Pipeline Managers Discuss Pressures Of Corrosion Control

Pipeline & Gas Journal, Oct, 2000

Lee Bone III, President of NACE International, posed a series of questions about the future of corrosion control in the pipeline industry to officials who manage operations and corrosion control at six large pipeline companies. The questions address overriding concerns of upper management as they move beyond the need to comply with federal pipeline safety regulations and adopt long-term, corrosion-prevention measures in today's merger-driven environment.

QUESTION 1: Historically, the control and prevention of corrosion has been looked upon by upper management as regulatory concerns. That view is slowly changing, particularly within large gas transmission companies. In your view, what is the importance of corrosion control and prevention in preserving the asset?

MOLER: The control and prevention of corrosion is as important as all other maintenance-related activities associated with keeping the asset base safe, reliable and efficient. Since Order 636, companies have been challenged to maintain and improve the quality of services they provide, as well as demonstrate performance for shareholders. Neither objective should supersede the other, and in fact, operators at Kinder Morgan, Inc. must maintain an equitable balance between the two.

RITTENHOUR: Duke Energy Gas Transmission is committed to pipeline safety and regulatory compliance. Therefore, the company is certainly concerned about complying with regulatory requirements for corrosion control. We also understand that corrosion control is an essential tool to ensure the long-term integrity of our pipeline systems. Pipeline preservation is a fundamental requirement and our company is committed to a corrosion-control program to protect this asset.

AKAN: Corrosion prevention is an integral part of Colonial Pipeline's Integrity Management Program. We believe a sound corrosion-prevention program will help ensure the long-term viability of the pipeline system and support Colonial's fundamental goal of protecting people and the environment. We view the asset as more than steel pipe. Corrosion prevention is essential to protecting the pipeline system and ensuring leak-free operations. Ongoing and effective corrosion prevention will result in compliance.

WANG: One of Columbia Gulf's goals is to provide our customers with 100 percent reliability and availability. In order to reach this goal, it is extremely important that we have a strong corrosion-control program to preserve our most valuable asset--our pipelines. Without safe and reliable pipelines, we will not be able to meet the demand of our customers, and therefore, we will lose our competitiveness in the marketplace.

HANEY: Corrosion control has always been an operating issue at Reliant Energy Entex. We feel that the monies spent on cathodic protection (CP) are returned many times in helping us maintain our physical assets. We would maintain CP or a pipeline system even if was not a Department of Transportation regulation.

GUY: Corrosion-control matters are viewed primarily as a safety issue by ONEOK management. Corrosion control and prevention is very important to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of our pipeline systems. Therefore, maintenance of these assets is crucial not only to operate pipeline systems safely, but also to maximize the financial performance of our pipeline assets. We have a responsibility to not only protect the assets, but also to protect the community, environment and our own employees.

QUESTION 2: How actively is your company assessing the condition of its pipeline systems and qualitatively measuring their safety, integrity, and reliability? How involved should the federal government be in ensuring that pipeline integrity management and risk management systems are in place within LDCs and gas transmission companies?

RITTENHOUR: Duke Energy Gas Transmission has a risk-management process that is utilized to help direct the resources to best ensure pipeline safety and integrity. An important component of the company's risk management process is a computer program that prioritizes various risk concerns such as outside forces, corrosion and third-party damage.

Duke is currently working with the federal government on a Risk Management Demonstration Program. Working together to develop risk management techniques that result in a greater level of pipeline safety than the level afforded by current regulations is a key objective. We must work with the federal government to change the regulations to provide for innovative techniques that enhance pipeline integrity. It is important that the federal government, specifically the Department of Transportation (DOT), be comfortable with the industry's integrity initiatives so we can continue to operate and expand our business with the public's trust.

AKAN: Colonial Pipeline Company (CPC) is very aggressive in assessing system safety, integrity and reliability. In 1999 CPC initiated an aggressive CP system evaluation. Field tests and data obtained from close internal surveys, coating surveys, soil resistivity surveys, interference tests, polarization tests, and current demand tests provided the basis for a design of new or enhanced CP systems for some areas. This led us to our current CP enhancement project, which is the most aggressive program in the company's history. In addition to the aforementioned work in corrosion prevention, Colonial has maintained a very aggressive internal inspection program (smart pigs) and tank inspection program. We welcome the development of government guidelines to ensure some level of consistency across the industry.