Panel Peer Review of PHMSA Pipeline Safety Research Projects: 2009
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The peer review continues to build on an already strong and systematic evaluation process developed by PHMSA’s Pipeline Safety R&D Program and certified by the Government Accountability Office. The peer review panel consisted of twelve government and industry experts. One of the twelve panelists is an active Government representative from the Minerals Management Service. The remaining eleven panelists are retired Government and retired and active industry personnel who play vital roles as peers for the American Petroleum Institute, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, the National Association of Corrosion Engineers and other standards developing organizations.
Forty-two active research projects were peer reviewed by expert panelists using 15 evaluation criteria. These criteria were grouped within the following five evaluation categories:
- Is the project still relevant to the PHMSA mission?
- Is the project still well managed?
- What approaches are taken for transferring results to end users?
- Is the project well coordinated with other closely related programs?
- Is the project producing high quality results?
The rating scale possibilities were "Ineffective," "Moderately Effective," "Effective," or "Very Effective." During the May 2008 review, the average program rating was “Very Effective” for each of the evaluation categories. For this year, 34 projects were rated “Very Effective” with 8 projects ranked as “Effective.” The average sub-criteria scoring were also rated very high and underpin these findings. This marks the fourth annual peer review where the majority of peered projects and the overall program rating were very effective. Additional details are available in Section 7 and Tables 4, 5 & 6 of this report.
| Very Effective | 4.5 to 5.0 (34 Projects) |
| Effective | 3.0 to 4.4 (8 Projects) |
| Moderately Effective | 2.0 to 2.9 (0 Projects) |
| Ineffective | 0.0 to 1.9 (0 Projects) |
| Average Program Score | 4.574 |
| Review Categories and Sub-Criteria | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Is the project still relevant to the PHMSA mission? | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 1.1. Is the project still relevant for enhancing pipeline safety and or protecting the environment? | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 1.2. Does the project support rulemaking, statutory requirements or inspection activities? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 1.3. Does the project address a technology gap, consensus standard or produce general knowledge? | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 2. Is the project still well managed? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 2.1. Is the project making progress toward the work scope objectives and the PHMSA goals? | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 2.2. Is the project being managed on budget and schedule? | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 3. What approaches are taken in transferring results to end users? | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 3.1. Is there a plan for dissemination of results, including publications, reporting, and patents? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 3.2. How much end user involvement is incorporated into the work scope? | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 3.3. For results that may include marketable products and technologies, are commercialization plans established? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 4. Is the project well coordinated with other closely related programs? | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 4.1. Does the project build on, or make use of, related or prior work? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 4.2. Is the work of the project being communicated to other related research efforts? | 4.4 | Effective |
| 4.3. Has consideration been given to possible future work? | 4.4 | Effective |
| 5. Is the project producing high quality results? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 5.1. Are the intended results supported by the work performed during the project? | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 5.2. Are the intended results consistent with scientific knowledge and/or engineering principles? | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 5.3. Are the intended results appropriate for the resources expended? | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 5.4. Are the intended results presented in such a manner as to be useful for identified end users? | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| Average Category Score and Rating: | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| Project | Rank | Contract | Project Title | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 176 | 1 | DTPH56-05-T-0001 | Understanding Magnetic Flux Leakage (MFL) Signals from Mechanical Damage in Pipelines | 4.9 | Very Effective |
| 225 | 1 | DTPH56-07-T-000005 | Update of Weld Design, Testing, and Assessment Procedures for High Strength Pipelines | 4.9 | Very Effective |
| 235 | 1 | DTPH56-08-T-000009 | Meandering Winding Magnetometer-Array Detection & Characterization of Damage through Coatings and Insulation | 4.9 | Very Effective |
| 236 | 1 | DTPH56-08-T-000009 | Adaptation of MWM Array and MFL Technology for Enhanced Detection/Characterization of Damage from Inside Pipelines | 4.9 | Very Effective |
| 238 | 1 | DTPH56-08-T-000011 | Structural Significance of Mechanical Damage | 4.9 | Very Effective |
| 247 | 1 | DTPH56-08-T-000013 | Effect of Ethanol Blends and Batching Operations on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Carbon Steel | 4.9 | Very Effective |
| 246 | 2 | DTPH56-08-T-000013 | Effect of Ethanol Source on Stress Corrosion Cracking of Carbon Steel | 4.8 | Very Effective |
