An Optimal Preventive Maintenance Model for Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines

Abstract

Although pipeline systems are the most economical and safest way of oil and gas transportation, there have been an increasing number of incidents. Therefore, pipeline operators need to constantly evaluate and update their Preventive Maintenance (PM) strategies. This paper performed economic analysis of PM strategies based on the cost of internal and external corrosion-related failures and developed optimal PM mathematical cost and time models for natural gas pipelines. The data used for this study was collected from eleven largest natural gas transmission pipelines. This study developed a method to calculate the optimal replacement time for potential failures based on the ratio of preventive replacement cost to corrective replacement cost. Moreover, this study developed a model to calculate cost of PM strategies based on the optimal replacement time. The results of this study helps decision-makers in the oil and gas industry to select the proper PM strategies for corrosion-related failures. Pipelines 2017 517 © ASCE Pipelines 2017 Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by University of Texas at Arlington on 10/31/17. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved. Pipelines 2017 518 © ASCE Pipelines 2017 Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by University of Texas at Arlington on 10/31/17. Copyright ASCE. For personal use only; all rights reserved. Pipelines 2017 Pipelines 2017 522 © ASCE Pipelines 2017 Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by University of Texas at Arlington on 10/31/17.