Reliability-based method assesses corroding pipelines

Structural reliability analysis (SRA) is used to form strategies for the future safe operation of corroding oil and gas pipelines. SRA methodology combining probabilistic condition assessment with in-line-inspection (ILI) data is described. The ability of the reliability framework to identify relevant failure modes and establish corresponding limit states, account for the errors associated with the ILI data sets, formulate limit states functions and evaluate pipeline reliability, and to compare reliability with target safety levels is discussed.