RESIDUAL LIFE

ASSESSMENT AND
REVALIDATION OF
PIPELINE
 RESIDUAL LIFE ASSESSMENT OF PIPELINE

FOR DETERMINATION OF REMAINING LIFE

OF PIPELINE THE PRIMARY REQUIREMENT
IS COLLECTION OF CORROSION RATE.

REMAINING LIFE IN YEARS = t actual t min.

Corr. Rate
(Inch or mm per year)
t actual = the actual min thickness, in inch( mm) ,
determined at the time of inspection .
t mini = the minimum thickness , in inch ( mm) , for the
limiting section or zone.
 RESIDUAL LIFE ASSESSMENT OF PIPELINE

THE LONG TERM (LT) CORROSION RATE OF

PIPELINE SHALL BE CALCULATED FROM THE
FOLLOWING FORMULA.

CORR. RATE (LT) = t initial t last.

Time (yrs) between last
& initial inspection
THE SHORT TERM (ST) CORR. RATE SHALL BE
CALCULATED FROM THE FOLLOWING FORMULA

CORR. RATE (ST) = t previous t last.

Time (yrs) between last
&previous inspection
 RESIDUAL LIFE ASSESSMENT OF PIPELINE
Case study

Q. A pipeline was commissioned in 1970. The initial WT of

a pipeline is 0.25 inches.. The thickness recorded in the
IPS of 1995 is 0.19 inches ( pitting ). The thickness
at the same point was indicated as 0.11 in the IPS of 2000 .
Determine the following :

1. Long term corr. Rate

2. Short term corrosion rate
3. Residual time left f or the pipeline to leak.
 Solution :
The initial thickness =0.25 = 6.35 mm 1 mm = 40 mills
1995 thickness = 0.19 = 4.82 mm
2000 thickness = 0.11 = 2.80 mm mpy= mills per
Corr. Rate (LT) = 6.35 4.82/ 1995-1970 year.
= 1.53 / 25 = 2.5 Mills/Yr.
1= 25.4 mm
Corr .Rate (ST) = 4.82 2.80 / 2000 1995
= 2.02/5 =16.16 Mills/yr.
Remaining life =
Present thickness = 2.80 mm = 112 mills
Present corr. Rate = 16.16 mpy
Time required for thickness to be 0.00
112/ 16.16 = 6.9 yrs, say 7 yrs.
Therefore, the pipeline will leak after 7 years .
 EXTENSION OF DESIGN LIFE
OF PIPELINE

Design life of pipeline under general context can be

anything between 15 years to 50 years.

There are pipelines that are much older than 50 years.

Recently M/S British gas has revalidated the life of

their old pipelines to 75 years.

There are various ways to extend the design life of a

pipeline.
 EXTENSION OF DESIGN LIFE
OF PIPELINE
F R
A A
I T
A BATH TUB CURVE FOR PL
L E
U
R
E TIME PERIOD

A B C D
AB = INITIAL PERIOD
BC = DESIGN LIFE
CD= EXTENDED LIFE

IDEA IS TO EXTEND C TO D
 EXTENSION OF DESIGN LIFE
OF PIPELINE

Extension of failure free life of a pipeline involves

considering the following:

1. Commissioning history.
2. Type of pipe ( ERW HF, ERW LF, SAW STRT.
SAW SPIRAL ) failure history and failure mode.
3. Cathodic protection history.
4. Coating type and performance.
5. Failure risk ( probability & consequence of failure) .
6. General health.
7. Economics.