Corrosion Control Knowledge and Technology Integration for Safer California Natural Gas Pipeline System
The project aims to develop an improved corrosion risk reduction through an optimal integration of corrosion control knowledge and technology. The results of the project will provide both a computational tool and a guidance document on how to reduce
The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Los Angeles Campus
Recipient
Los Angeles, CA
Recipient Location
24th
Senate District
51st
Assembly District
$369,137
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
UCLA is preparing a corrosion detection technologies assessment to identify methods and instruments best suited to collecting the data needed to perform corrosion risk assessments. The project is also developing an integrated corrosion model optimized for use by gas system operators to manage corrosion risks and prioritize the use of mitigative and preventative measures.
The Issue
Corrosion and stress corrosion cracking have the potential to compromise pipelines over broad regions, leading to leaks or bursts and disruption of gas supply. While the presence of these threats is well known, there are specific challenges to managing corrosion risk including detection of corrosion, predicting corrosion growth rates, and sparse data given the scale and complexity of the gas system.
Project Innovation
Risk management approaches used by gas system operators have been qualitative and insufficiently predictive. The understanding of many pipeline threat mechanisms, especially interaction between various corrosion mechanisms, is not fully matured. Either current models are too simplistic or the phenomena are too complex to mathematically reproduce. This project is integrating detection technologies, corrosion risk assessment methodologies, and risk management optimization approaches to create a new quantitative corrosion risk management approach.
Project Benefits
Predicting and preventing corrosion damage in gas pipelines involves complex and costly processes that challenge gas system operators. By integrating these processes, which include technology deployment, data collection, modeling, and analysis, gas system operators will achieve improved safety and reliability of the system and a decrease in the economic and environmental impact of pipeline failures.
Safety
The project will improve safety by enabling the gas pipelines with the highest corrosion growth rates to be prioritized for mitigation measures.
Reliability
Providing an improved understanding of corrosion damage to gas pipelines will lead to fewer accidental methane emissions and service disruptions.
Affordability
The Association for Materials Protection and Performance estimates that corrosion damage in U.S. transmission pipelines costs $7 billion annually. Savings up to $250 million per year can be achieved in California's gas system by identifying the most cost-efficient technologies and analytical capabilities to better manage corrosion risk for the gas pipeline system.
Key Project Members
Enrique Droguett
Subrecipients
DNV GL USA, Inc.
MC Consult LLC
Match Partners
The Regents of the University of California on behalf of the Los Angeles Campus
DNV GL USA, Inc.
