Risk-Based Decision Support for Rehabilitation of Natural Gas Distribution Pipelines

Overview

Fast Facts
Project No.	982
Contract No.	693JK32210010POTA
Research Award Recipient	Gas Technology Institute dba GTI Energy 1700 South Mount Prospect Road Des Plaines, IL 60018-1804
AOR/TTI	Robert Smith Louis Cardenas Andrea Ceartin
Researcher Contact Info	Dr. Khalid Farrag, 847-768-0803, kfarrag@gti.energy

Financial and Status Data
Project Status	Active
Start Fiscal Year	2022 (09/30/2022)
End Fiscal Year	2025 (09/22/2025)
PHMSA $$ Budgeted	$400,000.00

Main Objective

The project will evaluate the following:

Threats to aged cast iron and bare steel gas distribution pipes by establishing a risk-based approach to 1) provide acceptable pipe deformations, and 2) recommend actions for pipe rehabilitation.
Segments suitable for rehabilitation or trenchless repair based on attributes, site conditions, and installation cost. A web-based tool will provide risk levels in a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform.

Public Abstract

The project: (a) Evaluates and ranks the threats on aged cast iron and bare steel gas distribution pipelines. (b) Establishes a risk-based approach which provides the acceptable deformations and strain limits of pipeline segments and recommends actions for their monitoring, rehabilitating, or replacement options. (c) The segments, deemed suitable for rehabilitation, are evaluated for trenchless repair, such as cured-in-place liners, based on pipeline attributes, site conditions, and cost of installation in comparison with other alternatives such as open trench replacement. A web-based user interface tool will provide the risk levels of the selected segments in a GIS platform. The risk analysis will be based on the probabilities of corrosion and ground movement threats and associated pipe deformations in a Bayesian Analysis approach.

Anticipated Results: The project will provide a web program to the gas distribution utilities for a decision-support of pipeline replacement and rehabilitation considerations. The reliability of the program will be evaluated against operational data in existing utilities rehabilitated segments.

Potential Impact on Safety: The risk-based decision support system provides a selection tool and procedures for replacement and rehabilitation options of aged infrastructure. It increases safety and reduces gas emissions from high-risk cast iron and bare steel pipes in the infrastructure. The risk-based approach addresses the gas Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) requirements to establish effective rehabilitation and replacement programs to prevent leaks and breakage of aged pipelines.