WorldWide Drilling Resource

Pipeline Emergencies: Planning for the Unexpected is a Must Adapted from Information Provided by Subsea World News Following several major pipeline accidents in 2014, emergency preparedness is taking center stage. The tragedies serve as a reminder of random threats which affect pipelines, and the importance of having an Emergency Pipeline Repair System (EPRS) in place. Operators must have an EPRS offering the shortest possible time between an incident and recommissioning. Achieving the highest possible level of post-repair integrity, at the lowest possible cost, is of utmost impor- tance. Advances in emergency preparedness can reduce recovery time by months. IRM Systems announced impor tant advances in EPRS practice designed to save time and significantly reduce financial impact. Using a structured approach to emergency repair planning during an unplanned repair, the timeline from incident to recommissioning can be dramatically compressed, minimizing downtime. The process is driven by the oper- ator, can be applied to any pipeline, and costs nothing to implement. Combinat ions of repair methods are selected based on a thorough understanding of risk and repair scenarios for an asset. Procedures along the critical path - from isolation of the damaged section to recommissioning - are optimized, and smarter contracting strategies for equipment and services are determined. Finally, roles of personnel and departments are aligned around the repair plan so each party works together during an emergency. “EPRS is about implementing a sustain- able capability which, hopefully, will never be called upon,” said Rutger Schouten, general manager of IRM Systems. A central element of any EPRS is sourcing long lead-time items and putting service agreements in place so providers are ready to respond immediately in an emergency. The second advance in EPRS strategy is a pro- curement approach which tailors the relation- ship between technologies, contracting methods, and supplier reimbursement to realities of the local repair market. This reduces costs associated with an EPRS and increases its attractiveness as an investment which will consistently del iver value throughout a pipeline’s life. 59 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2015 It’s time for WWDR ’s Buyers Meet Sellers , due October 10 th ! Call now: (850) 547-0102