Pipeline Integrity Assessments
ROSEN's industry-leading team completes thousands of pipeline integrity assessments each year using state-of-the-art tools and proven processes, all under an ISO 9001 certified quality management system.
Our integrity engineers have direct access to an extended global team of internationally recognized subject matter experts (SMEs) covering all relevant disciplines. These include inspection technologies, inspection data evaluation, materials, welding, corrosion, finite element analysis, fracture mechanics, fatigue, flow modelling, statistics and data science.
Maximize the value of inspection
To maximize the value of inspection, appropriate assessments are needed to answer key questions related to immediate and future integrity:
- Is my pipeline operating safely?
- Do I need to do anything to comply with regulations?
- Do any anomalies require a more advanced level of assessment?
- Are the current inspection maintenance and repair (IMR) activities adequate?
- Are medium or long-term intervention or rehabilitation activities required?
- When do I need to plan the next inspection?
From rapid screening assessment to the most advanced analysis supported by full-scale testing, we deliver decision support results you can rely on.
Your benefits of our pipeline integrity assessments
World-class expertise in integrity threats, associated damage and assessment methods
Fundamental knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of inspection systems
Access to signal data and expert evaluation minimizes uncertainty
One stop shop for inspection, assessment and further analysis
Gain a better understanding of corrosion activity
It is essential to implement appropriate corrosion management methods to preserve the integrity of pipeline systems. Corrosion takes many different forms depending on the internal and external environments, which in turn requires different and adaptable assessment and management. Our Fitness-for-Service Assessment ensures safe operation by identifying safe operating pressures and any anomalies that need further assessment and possible repair.
It requires an understanding of the cause of the anomalies, the selection of appropriate assessment methods, choices on input parameters, decisions on safety factors, awareness of mitigation and repair options and an appreciation of the consequences of any loss of containment.
For effective corrosion management, the cause of the corrosion must be known, and reliable estimates of the corrosion growth rate are critical. With our Corrosion Growth Assessment (CGA) Services, we can identify the cause and quantify the corrosion activity in a pipeline. Our experienced engineers analyze corrosion processes using state-of-the-art methods and evaluate the credibility of corrosion rates calculated from inspection data. CGA therefore provides a detailed overview of the development of corrosion over time and significantly increases operators' confidence in the future integrity of their pipeline.
Other corrosion assessments and services we offer to gain a better understanding of corrosion activity:
- Corrosion management and consultancy
- Corrosion control
- Mitigation and prevention
- Corrosion modelling
- Cathodic protection and coating consultancy
Combination of crack inspections, tests and in-field work to determine impacts on the future integrity of the pipeline
Our pipeline crack assessments are a consolidation of current industry best practices and the most advanced pipeline crack inspection solutions backed by the knowledge of our subject-matter experts. Following the preliminary results of an in-line inspection, we calculate indicative flaw failure pressures to ensure that immediate integrity threats are identified and prioritized. In this process a susceptibility analysis provides information on where cracks are most likely to occur to give context to inspection findings.
For a complete crack assessment, the final results of in-line inspections, testing, and in-field work are combined and the features are assessed to determine the impact on the immediate and future integrity of the pipeline. Future integrity assessment will consider fatigue and environmental growth mechanisms, as appropriate. A summary of all activities – including root cause analyses, metallurgical testing, and full scale testing – provides a comprehensive mitigation and repair plan.
Depending on your requirements we can perform the following services:
- Immediate crack assessments
- Complete crack assessments
- Susceptibility analysis
- Root cause analysis
- State-of-the-art field verification
- Laboratory investigation of failures
- Material characterization (toughness, strength, ductility)
- Full scale fatigue and burst testing (proof of performance and conservatism)
Assess the severity of geometric anomalies
We apply a levelled approach to geometric anomaly assessment starting with basic Level 1 screening assessments, if appropriate, through to advanced Level 3 stress analysis based methods that include bespoke application of finite element analysis (FEA) and may include full-scale testing. The appropriate level will be selected based on a range of factors including the number of anomalies being assessed, the inspection data, loading conditions and the availability of material property data. Assessments are performed in compliance with latest industry practice, for example API 1183.
We can assess all types of pipeline deformations in terms of severity and remaining life, including anomalies such as dents, buckles, or wrinkles. We pay particular attention to deformations combined with other anomalies such as cracks. Our offer includes:
- Dent strain assessments
- Dent fatigue life assessments
- Interacting damage assessments
- Pipeline wrinkle, ripple and buckle assessments
- Out-of-roundness assessments
Determine the magnitude of geohazards through inspection, analysis and depth-of-cover
Geohazards pose a major threat to pipelines because the resulting loading can be hard to identify, difficult to predict, and extremely challenging to control. However, it is possible to determine the magnitude of the threats posed by ground movement and provide comprehensive assessments that can be acted upon. Once the pipeline route is accurately mapped and areas of bending strain are identified, the geohazard threats can be monitored through repeated inspections and analysis of changes in bending strain.
In addition, third-party interference is widely documented as being a major cause of pipeline failures, often leading to rupture and extensive hydrocarbon releases. A depth-of-cover assessment ensures that the burial depth is sufficient to manage pipeline safety and comply with local, state, and federal regulations.
We offer the following geohazard assessments:
- Bending strain assessments
- Pipeline movement services
- River crossing scour and freespan analysis
- Geohazard identification and mapping
- Depth-of-cover mapping
- PipeDrift screening service
Complete code compliant MAOP reconfirmation using ECA integrated with in-line inspection services
Federal regulations require operators to reconfirm MAOP in accordance with the Code of Federal Regulations §192.624. Many operators have identified Method 3 – Engineering Critical Assessment (ECA) leveraging in-line inspection (ILI) – as the preferred method for some of their pipelines. However, the complex requirements of the ECA process detailed in §192.632 require a focus on many interrelated activities that, combined with various uncertainties, can lead to inefficiencies, inaccurate assessments and over-conservatism.
We therefore offer a turnkey solution to MAOP reconfirmation using ECA that is fully compliant with regulation based on industry best practice. An ECA is used to identify defects in the pipeline that require remediation at the required MAOP, mirroring what is achieved by a pressure test. The threats that need to be considered are critical to the entire ECA process. The solution incorporates both of the main components: ILI to define the defects remaining in the pipeline and the ECA analysis delivered by experienced and qualified subject-matter experts.
We also offer the following services complementary to the ECA:
- Definition of covered segments as per §192.624(a), including review of pressure test records
- Support from our experts to close out material property and attribute verification in line with §192.607
- Support from our experts to write or review the procedures associated with §192.632, §192.624, §192.607 and §192.712
Discover more
Gain deeper insights into our integrity assessment solutions.
Corrosion Growth Assessment
Integrity Analytics
Bending Strain Assessment