Center for Reliable Energy Systems

News

June 2022

May 2022

  • CRES and Geosyntec have been awarded a contract by INGAA and the INGAA Foundation on a JIP titled “Recommended Practice for Geohazard Land Movement and Framework for Geohazard Management”

April 2022

    1. Understanding Principal Drivers to Burst Pressure and Local Deformation of Pipes With SCC Colonies
    2. Application of Strain Based Assessment in Support of Operational and Mitigation Decisions
    3. Measurement of Flaw Growth in Electric Resistance Welded Pipe Seams From Multiple Pressure Tests and Hold Time and Implications on Managing Pressure Reversals in Hydrostatic Tests
    4. Integrity Assessment of Pre-cracked Linepipe Used for Transportation of High Pressure Hydrogen based on ASME B31.12
    5. The Practical Benefits of Detailed Forensic Analysis
    6. Self-Shielded Flux-Cored Arc Welding – Practical Approaches for Improved Toughness Performance of Girth Welds in High-Strength Pipeline

March 2022

  • Case study – Fitness-for-Service Assessment for Effective Landslide Management. Read how CRES helped the operator quickly return its pipeline to normal operation pressure, saving the expense of costly field work.

Read More...

Fitness-for-Service Assessment for Effective Landslide Management

An integrated approach between hazard mitigation and fitness-for-service (FFS) assessment was used to address a pipeline impacted by a landslide in the eastern USA. Both the immediate and long-term integrity concerns were considered. A rapid FFS analysis determined that the line could be operated at normal pressure and that immediate site work was not necessary. A more refined analysis later determined that invasive field work was not necessary. Site work focusing on water management and installation of strain gages. The strain gages monitored the integrity of the pipeline, and a plan was developed if the gauge readings exceeded the limit. This approach allowed the company to continue operations safely and ensure the long-term integrity of the pipeline.

A geotechnical investigation suggested that a pipeline might have been impacted by previous and current landslides. The owner engaged CRES to conduct an FFS assessment and to work with a geotechnical specialist to develop necessary mitigation and monitoring measures. The FFS assessment estimated the strain demand imposed on the pipeline by the landslide, assessed the strain capacity of the pipeline, and determined the current integrity status and tolerance to further ground movement.

In February 2019, when the current ground movement was identified, information on the landslide and the pipeline properties was limited and still being collected. With the limited information, including the span and maximum movement of the landslide, CRES performed a preliminary assessment of the strain demand with simplified analytical models. Combined with strain capacity estimates from previous work for the same pipeline, CRES concluded that the strain demand was lower than the strain capacity of the welds in the affected segment. The pipeline was considered safe, by a comfortable margin. CRES worked closely with the operator and geotechnical experts to justify delaying any immediate field work and the line was allowed to operate at its normal pressure. If CRES had not determined the safety of the pipeline, field work would have increased the risk of destabilizing the saturated slopes during the early spring. Large side slope excavations would have been required to uncover the pipeline at a 10-foot depth of cover putting the workers and pipeline at greater risk.

After the initial discovery, the landslide characteristics and site-specific pipeline properties were collected by the Operator. Based on the updated information, CRES performed a refined assessment to obtain the strain demand and site-specific strain capacity. Pipe-soil interaction modelling indicated a lower strain demand than found in the preliminary analysis. After a comprehensive review of the pipe and welds, a case-specific strain capacity analysis focused on two manual tie-in girth welds. The analysis produced a higher strain capacity than the preliminary strain capacity estimates. CRES recommended against the stress relief of the affected segment due to the existing safety margin. In parallel, site stabilization work diverted ground water reducing risk. Strain gages were installed at selected locations, based on CRES analysis, to detect changes over time and ensure continued integrity. CRES provided intervention strain thresholds for mitigation actions.

The integrated approach for hazard management and FFS assessment ensured integrity and reduced the amount of field work, while the line continued to operate safely. The site work simultaneously addressed the immediate threat and provided a method to monitor the site for integrity into the future.

Yong-Yi Wang, [email protected]

  •  

February 2022

  • CRES presented Burst Pressure Prediction of Pipes with SCC Using Intelligent Flaw Interaction Rules at PPIM 2022

September 2021

  • CRES published the first rapid strain-based assessment tool GwiseTM to help operators grade pipelines impacted by geohazards. 

June 2021

May 2021

April 2021

    1. Webinar I, 04/08/21 – Improved Burst Pressure Prediction of SCC Colonies – Development of Intelligent Flaw Interaction Rules
    2. Webinar II, 04/22/21 – Improved Burst Pressure Prediction of SCC Colonies – Evaluation of Intelligent Flaw Interaction Rules Using Full-Scale Burst Tests

February 2021

  • CRES made presentations in 9 subject areas at PRCI virtual research exchange 2021

December 2020

  • CRES conducted full-scale burst tests with its newly commissioned test facilities with a maximum pressure capacity of 6000 psi.

