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FLOW & LEVEL CONTROL AUDITS OFFER INVALUABLE INSIGHT
Maximilian Ihring, Product Group Manager Pipeline Management Solutions, KROHNE, explains the importance of leak detection audits
operators in order to meet tightening safety and environmental regulations and to minimise the potential risks of catastrophic events. The updates of 49 CFR 195 require pipeline operators to evaluate the capability of their leak detection systems to protect the public, property, and the environment and modify them as necessary to do so. These systems often perform well when
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installed, but degrade over time due to a wide range of factors including problems with instrumentation, software, maintenance and operations. How do operators actually know whether
their pipeline or pipeline network is sufficiently monitored during all operating conditions, whether all parts of the system are functioning properly, and whether all the legal requirements and industry standards are met? Given the critical importance of effective
leak detection, operators frequently rely on industry experts, like KROHNE, to perform independent audits to test LDS performance periodically or when a major change in operations occurs. For a relatively small cost, audits can ensure
the leak detection system is performing as required and is optimised to prevent disastrous leaks as well as the product loss and environmental damage of small leaks and the detrimental impact of false alarms. Audits by outside experts can also have an
enormous return on investment when they guide operators to employ relatively simple,
nsuring the continuing effectiveness of leak detection systems (LDS) is of paramount importance for pipeline
cost-effective solutions to avoid capital expenditures on leak detection technology that is not well-suited to the application. Such audits should be part of a
comprehensive programme, because, as the API Pipeline Safety Management Systems Industry Team notes, “leak detection programs and systems rely on people, processes and technology. A deficiency in any one category can negatively impact the effectiveness of the other two.” [
https://pipelinesms.org/wp- content/uploads/2018/04/API-RP-1175-Frequentl y-Asked-Questions.pdf] A comprehensive system does not mean
that one size fits all. A programme should be flexible enough to serve the needs of each operator in accordance with their company’s strategy, goals, and risk tolerances, and to address the particular operational issues and business needs at various points in time. When designing a leak detection audit
programme, operators may wish to consider the framework KROHNE has developed in their PipePatrol Health Check programme, a vendor-agnostic auditing and consultancy programme based on experience in leak detection on over 420 pipeline projects. KROHNE recommends that an audit be
performed annually as well as any time there are major changes to pipeline operations or to the leak detection system itself, or when there is a large turnover in employees. The audit process requires little to no effort by operators. The findings can be used to enhance quality and safety management, and to support the needs of regulators or other third-party interests. The deliverables are not only audit test results, but include a full report with
18 DECEMBER 2022/JANAURY 2023 | PROCESS & CONTROL
Maximilian Ihring, Product Group Manager Pipeline Management Solutions, KROHNE, explains the importance of leak detection audits
explanations and recommendations. A complete audit contains four
components: (1) Fundamentals, (2) Compliance, (3) Physical State, and (4) Performance. (1) Fundamentals: This stage provides a
broad picture of the pipeline or pipeline network, the leak detection system, including a snapshot of the particular pipeline application, a checklist of the current Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), and an evaluation of the company’s readiness to leak response. Snapshot. The operator’s application is
documented including the fluid transported, the operating conditions, the topology the pipeline traverses, the type of pipeline, the pipeline itself (material, diameter, and thickness) and the consequences of leaks in various locations. An analysis is performed on whether these characteristics have been adequately considered in the selection of leak detection techniques. Checklist. The design of the installed leak
detection methods are analysed against the operator’s metrics for desired performance, the industry best practices and Best Available Technology (BAT), with recommendations on how to achieve the desired KPIs. Company Readiness. This step analyses
whether personnel have adequate training, procedures and capabilities to operate the system and react appropriately in case of a leak alarm representing a real leak. (2) Compliance: The second stage focuses
on whether the LDS complies with, or even exceeds, the applicable regulations and industry standards. Computational Pipeline Monitoring. The CPM
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