Challenges to the integrity of old pipelines buried in stable ground

Abstract

A succinct description of the particular conditions that have led to failures and damage of buried pipelines in Argentina is given in this article. The particular characteristics of soil, demographic evolution, original construction standards and procedures, and specific damage conditions based in case histories, are taken into account. The purpose of this review is to contribute in orienting the efforts by operators and regulation bodies in order to efficiently increase the reliability of onshore buried pipelines. The author has been involved in many failure analyses involving pipelines in this country, some of the latest being related to explosions involving natural gas pipelines and related equipment. The Argentine high-pressure oil and gas transmission pipeline system includes more than 40,000 km of buried piping. Diameters range from less than 14–36 in. Construction dates of most of these pipes range from around 1960 to around 1980. Particular cases discussed are: • Old pipelines in stable ground • Failures by SCC in buried pipelines • Dealing with low-frequency ERW seam pipe • Unknown materials and historical conditions of operation • Integrity of old repairs • Influence of demographic changes along right of ways