A Practical Approach to Manage Hard Spot Threat

Abstract This paper aims at offering a practical, step by step, easy to implement approach to manage hard spot threat in the vintage pipeline system. The approach is the extract of experience and knowledge from daily integrity threat management of hard spot, combining with statistical review of failure data, latest industry new findings, recent PRCI studies and advancement of technology in detection and in-ditch NDE investigation. Quite several leading researchers and scholars have published in-depth study of hard spot, detailed in Research Compendium – Pipe Hard Spot Management PRCI catalog PR-00-22COMP-R02. This paper intends to supplement the past studies with hands-on practice from a ground soldier perspective of how to apply what the industry has known to the daily management. A hard spot was defined by RIN2 as steel pipe material with a minimum dimension greater than 2 inches (50.8 mm) in any direction with hardness greater than or equal to Rockwell 35 HRC, Brinell 327 HB, or Vickers 345 HV10. It’s been observed that an elevated hardness has often been called and regarded as a hard spot, which could result in reduced efficiency and effectiveness in hard spot management. The priority should be laser-focused on why certain hard spots fail and how to manage them. This paper will share learnings of whether and when reassessment or reanalysis of ILI is required, CP change effect to hard spot stability, soil impact to crack initiation with hard spot, latest ILI tool advancement and field NDE techniques. Recommendation will be provided with regarding continuous improvement and holistic approach to assess hard spot through interactive feature evaluation.