COURSE SCHEDULE (both days)
7.30: Registration, breakfast, coffee
8.00 – 5.00: Course
It will be necessary to bring a laptop to this course.
COURSE OVERVIEW
This course is for engineers responsible for the assessment of dent features identified during in-line inspections (ILI) of pipeline systems in accordance with the first edition of API Recommended Practice 1183 “Assessment and Management of Dents in Pipelines”. API RP 1183 is designed to help maintain the structural integrity of pipelines by addressing mechanical issues. It gives operators the tools needed to help ensure pipeline infrastructure is safe, reliable, and efficient. PHMSA regulations 49CFR192.712(c) provides requirements for performing a dent engineering critical assessment (ECA). API RP 1183 provides assessment methodologies to satisfy these regulations. It is expected that 45CFR195 will update regulations and require similar requirements for dent ECAs.
The course will teach students practical techniques for the assessment of dents and performing ECAs that satisfy regulatory requirements. The course includes and provides instructions on the use of API 1183, 1st edition. Case studies will also be presented to help guide the proper use of performing dent ECAs and their limitations. Advanced assessment methods will also be presented, utilizing finite element assessment (FEA). Guidance on indenter profile matching, model set up, modeling steps, and post processing will also be presented. In addition, considerations to mitigation and repair strategies will be covered during the course.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the completion of this course, students will be able to
- Understand the formation of dents and failure mechanisms
- Learn how to perform dent strain calculation and determine strain acceptance limitations per ASME B31.8
- Learn how to calculate dent remaining lives using methodologies provided in API RP 1183
- Understand a process for performing dent ECAs in accordance with 49CFR192.712(c)
PREREQUISITES
Entering this course, you should have a basic understanding of pipeline integrity management programs, such as:
- Regulation requirements based on 49CFR 192 and/or 195
- Basic in-inspection technologies – caliper, MFL, and crack detection
- Understanding of typical ILI data, reports, and spreadsheets
COURSE PROGRAM
Introduction and Background (2 hours)
a. Background
i. Lessons learned from industry incidents and trends related to mechanical damage
ii. Developments of dent assessment standards and best practices (e.g., ERPG, ASME B31.8, API RP 1156, and API RP 1183)
iii. Gaps in PHMSA R&D
b. Overview of a dent management process
i. Background and framework of API RP 1183
ii. Introduction to dent management fundamentals
iii. ILI technology and capabilities
iv. Introduction to the dent formation process
v. Introduction to the dent failure mechanism
vi. Introduction to the mechanical damage
vii. Introduction to the interacting threats
c. Regulatory Requirements
i. US regulations overview
ii. PHMSA incident statistics
iii. Regulatory directions
Fundamentals of Dent Assessments (2 hours)
a. Discussions on dent restraint conditions
b. Interaction rules
c. Review of dent signal data and caliper measurements
d. Dent strain calculations
e. Dent ILI signal processing challenge
f. Remaining fatigue life methodologies
API 579 Level 2 Remaining Life Hands-on Practice (2 hours)
a. Methodology overview
b. Application and Limitations
c. Example demonstration
d. Hands-on Practice Session
Liquid Operator Experience on Dent Management Program (2 hours; Guest speaker TBD)
DAY 2
Overview of Advanced Dent Assessment (2 hours)
a. FEA Modelling
i. Material consideration and assumptions
ii. Types of elements (solid vs. shell)
iii. Modelling constraint conditions
iv. Indenter setup
v. Interacting features
vi. Modelling steps
vii. FEA model post-processing
b. FEA-based fatigue assessment
i. Fracture mechanics model vs. S-N curve
ii. Appropriate safety factors to consider
c. FEA-based strain and stress analysis
i. Ductile failure damage indicator (DFDI)
ii. Strain limit damage (SLD)
Dent ECA Compliant to PHMSA Regulations (2 hours)
a. Developments of the dent ECA process
i. PHMSA regulation requirements
ii. Dent ECA process overview
b. Background data review
i. Review of historical ILI data
ii. Comparison of dent caliper measurements
iii. Arial images review
iv. Operating history review
v. In-ditch findings
vi. Examples
c. Threat Interaction review
i. Review for potential ground movement and other external loading
ii. Review for potential interaction with other features (e.g., ML, dent, cracking, welds)
iii. Accounting for material property uncertainties and model inaccuracies and ILI tool sizing tolerances
d. Remaining life analysis
i. Consideration of operational data
ii. Fatigue life prediction models
iii. Safety factors
iv. Reassessment intervals
e. Strain damage analysis
i. Curvature-based strain analysis
ii. Strain limit discussion
iii. DFDI and SLD
f. Case study
Repair and Mitigation (1 hour)
a. Field excavation and backfill best practices
b. Selection of field NDE technologies
c. Mitigation methods
d. Repair methods
Gas Operator Experience on Dent Management Program (2 hours; Guest speaker TBD)
Questions and answers (1 hour)