Operational Risk Management for Oil/Condensate Pipeline Systems

A risk assessment for a new pipeline system is an authority requirement. The risk assessment for a new pipeline system is based on several assumptions and parameters for planned design and operation and is in most cases conservative due to uncertainty in actual conditions. During the lifetime of a pipeline systems these parameters are likely to change, and consequently the risk assessment is no longer representative for the actual operational risk level. Authority requirements also states that a new risk assessment shall be performed when significant assumptions change. In-depth knowledge of risk calculations, pipeline simulations and assumptions are a prerequisite to be able to evaluate whether a change is significant with regards to risk level. The pipeline risk assessment must be well known by the operator to ensure solid risk management for a pipeline in operation. This implies knowledge of uncertainty in assumptions, condition of integrity, operational parameters, environmental data and how these parameters will affect the risk level in certain areas. This paper will discuss the uncertainty of different assumptions and parameters and how they affect the operational risk level for oil/condensate pipeline systems. The focus in this work has been to create a standardized cross-discipline work process to increase operational knowledge of risk factors and decrease the level of uncertainty in assumptions and input data. A combination of data sources and simulation tool are used to calculate a representative pipeline risk level, which will give the operator a solid basis for continuous risk management, decision support and emergency preparedness planning.