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 The Mechanical Damage Workshop was held in Houston, Texas on February 28 - March 1, 2006. The event included approximately 225 representatives from Federal, State, and international government agencies, public representatives, research funding organizations, standards organizations, and pipeline operators from the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

The workshop identified existing technology necessary to prevent, detect and characterize mechanical damage of pipelines, as well as gaps in associated regulations and industry standards. The workshop also identified several technologies under current research which will be deployed in the field.

Technology Matrices:

  1. MD Prevention - Existing Technology
  2. MD Prevention - Technology Research
  3. MD Detection - Existing Technology
  4. MD Detection - Technology Research
  5. MD Characterization - Existing Technology
  6. MD Characterization - Technology Research


View summary report from the Mechanical Damage Workshop.
View Mechanical Damage in Pipelines, Final Report, Michael Baker Jr., April 2009
Workshop documents are available below.


Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Introductory Slides:

Jeff Wiese, DOT/PHMSA

Welcome and Introduction:

Theodore Willke, DOT/PHMSA
Dave Johnson, Panhandle Energy

Mechanical Damage Study Outline & Purpose:

Keith Meyer, Michael Baker Jr., Inc.

Overview (How big is the problem?):

Jeff Wiese, DOT/PHMSA
John Kiefner, Kiefner and Associates, Inc.
Chris van Egmond, National Energy Board of Canada
Mures Zarea, Gaz de France

Prevention Panel (Existing Technology):

Moderator: Dr. Erez Allouche, Louisiana Tech
Moderator: Christina Sames, American Gas Association
Liquid - C. Gweneyette Broussard, Shell Pipeline Company LP
Gas Trans - Jerry Rau, Panhandle Energy
Gas Dist (s)/(n) - Daphne D'Zurko, NYSEARCH/Northeast Gas Association
Keynote - Jeff Wiese, DOT/PHMSA

Prevention Panel (Technology Research):

Moderator: Dr. Erez Allouche, Louisiana Tech
Moderator: Christina Sames, American Gas Association
Overview: Jim Merritt, DOT/PHMSA
Overview: Harvey Haines, Pipeline Research Council International
Overview: Daphne D'Zurko, NYSEARCH/Northeast Gas Association
Overview: Dr. Maureen Droessler, Operations Technology Development
Keynote: Chris Ziolkowski, Gas Technology Institute

Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Detection & Characterization Panel (Existing Technology):

Moderator: Brian Sitterly, Shell Pipeline Company LP
Liquid: Walter Kresic, Enbridge
Liquid: Chad Zamarin, Colonial Pipeline Company
Gas Trans: Todd Kedzie, El Paso Corporation
Gas Trans: Steve Rapp, DEGT Transmission and Storage Operations
ILIA: Bryce Brown, ROSEN Inspection Services

Detection & Characterization Panel (Technology Research):

Moderator: Brian Sitterly, Shell Pipeline Company LP
Overview: Robert Smith, DOT/PHMSA
Overview: David Batte, Pipeline Research Council International
Overview: Dr. Maureen Droessler, Operations Technology Development
Keynote: Bruce Nestleroth, Battelle
Overview: Alan Dean, Tuboscope
Keynote: Chris Alexander, Stress Engineering Services, Inc.

Closing Remarks:

Jeff Wiese, DOT/PHMSA