COURSE OVERVIEW

Pipelines are surprisingly varied and complex. Using the ASME B31.4 and B31.8 Standards as a framework, this course covers a large number of other subjects vitally important to the safety and reliability of pipelines. It provides participants with broad, but detailed information that technical personnel involved in all phases of pipeline work, from design and engineering through operations, maintenance, and regulatory oversight need to know to ensure that their pipeline is safe and reliable.
The B31.8 and B31.4 pipeline Standards are unique among piping standards because they cover the entire life cycle, from design and construction, through operation, maintenance, and integrity management. Each standard contains introductory language that lays out its intent and scope.
The ASME B31 Code establishes a process of design for integrity that involves classifying stresses by significance for failure, establishing maximum allowable limits to avoid failure, identifying loads and calculating the stresses that result, and comparing the estimated stresses to the maximum allowable. Participants will learn where these concepts came from and how to apply them.
The course will provide participants with an overview of pipelines and the role of industry standards. The scope and intent of the natural gas and hazardous liquid standards are reviewed. Participants will be able to learn the design criteria and how to apply the allowable stresses.
Further, the course will also cover the various grades of line pipe and components including flanges and wrought fittings. The concepts of location classes and fracture control as part of pressure design requirements will be reviewed as well as the requirements for installation and hydrostatic testing of the completed pipelines will be covered.
Lastly, the course is devoted to operations and maintenance matters including evaluating and repairing injurious defects and the causes and prevention of corrosion. Offshore and other special pipelines as well as integrity management planning will also be discussed during the course.