Risk Assessment Methodologies for Pipelines and AGIs 2021 - 2026

Completed

Fossil Fuels: Oil Gas and Coal(Oil and Gas, Refining, transport and storage of oil and gas)

Applied Research and Development

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Project Contact
National Grid Gas Transmission

Network Innovation Allowance

Ofgem

01 April 2021

31 March 2026

ENA months

£783,000

Energy

London

Network Innovation Allowance

Project Contact, National Grid Gas Transmission

Project Contact, Cadent Central
Project Contact, Cadent Eastern
Project Contact, Cadent North London
Project Contact, Cadent West Midlands
Project Contact, Cadent North West

Project Contact, Cadent Gas

Preservation of our participation in these joint venture initiatives offers considerable benefits in terms of the latest thinking and best practice. In 2021 - 2026, National Grid and Cadent Gas seek to continue partnership, with the proposed activities as follows: Hazard and Risk Assessment Methods for GT Pipelines Data for Failure Frequency Estimation for Use in Risk Analysis Hazard and Risk Assessment Methods for Above-Ground Installations Parallel Pipelines Effectiveness of Safety Measures In RIIO-1 Risk Assessment Methodologies was sanctioned and registered on an annual basis. It is the intention to sanction for the full period of RIIO-2 with an annual review to ensure value with annual progress reports.  The high-pressure natural GT and distribution system is a complex combination of buried pipelines and above-ground installations (AGIs), such as pressure reduction stations, compressor stations and terminals. These assets present potential major hazards, such as fire risk, in the unlikely event of accidental releases of gas, due to a range of causes. Hazard and Risk Assessment Methods for GT Pipelines The PIPESAFE Joint Industry Project (JIP) provides the tools to assist National Grid and Cadent Gas in discharging their obligations by developing and refining techniques for quantifying the risk associated with pipeline and above ground assets. This also includes a hydrogen version of PIPESAFE  Data for Failure Frequency Estimation for Use in Risk Analysis A key component of risk analysis is the predicted frequency of failure. Historical data provides an important means of ensuring that appropriate values are used, based on experience. However, an individual company rarely has sufficient experience for meaningful analysis of the frequency of major accidents. By pooling experience with other companies operating similar assets in similar ways, a combined body of data can be used which provides sufficient exposure for analysis of frequencies.  Hazard and Risk Assessment Methods for Above-Ground Installations The ORDER Joint Industry Project (JIP) involves an international group of gas companies collaborating on the development and maintenance of the ORDER software package for consequence and risk assessment of gas facilities including AGIs (Above Ground Installations).  Ground Movement Threats to Pipelines The Ground Movement Joint Industry Project (JIP) involves an international group of gas companies collaborating on understanding the effects of ground movement on buried pipelines.  Effectiveness of Safety-improving Measures (ESM) Underground steel pipelines are subject to a variety of influences that threaten their integrity. Pipeline operators have a variety of physical and non-physical methods available to them to reduce the likelihood of these threats. Phase 4 of the project aims to develop a single fault tree model that quantifies the combined effectiveness of both physical and non-physical protection measures in preventing pipeline damage.  Hydrogen Transmission Safety Group (HTSG) The Pipeline Safety Group (PSG) companies have agreed in principle to kick off a new hydrogen group (HTSG – Hydrogen Transmission Safety Group) with an initial piece of work to undertake a review of what is already known in order to adapt the risk assessment methodology for natural gas to hydrogen. The output will include a specification for experiments to provide data on the consequences of HP hydrogen pipeline ruptures.  Research into the enduring management of safety risks on pipelines and above ground installations. The project includes the implementation of the results via tools and methodologies that are aligned specifically to National Grid and Cadent Gas needs, and are equally relevant to the UK gas industry, utilising the results of the international collaborations as appropriate.

The continuous management and improvement of safety risks on gas pipelines and above ground installations (AGIs) requires development of wide ranging models and procedures. The type of event which affects pipelines and assets located on an AGI is of low frequency, but can have extremely high consequences, therefore it requires accurate models to make safety decisions and keep risks as low as reasonably practicable. Because of this challenge, the efficient development of models and procedures has historically been coordinated through joint ventures.

14/10/22