Abstract
The existing 370,000 miles of U.S. natural gas gathering and transmission pipelines were constructed principally during the past four decades. Since more than 30 percent of the energy produced domestically is natural gas, assuring the long-term integrity of the transmission system is a vital element in meeting the energy needs of the nation. The preventive maintenance programs established by the gas industry are key to extending the service life of this national asset. The report, one of four covering pipeline maintenance and inspection, describes the types of third-party and service-induced conditions that have caused leaks and rare failures in natural gas transmission pipelines. Also overviewed are the preventive maintenance practices currently available to survey, monitor, and test the pipe and to locate conditions which might be adverse to the safety, serviceability and integrity of the system. These include right-of-way surveys and patrols, monitoring of corrosion protection systems, in-line inspection with smart pigs, bellhole excavations and hydrostatic retesting.
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