October 2020

  • CRES and Enbridge made a presentation at an INGAA meeting titled “Methods to Mitigate Undermatched Girth Welds” on October 29, 2020.

September 2020

  • CRES published 11 papers at the 2020 International Pipeline Conference (IPC) among a total of 226 papers published for the entire conference.  Five of the 11 papers were selected for “live” presentations during a two day virtual conference on September 29-30.  CRES had the most “live” presentations among all conferences participants.

August 2020

  • CRES worked with Geosyntec and Golder to develop a guidance document on the management of landslide hazards for pipelines.

May 2020

April 2020

  • CRES published 11 papers at IPC 2020 

    1. Structured Response Plan after a Ground Movement Event
    2. Improved Linepipe Specifications and Welding Practice for Resilient Pipelines
    3. Management of Ground Movement Hazards – an Overview of a JIP
    4. Development of Lifting and Lowering-in Plan for the Control of Construction Stresses
    5. A Review of Pipe-soil Interaction Models for Strain Demand Estimation
    6. Material Properties and Flaw Characteristics of Vintage Girth Welds
    7. Burst Pressure Prediction of Pipes With SCC Colonies – Development of Intelligent Flaw Interaction Rules
    8. Burst Pressure Prediction of Pipes With SCC Colonies – Evaluation of Intelligent Flaw Interaction Rules Using Full-Scale Burst Tests
    9. Estimation of Tensile Strain Capacity of Vintage Girth Welds
    10. Effects of Biaxial Loading on the Tensile Strain Capacity of Girth Welds with Weld Strength Undermatching and HAZ Softening
    11. Rational Limits of High-low Misalignment in Girth Welds

February 2020

  • CRES presents PRCI Webinar on Assessment of the Tensile Strain Capacity (TSC) of Vintage Girth Welds (Part I, Part II).

October 2019

  • CRES is one of the sponsors for IPC 2020.  IPC 2020 is now open to accept abstracts.

September 2019

July 2019

March 2019

  • CRES is a lead organizer and contributor to the ASME Conference Asset Integrity Management – Pipeline Integrity Management under Geohazard Conditions. 

Dr. Yong-Yi Wang gave a keynote lunch presentation on Integrated Hazards Management and Fitness-for-Service Assessment for Integrity Management of Pipelines Subjected to Geohazards.  Dr. Wang also moderated a panel session on Gaps and Roadmap (related to geohazards management).  CRES published three papers:

  1. Strain-Based Design and Assessment – Concepts and Gaps
  2. Tensile Strain Models and Their Applications
  3. Low Strain Capacity Girth Welds of Newly Constructed Pipelines and Mitigative Approaches

January 2019

September 2018

  • Dr. Yong-Yi Wang is the honoree of the ASME Distinguished Lecture Series at IPC 2018.  

Read More...

The Pipeline Systems Division of ASME states

“The 2018 edition of the International Pipeline Conference established the Distinguished Lecture Series in honor of Dr. Yong-Yi Wang to recognize his significant technical contribution to the pipeline industry.  Dr. Wang has been a significant technical contributor to the International Pipeline Conference as a Track Leader, and author.  While serving as a steward of the IPC Strain Based Design track, he also contributed technical content to various tracks with a total of 146 papers to his credit both at IPC and at other conferences.

Dr. Wang has also been a contributor to many industry organizations such as API, ASME, CSA, PHMSA, PRCI, and others.  Through all of his industry activities he has demonstrated his personal commitment to the industry and the engineering profession.

The goal of the Distinguished Lecture Series is to present technical content that was produced over the past several decades that have provided a foundation for modern pipeline technology.  Dr. Yong-Yi Wang and his industry collaborators are the embodiment of the 2018 International Pipeline Conference theme of Building the Future Now.”

  • CRES published 5 papers at IPC 2018. 

    1. Assessment of Dents under High Longitudinal Strain
    2. Attributes of Modern Linepipes and Their Implications on Girth Weld Strain Capacity
    3. Tensile and Compressive Strain Capacity in the Presence of Corrosion Anomalies
    4. Burst Pressure of Pipelines with Corrosion Anomalies under High Longitudinal Strains
    5. Burst Pressure of Wrinkles under High Longitudinal Strain

March 2018

  • Dr. Yong-Yi Wang is recognized as the Outstanding Researcher by PRCI. 

The Executive Assembly & Executive Board of PRCI presented the Distinguished Researcher Award to Dr. Yong-Yi Wang “for dedicated and distinguished service and scientific achievements that have enhanced the integrity, reliability and environmental performance of energy pipelines around the world.”