Discussion on identification and classification standards of high consequence areas in oil and gas pipelines

Author of the article:JIA Shuai

Author's Workplace：CNAF Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Logistics Co., Ltd., Tianjin, 300300, China

Key Words：Oil and gas pipeline; High consequence areas; Pipeline integrity management; Regional level; Level of high consequence areas

Abstract：The GB 32167—2015 Oil and Gas Pipeline Integrity Management Specification has been promulgated and implemented for several years and various pipeline companies apply this standard in identification and determination of high-consequence areas. As with most standards, the descriptions in this standard are qualitative rather than quantitative. This results in a problem in actual application that different companies and different technical personnel have inconsistent interpretations of the same high-consequence areas. On the basis of the original standard and incorporating experience on the actual application on transmission pipelines, the number of households is converted into the number of people, and a new method of classifying the level of high-consequence area according to the number of people in the pipeline’s affected area is proposed, together with a table for high-consequence classification prepared to assist in consistent interpretation. Based on simple and scientific approach, this new method presents a quantitative definition for the level and extent of high-consequence area, which is easy to apply on actual field operation. This approach resolves the issue of inconsistent classification standards for high-consequence areas in specific locations as well as unreasonable classification of high-consequence areas in gas pipelines according to regional levels. The study result presented in this paper could provide useful references for the identification and classification of high-consequence areas for oil and gas transmission pipelines and provide basis and data for future revisions of GB 32167—2015.