Pipelines are critically important assets, especially within the oil and gas industry. They are important as they provide an uninterrupted supply of energy resources and raw materials to various industries such as refineries, petrochemicals, steel, power, fertilizer, and city gas distribution networks. Pipelines not only ensure the uninterrupted supply of energy resources but also contribute significantly to the economic survival and prosperity of a country.  Beyond their role in energy distribution, pipelines are critical assets that demand attention from a business perspective, particularly concerning safety, reliability, and integrity.

There are high stakes involved in pipeline operations. Any sort of failure can severely disrupt supply chain operations and there can be a domino effect in the economy as a result. It can potentially impact businesses across industries on a state or national level. Failure in maintaining the integrity of these assets can lead to an even catastrophic event like fires or explosions, posing serious risks to public safety and the environment. Controlling the impact of such devastations can be difficult, not to mention additional time, man power and costs involved. Moreover, companies can risk damaging their reputation significantly in the event of pipeline failures. Years of positive public perception can instantly vanish by even a single incident, no matter if the cause was accidental in nature. This has been seen numerous times globally where pipeline spillage or explosions caused detrimental environmental effects and although swift actions may have been taken, trust was rebuilt slowly. Therefore, maintaining these assets in every sense, remains crucial. The importance of pipelines extends beyond their role in energy distribution to encompass broader economic and environmental considerations. By recognizing and addressing the challenges associated with pipeline operations, businesses can ensure the safe, reliable, and sustainable management of these vital assets.

‍

Challenges in the Pipeline Industry

When it comes to the pipeline industry, challenges faced are unique in nature. This sheds light on the complexities that are inherent in pipeline operations and management. These challenges include obtaining statutory approvals, navigating public hearings for environmental and wildlife clearances, and managing infrastructure shortfalls.

Obtaining statutory approvals and navigating public hearings are initial steps involved in the pipeline development process, often involving regulatory agencies, government bodies, and local communities. Regulatory oversight of pipeline operations varies depending on various factors with agencies holding jurisdiction over these matters. Any delay or complications in these processes can significantly impact project timelines and budgets. Even the absence of updating revenue records, illegal occupation of land or any political interference can dampen operations.

Infrastructure shortfalls, such as inadequate pipeline capacity or aging assets as well as or coupled with difficult terrains, pose additional challenges for pipeline operators. Addressing these shortfalls requires strategic planning, investment in infrastructure upgrades, and adherence to safety and reliability standards. Failure to address infrastructure deficiencies can lead to operational inefficiencies, increased maintenance costs, and heightened risks of incidents or failures.

Route selection is another challenge and the need for identifying optimal pipeline routes involves consideration of factors such as geographical hazards, environmental sensitivities, land use restrictions, and community concerns. Balancing these factors while ensuring the safe and efficient transport of energy resources requires careful planning,monitoring and risk assessment.

Finally, corrosion proves to be one of the leading causes of buried pipeline failure. It can compromise the pipeline’s integrity, leading to leaks, ruptures, and environmental contamination. Implementing effective corrosion prevention and mitigation strategies, such as coating technologies, cathodic protection systems, and integrity management programs, is essential for longtime successful pipeline operations.

‍

Pipeline Transportation

In pipeline transportation, there are many perspectives to consider. From design or engineering, construction, operational or process perspectives, to user and business perspectives. While all these perspectives are important and there can be more to this, however, operational and business perspectives stand out more to take into account.

Operational aspects integral for pipeline management, including ensuring safe and reliable operations, maintaining asset integrity, adhering to compliance and risk management protocols, and the importance of training and validation processes to uphold high operational standards.

Usually the traditional approaches to pipeline operations are characterized by minimal technology use and a 'build, bury, and forget' mentality, whilst modern strategies prioritize safety, technology, environmental protection, and conform to rigorous regulatory standards. With advancements in technology, pipelines are increasingly monitored and controlled remotely, through primary/secondary control rooms, reducing the need for physical intervention and minimizing risks to personnel. The safety of pipelines depends largely on the materials or the type of product transported and technology used. For example, pipelines containing crude-oil do not explode when there is a leak or a rupture but the resultant will be pollution of water bodies and soil. However, natural gas pipelines and product pipelines that contain highly volatile liquids such as gasoline, LPG & other volatile liquids may cause explosions, therefore deserving the greatest of safety considerations. Technological advancements like advanced monitoring tools and predictive analytics play a pivotal role in risk detection and preventive maintenance.

