SCHEDULE

Pipeline
Protection
Records

Cathodic
(CP)

can be submitted in stages within

6 months

Pigging / Intelligent
Pigging
Intelligent
pigging
shall
be
carried out to detect
metal loss for the
pipelines of size NPS
of 12 inches and above
and length of 10 Km
and above

If the pigging has not been done

for more than 5 years for sour
gas and 10 years for sweet gas
pipeline, then the intelligent
pigging shall be carried out
within two years, otherwise
relevant records shall be
submitted.

Surveillance
3
Coating Survey
4

Hydro-testing

GIS
Mapping
Implementation

As per Petroleum and Natural

Gas
Regulatory
Board
(Technical
Standards
and
Specifications including Safety
Standards for natural gas
pipelines) Regulations, 2009

2 years

Leak Detection System

Implementation

2 years

In November 2014 OISD has issued Standard Operating Procedure for Integrity
Assessment which is a simple and a thumb rule procedure to be adopted and will
help in decision making process for replacement of old aged pipeline covering the
Piggable and Non Piggable Pipeline inline with requirements of applicable
International and National Standard.

The measures taken by regulatory authority and standards clearly indicates that Pipeline
Integrity is to be Integral Part of HSE Management System.
2.2 Some of the constraints of Indian NG Pipeline Operators are as per below :Location class reclassification, Old Pipeline Design ,Non piggable pipeline, Non
availability of As Built Data, No one point call system, Innovative and Integrated method
of pipeline surveillance, Ineffective Pipeline Leakage Detection System and Pipeline
Intrusion Detection system (Technology driven), Unavailability of Indian failure database
at public domain, Pipeline operators doesnt have Pipeline Integrity department ,
Corrosion Engineer ,MIS on PIMS, Inadequate usage of Fitness For Purpose (FFP)and
Residual Life Assessment(RLA), No Indigenous vendor for In Line Inspection.
2.3 Maintenance & Inspection Strategy of Pipeline Operator
Many of the established operators now have well defined maintenance and inspection
guidelines and Pipeline Integrity department who are taking several measures to deal with
above constraints.
Some of the Strategy adopted by pipeline operator in India are given below :

Some of pipeline operators have introduced Pipeline Intrusion Detection System

PIDS (Technology driven OFC/ Frequency sensor based system)

Pipeline Surveillance - Ground and Aerial done and for Pipeline patrolling some
are using GPS , Intelligent Patrolling /Smart helmet etc. technology based
solution and some operators having mutual understanding as a group having ROU
near by in the city area to monitor pipeline throughout the day with patrolling
frequency 3-4 hours gap between each entity and sharing information with each
other. This information sharing can be part of Mutual Aid Agreement between
similar industries and will also help in making Community Based ERDMP
effective.

Some of pipeline operator are having online monitoring of Cathodic Protection

through SCADA and also measuring the field CP parameter by handheld Data
logger.

Increasing frequency intelligent pigging and comparing its finding with baseline
data and thereby taking remedial measure.

Online Leakage detection system APPS based system.

External Corrosion Direct Assessment (ECDA) , Internal Corrosion Direct

Assessment (ICDA) along with pressure testing for Non Piggable Pipeline.

Now a days all the operators taking serious efforts to try to address this issue and also by
complying with regulatory requirement. Its an ongoing process which will lead to improve
the Pipeline Integrity Management System in India.
Some of the work in improving pipeline integrity are being done across world viz. UAV
(Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) for pipeline patrolling with defined frequency and technological
research going on for increasing effectiveness of Pipeline Intrusion Detection System and
Pipeline Leakage detection system.
Conclusion :- From above it is evident Pipeline Integrity Management System & Safety are
interlinked and compliment each other especially in Indian scenario. If we have an effective
and efficient pipeline integrity management system which will further help in reducing the
occurrence of incidents by enhancing the healthiness of pipeline system thereby meeting its
objective of uninterrupted supply of gas to consumer safeguarding public ,environment ,asset
and reducing risk.