High Impact Industry Trends

•    The Canada Energy Regulator (CER)  Issued Safety Advisories Regarding Girth Weld Area Strain-Induced Failures

The Canada Energy Regulator (CER) has become aware of several incidents outside of Canada where failures have occurred at the girth weld area (deposited weld area and heat affected zone) on high strength pipe. While no incidents associated with this type of failure have been reported in Canada, the CER is of the view that similar incidents could occur under comparable conditions. The CER is releasing this Safety Advisory to ensure a broader awareness of these types of incidents in order to prevent occurrences of this nature on CER-regulated pipelines.  Learn more

•    PHMSA Publishes “MEGA” Rule

The new rule from the Department of Transportation referred to in the industry as the “MEGA” rule, applies to more than 500,000 miles of pipelines that carry natural gas, oil and other hazardous materials throughout the U.S.  Learn more

•    Revision of API Standard 1104

Major updates are expected when the 22nd Edition of the standard is published sometime in 2019. Some of the sections under revisions are essential welding variables, repair welding, and NDT.

•    API RP 1183 Assessment and Management of Dents in Pipelines

API is working on the development of a Recommended Practice (RP) for the assessment and management of dent/deformations in pipelines to provide an update for the pipeline industry on the current state of knowledge on addressing and managing dents.

•    Low Strain Capacity of Girth Welds of Newly Constructed Pipelines

There has been a number of in-service girth weld failures of newly constructed pipelines in recent years.  Girth weld failures have also been observed during pre-service hydrostatic testing.  Most of the failures occurred in X70 pipelines with manual welds, although failures have been observed in linepipe grades ranging from X52 to X80.  Work is under way to develop integrity management strategies for assets already in service.  Long-term solutions are being developed to minimize the likelihood of such failures.  Learn more