When it comes to the business perspective of pipeline operations, numerous factors are taken into consideration. Businesses should prioritize public employee and environment safety, recognizing the importance of mitigating risks and minimizing the negative impact of pipeline operations. Ensuring the reliability of pipeline operations is also important to maintaining trust. Businesses strive to deliver consistent and dependable services, thereby enhancing their reputation and competitiveness in the market while adhering to statutory and regulatory requirements to ensure legal compliance and maintain operational integrity. It should also come as no surprise that businesses  recognize the importance of managing their reputation and public perception, particularly in the event of pipeline incidents or failures. Ultimately, pipeline operators aim to achieve business sustainability and a return on investment by balancing safety, environmental stewardship, reliability, and satisfaction with operational efficiency and financial performance. In essence, the business perspective of pipeline management encompasses a broad range of considerations aimed at ensuring the long-term viability, profitability, and reputation of pipeline operations.

‍

Business Priority & Sustainability

Every pipeline business has its own set of priorities, but what should be prioritized first is taking into account the impact on the public, employees, and the environment. Preventive maintenance measures for asset management should be at the forefront of these considerations. By leveraging advanced and accessible tools, such as digitalization and predictive maintenance technologies, pipeline operators can effectively mitigate risks and prevent potential failures before they occur. This proactive approach not only ensures the reliability of pipeline operations but also enhances customer satisfaction.

This can also be achieved by providing sustainable business value. These incorporate environment, social enablement, governance, ethics, digitalisation, consumer well being and economic value. Out of these, the three main pillars representing this sustainable business value are environment, social responsibility and economical value. Digitalization plays a crucial role in enabling this integration by providing real-time data analytics, remote monitoring capabilities, and predictive maintenance insights. By embracing digitalization, pipeline operators can optimize asset performance, reduce downtime, and minimize environmental impact, thus enhancing the overall sustainability of their operations.

‍

Contribution to the Economy

Pipelines are vital for a country's economy. One significant contribution is job creation. When pipelines are built, they require a lot of workers, including engineers, construction workers, and maintenance personnel. These jobs provide opportunities for people in various industries, such as construction, manufacturing, and engineering. Pipelines also generate revenue for governments through various means. Governments collect taxes and fees from pipeline operators, contributing to public funds. Additionally, governments may receive royalties for the extraction of resources transported through pipelines, further adding to government revenue. According to a study by the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, the natural gas industry paid over $1 billion in property taxes in 2018.

Pipelines also reduce the cost of transporting energy resources. Compared to alternative modes of transportation, such as trucks or trains, pipelines offer a more cost-effective and efficient means of moving large volumes of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products over long distances. By reducing transportation costs, pipelines help make energy more affordable for businesses and consumers. Additionally, the construction and operation of pipelines lead to the development of supporting infrastructure, such as pumping stations, terminals, and storage facilities. These infrastructure projects create additional economic opportunities, stimulating local economies, and contributing to overall infrastructure development. Moreover, the construction phase of pipelines often requires the procurement of materials and services from local suppliers, further supporting regional economies and businesses.

Recognizing the importance of pipelines to economic prosperity, governments and stakeholders alike must continue to invest in pipeline infrastructure and regulatory frameworks to ensure the continued success and sustainability of these critical assets.

‍

Environmental Impact

We all know that businesses dealing with pipelines carry inherent risks, but there are also numerous benefits associated with them. Pipelines contribute positively to the environment by reducing carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, thus helping to combat climate change. They operate with a low environmental footprint, minimizing habitat disruptions and preserving natural landscapes and are the least greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive way to transport oil and gas. One study found that pipelines reduce GHG emissions by 61% to 77% versus rail for transporting oil and gas long distances. Moreover, pipelines facilitate the efficient transportation of energy resources, helping to meet the growing demand for energy while reducing costs for businesses and consumers. They are also much safer and present lower risks of failure or product leakage compared to shipping, trucking, or rail transportation methods. Transporting oil via pipelines has a relatively lower environmental impact compared to alternative methods, primarily because pipelines are sealed and predominantly located underground.

By balancing these benefits with effective risk management strategies, pipelines continue to be valuable assets that support economic growth and environmental sustainability.

