Pipeline integrity risk management software can help pipeline operators track the safety of their pipelines, as well as ensure that they’re complying with all federal and state laws and regulations that govern pipeline safety.
Pipeline integrity risk managers are also commonly known as smart pigs because they are typically used to inspect pipelines by traveling through them via pig trains (groups of smart pigs). While companies initially used it in offshore oil and gas exploration, innovative pig technology has evolved to be used on nearly all types of pipes, including those used in the water, gas, and electric utility industries.
The best pipeline integrity risk manager in the USA or Canada will have all these features plus more. Here’s everything you need to know about these lucrative tools.
What is Pipeline Integrity Risk Manager Software?
Pipeline integrity risk management software is essentially a pipeline integrity assessment and management tool. It is often linked to a pipeline management system and provides an enterprise-wide platform for monitoring and managing the full spectrum of threats that can potentially impact pipeline operations.
This software collects, analyzes, and presents data, typically from disparate sources, in more user-friendly forms such as easy-to-interpret graphs and charts. It also enables operators to identify and evaluate potential threats, estimate the consequences of failure, and prioritize subsequent actions. Storing a central repository of historical data on previous incidents helps them plan for emergency responses in the event of future risks. All these qualities make it one of the most popular tools for pipeline integrity solutions in Canada.
Data Aggregation and Normalization
PIRM software ingests various forms of data from multiple sources within your operation and normalizes it into one intuitive format for efficiency and accessibility by authorized users only. This data will include the SCADA system, hydraulic modeling, GIS systems, other risk assessment software, and more.
Automated Assessment of Burst Likelihood
The software makes calculations to determine the likelihood of a pipeline bursting or leaking in any given section of a pipeline by considering several different variables, including age, coating condition, pipe diameter, wall thickness, corrosion rate, and other stressors or corrosion factors. The program then gives each section of pipe a rating based on its vulnerability to corrosion or mechanical damage.
Streamline the Process
The best pipeline integrity risk manager in the USA also benefits from streamlining the process by which risk assessments are performed. Rather than performing individual calculations and manually entering data, PIRM software automates many of these processes, reducing the time required to complete a risk assessment while improving accuracy through standardization across risk assessments.
Data Management
With thousands of miles of pipeline, numerous regulators, and different rules and regulations governing inspections, it is imperative that your software helps you organize data and reports so you can quickly locate them when needed. A centralized database will store your information and allow you to quickly find what you need and keep track of multiple pipelines with ease.
Reporting and Data Security
Pipeline integrity risk management software is designed to have configurable modules. You can add or remove modules as per your risk management needs. The software offers several reporting options. You can generate reports based on various parameters such as pipeline section, material, threat, etc., and share them with stakeholders to improve planning and decision making. This is what makes it the preferred pipeline integrity solution in Canada.
Risk Matrix
Risk Matrix is a software module that allows users to create a comprehensive risk matrix for all of their pipelines based on the overall risk score for each pipeline segment. The risk matrix can be printed out in PDF format and used as a compliance report. It can also be used to compare pipelines against one another for prioritizing inspection, maintenance, and replacement activities.
Failure Modes
The most common failure modes in pipelines are mechanical failures such as dents, gouges, and other pipeline deformations caused by external forces such as third-party damage or natural disasters. Different failure modes include corrosion mechanisms such as stress corrosion cracking, pitting corrosion, and microbiologically influenced corrosion.
The Bottom Line
Each pipeline integrity risk management software system is a little different. If you’re not sure how to start or your options, give the software provider a call to discuss. A representative will work with you to determine your most pressing needs, budget constraints, and timeline. They’ll help you define precisely what you need from a risk management system so that they can match it to an existing software solution or recommend the best pipeline integrity risk manager in the USA for your specific requirements.
