Pipeline Integrity Management is a process for evaluating
and reducing pipeline risks. The Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002
required the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration (PHMSA) to
develop and issue regulations that address risk analysis and integrity
management programs (IMP) for pipeline operators. In 2003, PHMSA finalized the
IMP regulations which pipeline operators were required to implement the
following year. As a result of these regulations, natural gas transmission companies
must conduct baseline evaluations of pipe segments within high consequence
areas (HCAs) by the end of 2012. HCAs are defined as areas where a gas pipeline
failure would have a significant impact on public safety or the environment.
Integrity Management Program:
CenterPoint Energy has implemented a robust IMP to
achieve or exceed the requirements mandated by PHMSA. This program builds on an
existing foundation of pipeline safety regulations covering design,
construction, testing, operation and maintenance – a foundation that was
laid many years ago. CenterPoint Energy’s IMP is required for approximately 180
miles of HCA pipeline segments, but we plan to do more. By the end of 2012, the
company expects to have evaluated over 2,500 miles of pipelines – over 10 times the amount
required by PHMSA.
Our Integrity Management
Program consists of seven main steps:
- HCA Identification: CenterPoint Energy evaluates population densities each year to determine the HCAs along the pipeline system.
- Data Integration: The company gathers and integrates information from historical construction documents, pipeline operating history, and pipeline evaluations.
- Risk Analysis: The company then analyzes individual pipeline segments for exposure to threats as well as the public safety and environmental consequences of a pipeline failure.
- Evaluation: Using state of the art tools, CenterPoint Energy evaluates the pipeline segments for corrosion, damage or other issues detrimental to the safe operation of the pipeline segment.
- Repair: The company then investigates and repairs any issues found during the evaluation step to ensure the pipeline continues to operate safely.
- Minimize Risks: The company utilizes data integration, risk analysis, evaluations and repairs to develop actions that can be taken to minimize or eliminate future damage and/or consequences.
- Improve: Finally, the company evaluates the IMP for areas of success and looks for other areas on our pipeline system where improvements can be made. We incorporate these improvements into our ongoing safety initiatives and the cycle starts again.
Public
Safety:
The ultimate goal of CenterPoint
Energy’s IMP is to protect people living, working and playing near our
pipelines, as well as protecting the environment surrounding our pipelines. As
a direct result of our IMP efforts, CenterPoint Energy has excavated and
examined over 2,100 pipeline segments.
- To combat internal corrosion, we ran over 220 cleaning pigs in 2011 to clean our pipelines, used corrosion inhibitors, and monitored internal corrosion using metal probes.
- To reduce external corrosion, we use cathodic protection equipment and routinely take test point readings to evaluate the pipeline’s level of protection. We also perform pipeline coating surveys – so far we have covered 3,100 miles of our system and plan to complete the entire system by 2016.
- To help prevent third party damage we employ pipeline markers, aerial patrols, foot patrols, and right-of-way clearing. In addition, CenterPoint Energy is fully committed to, and participates in, the 8-1-1 Call Before You Dig Program.
Public Awareness:
CenterPoint Energy has a
comprehensive Public Awareness program. We dedicate a great deal of time and
resources to keeping in contact with both the public and the emergency
responders located near our pipelines. Each year we mail hundreds of thousands
of information packets to people living near our pipelines. We also have safety
meetings with excavation contractors, law enforcement and fire prevention
officials. In addition, we send age appropriate educational materials to the
schools near our pipelines. It is our goal to partner with the officials
dedicated to protecting the public.
Leading Edge:
CenterPoint Energy is a proud
participant and supporter of industry efforts to continually improve pipeline
safety and reliability. We are a member of Intrastate Natural Gas Association
of America (INGAA) and actively participate in the INGAA Integrity Management
Continuous Improvement (IMCI) initiative. IMCI has set a goal of zero incidents
as one of its guiding principles. Another IMCI goal is to apply integrity
management principles on a much larger scale than required by current
regulations. CenterPoint Energy supports these INGAA initiatives and
participates on IMCI planning teams.
In addition, the company
participates in research projects hosted by Pipeline Research Council
International, Inc (PRCI). PRCI is dedicated to researching issues and producing
solutions that assure safe and reliable pipelines. CenterPoint is a PRCI member
company and participates on many PRCI research teams.
CenterPoint Energy believes we
are one of the companies leading the pipeline industry to a safer, more
reliable future.
Commitment:
CenterPoint Energy is committed
to protecting the public and environment. Our dedication to safety is a
reflection of our company values: Integrity, Accountability, Initiative and
Respect. If you need further information or have additional questions, please
contact us at Midstream Pipeline Safety.
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