Abstract
Pipelines represent a very important part of the energy infrastructure. Proper operation is crucial to a company’s export and import capabilities. They ensure a safe, continuous and economical transport of fluids. An essential aspect of pipeline integrity management is identifying locations along the pipeline that are most vulnerable to corrosion. Another important aspect is forecasting corrosion over a period of time in order to predict the possibility of pipeline failure (corrosion rate versus time to failure). As pipelines age and the degradation mechanisms become more problematic, it is recognised that the integrity of those pipelines must be proactively managed. It is no longer a matter of performing periodic inspection and maintenance activities. Furthermore, the products being processed or transported are ever more valuable and the continuous operation of the pipelines ever more vital. There must therefore be a comprehensive set of arrangements whereby the operation, inspection, maintenance and repair activities are focussed towards ensuring that the availability and throughput of the pipeline is maximised and assured.
