Optimized ILI-based Corrosion Management Program Towards a High Reliability Industry

Abstract This paper presents the optimization of in-line inspection (ILI) based corrosion management program. Corrosion is often the dominant threat on existing energy pipelines built with low performance coating. ILI-based threat management program is the most successful path to manage time-dependent threats. It has proven to reduce industry wide failure rates but has not always prevented all post ILI failures. ILI-based corrosion management programs can give very different failure performance and mitigation results depending on the input of key program elements including sizing error of ILI tools, growth rate of corrosion, burst pressure models, safety factors, and assessment methodologies. All these program elements drive higher reliability, cost efficiency through unnecessary cost avoidance, and thus a more efficient program that avoid failures with reduced costs. This paper discusses the optimization of each program element and how these program elements integrate into a system to provide a system optimization that is impactful both on safety and economy. The improvements made by prudently optimizing each of these program elements is demonstrated through program performance monitoring process and data analytics, which will be beneficial to pipeline industry.