Ageing-related pipeline failures and safety assurance technologies

With the rapid increase of pipeline network and extension of service life for oil and gas delivery in China, the integrity of pipelines is increasingly an issue of public concern. In addition to high-quality pipeline materials, improving the rationality of cathodic protection in different types and the durability of protective coating will be useful for the long-term integrity of pipelines. Different failure mechanisms that can develop in underground pipelines, as the structure ages, need appropriate safety assessment and assurance standards. Internal detection technology is the essential means for knowing the extent of damage and for failure prevention of pipelines during service. As an important supplementary means of pipeline safety assurance, hydrostatic testing is considered by most experts to be essential to the improvement of pipeline serviceability, especially in pipelines with axial defects.