Internal inspection of pipelines is not always economically possible, and therefore a
method of assessing the current condition based on historic operating and process conditions
has been developed. Modeling the corrosivity of the fluids over the life of the pipeline enables
an assessment of the current condition to be established. This then allows a risk-based
approach to extension of asset life to be developed.
The analysis method uses uncertainty based probability analysis to allow for gaps in
data and uncertainty in process conditions. Changes in operating condition and process fluids
over time will affect the likely degradation year on year. This paper presents two case studies
where the use of uncertainty modeling has enabled the current condition of the pipeline to be
assessed. In addition the future life expectancy is presented as a probability profile that can
then be used to assess the risk associated with changing future process parameters. This
modeling approach also enables corrosion data to be transferred into financial data by
assessing probability and risk.