| 257 | 2 | DTPH56-08-T-000023 | Validation for Flaw Acceptance of Mechanical Damage to Low Stress Natural Gas Pipelines | 4.8 | Very Effective |
| 200 | 3 | DTPH56-06-T-000014 | Validation and Documentation of Tensile Strain Limit Design Models for Pipelines | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 201 | 3 | DTPH56-06-T-000014 | Second Generation Models for Strain-Based Design | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 212 | 3 | DTPH56-06-T-000023 | Effect of Surface Preparation on Residual Stress in Multi-layer and Other Pipeline Coatings | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 221 | 3 | DTPH56-07-T-000010 | Butt Fusion Joint Integrity and Evaluation of NDE Technologies | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 224 | 3 | DTPH56-07-T-000009 | In-Situ Hydrogen Analysis in Weldments: Novel NDE for Weld Inspection | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 226 | 3 | DTPH56-07-T-000005 | Development of Optimized Welding Solutions for X100 Linepipe Steel | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 231 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000002 | Enhanced Defect Detection and Sizing Accuracy Using Matrix Phased Array Ultrasonics Tools | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 232 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000004 | Improving Magnetic Flux Leakage In-Line Inspection Corrosion Sizing Using Phased Array Guided Ultrasonic Waves | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 233 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000006 | The Effect of Cathodic Protection on Stress Corrosion Cracking of High-Strength Pipeline Steels | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 239 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000005 | Development and demonstration of an integrated tool for mapping, sizing and evaluation of SCC for remaining strength prediction | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 240 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000014 | Effect of Concentration and Temperature of Ethanol in Fuel Blends on Microbial and Stress Corrosion Cracking of Pipeline Steels | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 244 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000015 | Pipeline Segment-Specific External Corrosion Rate Estimation to Improve Reassessment Interval Accuracy | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 245 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000016 | Evaluation and Method for Qualification of Fiber Reinforced Composite Repair Techniques for Transmission and/or Distribution Pipelines | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 250 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000018 | Pipeline Quality Biogas: Guidance Document for Dairy Waste, Wastewater Treatment Sludge and Landfill Conversion | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 251 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000008 | Achieving Maximum Crack Remediation Effect from Optimized Hydrotesting | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 256 | 3 | DTPH56-08-T-000022 | Validation of External Corrosion Growth-Rate Using Polarization Resistance and Soil Properties | 4.7 | Very Effective |
| 220 | 4 | DTPH56-07-T-000006 | Validation of Assessment Methods for Production Scale Girth Welding of High Strength Pipelines with Multiple Pipe Sources | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 222 | 4 | DTPH56-07-T-000007 | Hybrid Laser Arc Welding (HLAW) System Development for Pipeline Construction | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 230 | 4 | DTPH56-08-T-000003 | Development of Tools to Estimate Actual Corrosion Growth Rates (Internal and External) of Gas Pipelines | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 248 | 4 | DTPH56-08-T-000013 | Monitoring Conditions Leading to SCC/Corrosion of Carbon Steel | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 252 | 4 | DTPH56-08-T-000019 | Advanced Development of Proactive Infrasonic Gas Pipeline Evaluation Network | 4.6 | Very Effective |
| 210 | 5 | DTPH56-06-T-000021 | Method for Qualification of Coatings Applied to Wet Surfaces | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 218 | 5 | DTPH56-07-T-000002 | Advanced Technologies and Methodology for Automated Ultrasonic Testing Systems Quantification | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 223 | 5 | DTPH56-07-T-000008 | Automated Laser Ultrasonic Testing (ALUT) Of Hybrid Laser Arc Welds For Pipeline Construction | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 254 | 5 | DTPH56-08-T-000021 | Feasibility of Using Plastic Pipe for Ethanol Low Stress Lines | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 255 | 5 | DTPH56-08-T-000020 | Internal Corrosion Detection in Liquids Pipelines | 4.5 | Very Effective |
| 216 | 6 | DTPH56-07-T-000004 | Development of HAZ Hardness Limits for In-Service Welding | 4.3 | More than Effective |
| 258 | 6 | DTPH56-08-T-000024 | Broadband Electromagnetic Technology Sensor to Assess Ferrous Pipes without Removing Coatings in Both Traditional and Keyhole Excavations | 4.3 | More than Effective |
| 219 | 7 | DTPH56-07-T-000003 | Hybrid Laser/GMAW of High Strength Steel Gas Transmission Pipelines | 4.2 | More than Effective |
| 234 | 7 | DTPH56-08-T-000007 | Development of a Free-Swimming Acoustic Tool for Liquid Pipeline Leak Detection Including Evaluation for Natural Gas Pipeline Applications | 4.2 | More than Effective |
| 237 | 7 | DTPH56-08-T-000010 | Direct strain measurements and failure pressure prediction in mechanically damaged and strained pipes | 4.2 | More than Effective |
| 243 | 8 | DTPH56-08-T-000012 | External Corrosion Direct Assessment - Potential Measurements on Paved Areas | 3.9 | More than Effective |
| 241 | 9 | DTPH56-08-T-000012 | External Corrosion Direct Assessment of Cased Pipes | 3.8 | More than Effective |
| 242 | 10 | DTPH56-08-T-000012 | Severity Ranking of ECDA Indirect Inspection Indications | 3.5 | More than Effective |