‍

Business Safety and Reliability

When it comes to pipelines, a business’s ability to operate without hiccups rests on safety and reliability. Ensuring these requires a strategic and systematic blend of maintenance approaches. Initially, many businesses operate on what is known as Reactive Maintenance. This method is all about response. For example, in case of pipeline leaks or bursts, only after the situation occurs does repairs commence. This approach is driven by quick-fix solutions and often leads to unplanned downtime, causing both financial strain and safety hazards. To steer away from this, businesses evolve towards Planned Maintenance. Here, the philosophy is to anticipate and prevent. Maintenance schedules are not dictated by mishaps but are strategically planned and executed on a regular basis. It is all about being one step ahead. Scheduled maintenance ensures that assets are kept in optimal condition, thus averting potential emergencies. However, the ideal state of operational excellence is by implementing Proactive Maintenance methods. This is geared more towards the mindset and is the ideal state of operational excellence where the principles of safety and reliability are not just practiced but are ingrained. There should be continuous improvement, with self-disciplined teams and involving all stakeholders.

‍

Business Reputation

As previously mentioned above, pipeline businesses' reputation can easily be damaged through the slightest of faults in the pipelines. Leakages from a pipeline can have disastrous consequences, including harming farmers' livelihoods, affecting the public's health and safety, contaminating the environment, and endangering wildlife. Such incidents can quickly erode the emotional appeal and social responsibility aspects of a company's reputation. Why reputation matters is because it shows the inability of the business to effectively contain accidents and leads to questioning of their entire operations. Bigger disasters can severely affect a company and may lead to closure of business. Reputation is based on several factors. The vision and leadership of the business gives a clear indication of the company's direction and inspiring confidence among stakeholders. Social responsibility is a company's duty to act for the benefit of society at large. Emotional appeal reflects the public sentiment and trust towards a company, often built through brand identity and consumer experiences. The quality and reliability of the products and services offered can significantly impact the perception of a company. Additionally, how a company is viewed internally by its employees can influence its external reputation and finally a company's financial health and growth can enhance its credibility and reputation in the market.

‍

Risk Management

To combat risks involved in pipeline businesses to minimize the likelihood of incidents, such as leaks or ruptures, and mitigate their potential impact on public safety, environmental integrity, and operational continuity, one must first understand all the risks involved. Measures to control such risks should be implemented, there should be continuous communication, monitoring and updates in assets or technology used for maintenance and protecting integrity.

One key component of risk management is the development of a pipeline integrity index. This index serves as a comprehensive assessment tool to evaluate the condition of pipeline assets, including their structural integrity, corrosion resistance, and operational reliability. By regularly assessing the integrity of pipelines, operators can identify potential vulnerabilities and prioritize maintenance and repair efforts accordingly.

Another component is risk assessment which involves identifying potential hazards and evaluating their likelihood and potential consequences. This process may include analyzing factors such as pipeline age, material composition, operating conditions, environmental factors, and regulatory requirements. Based on the risk assessment findings, operators can implement targeted mitigation measures to reduce the likelihood and severity of identified risks. These measures may include implementing enhanced inspection protocols, upgrading aging infrastructure, installing protective coatings, and implementing emergency response plans.

Health, Safety, Environment, and Fire (HSEF) Index serves as a performance metric to measure the effectiveness of safety and environmental management systems within pipeline operations. By continuously monitoring and improving HSEF performance, operators can demonstrate their commitment to safety, environmental stewardship, and regulatory compliance.

Business leaders prioritize the safety, reliability, and integrity of pipeline assets as their foremost concern. To ensure the long-term growth and sustainability of transportation and distribution pipeline businesses, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance operational reliability and efficiency, satisfy customers, and minimize social and environmental impacts is the key to success. These emerging technologies not only promise to elevate operational efficiency and reliability but also ensure the safety and integrity of pipeline assets. Both hardware and software innovations should be taken into account.

One such area in the software aspect can be the adoption of no code platforms, that let people create their own apps without needing to know how to code. This is great for businesses because it means they can quickly build tools to solve their specific problems without waiting a long time for custom software development. For example, a pipeline company could use a no-code platform to track pipeline maintenance where they can build an app that helps keep track of when different parts of the pipeline need to be checked or fixed. It can also manage inventory, to create a system to monitor parts and supplies, making sure they always have what they need without overstocking. It is also especially useful for safety inspections for recording safety checks and keeping all stakeholders updated.

Using no-code platforms can save time and money, allowing businesses to focus on what they do best instead of getting bogged down in complex software development projects. It’s a smart move for businesses that want to embrace technology to improve their operations, meet their goals, and grow in the competitive market.

‍

This article was inspired by the enlightening presentation on the Safety, Reliability, and Integrity of Pipelines

Held at the 7th Annual Asset Integrity and Maintenance Summit in India

Given by Mr. Alok Gurtu - Director & Head (O&M) of Reliance Ethane Pipeline Limited, Head COE (Pipelines) whose expertise and insights have been invaluable in shaping the content of this piece.