Quality Assurance of Pipeline Fittings Project
28 – 29 June 2017
Summary
The National Energy Board (NEB) is hosting a Technical Workshop on Quality Assurance for Pipeline Fittings on 28 – 29 June 2017 at the Metropolitan Centre in Calgary Alberta (333-4 Ave. SW).
This initiative is linked to Safety Advisory SA 2016-01A2 and a proposed Order which would require NEB-regulated companies to report to the Board on pipeline fittings that do not meet specifications. Information on these measures is available on the NEB website.
The Workshop purpose is to identify potential actions or solutions to improve quality assurance for Pipeline components throughout the supply chain.
Contents
Workshop Objectives
Defining the Issue:
Assess the extent to which Pipeline fittings may be susceptible to failing to meet specifications and identify the potential risk to Pipeline safety based on evidence to date.
This will include a review of cases where fitting properties did not meet requirements and an identification of the significance of the potential hazard.
Manufacturing Issues:
Identify possible issues related to fitting manufacturing processes.
This will assess issues that could occur from the selection of the base material to the production of a fitting. It will also identify the manufacturer’s Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) processes and procedures, including relationships to standards.
Company Procurement Issues:
Identify deficiencies in procedures, standards and regulations, which may affect the quality assurance of Pipeline fittings.
This will include:
- understanding company QA requirements for procurement of Pipeline fittings and QC procedures for inspections and testing;
- identifying what standards are applicable and where there may be opportunities for improvement; and
- identifying the role regulators have in the QA/QC processes.
Action Plan:
Identify possible actions to improve quality assurance for new, previously purchased and currently in service Pipeline fittings.
Recommended actions will include those to be implemented by the NEB as well as those where the NEB can work on continual improvement initiatives with industry associations, standards associations and other regulators.
Program
Wednesday 28 June 2017 |
|
|---|---|
8:00 – 8:15am |
Registration and Coffee |
8:15am |
Workshop Format: Facilitator |
8:20 – 8:30am |
Welcome: Peter Watson, CEO and Chair, National Energy Board |
8:30 – 9:20am |
Session 1 Overview of Quality Assurance for Pipeline Fittings |
An explanation of the pipeline components production process; the quality assurance check points typically in the supply chain for pipeline components; and the extent to which pipeline fittings may be susceptible to not meeting specifications |
|
9:20 – 9:50am |
Session 2 Regulator’s Perspective |
Reasons the regulator believes this issue is important and why steps must be taken to prevent future occurrences. Identifying the role regulators have in the QA/QC processes |
|
9:50 – 10:10am |
Coffee and Networking |
10:10 – 10:50am |
Session 3 Pipeline Company Quality Assurance Procedures – Design/Procurement |
Understanding company QA requirements for procurement of pipeline fittings and identifying what standards are applicable and where there may be opportunities for improvement |
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10:50 – 11:30am |
Session 4 Pipeline Company Quality Assurance Procedures – Installation Inspection and Testing |
Pipeline company QC procedures for inspections and testing including standards requirements. |
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11:30 – 12:00pm |
Session 5 Traceability of Pipeline Components by Pipeline Companies |
What a company should track to identify risks with pipeline components before and after installation |
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12:00 Noon |
Lunch Provided |
1:00 – 1:30pm |
Session 6 Third party Inspection Procedures and Standards |
Assess how a company confirms that contracted inspection services address the potential for pipe and pipeline components to not meet specifications |
|
1:30 – 2:30pm |
Session 7 Research on Pipeline Fittings Out-Of-Specification |
An integrated thermal treatment/microstructure/ mechanical properties model, i.e. a predictive tool to determine whether a fitting with a specified metallurgy, geometry and grade would meet the required standards taking into account realistic plant-specific processing variations |
|
2:30 – 2:50pm |
Coffee and Networking |
2:50 – 4:30pm |
Session 8 Manufacturing of Pipeline Components |
Presentations and panel discussion on Manufacturer’s Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC) processes and procedures. This includes identification of manufacturers’ standards |
|
4:30pm |
End of Day |
Thursday 29 June 2017 |
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|---|---|
8:00 – 8:30am |
Coffee and Networking |
8:30 – 9:00am |
Session 9 Traceability of Pipeline Components by Manufacturers |
What a manufacturer should track to identify risks with materials and products |
|
9:00 – 9:45am |
Session 10 Recommended Actions for Companies |
Possible actions and strategies for pipeline and processing plant companies to improve quality assurance for new, previously purchased and currently in service pipeline fittings |
|
9:45 – 10:30am |
Session 11 Recommended Actions for Manufacturers and Regulators |
Possible actions and strategies for manufacturers and regulators to improve quality assurance for pipeline components |
|
10:30 – 10:50am |
Coffee and Networking |
10:50 – 11:45am |
Session 12 Workshop Outcome Summary |
Key outcomes from breakout sessions to be reviewed |
|
11:45am |
Conclusion: Peter Watson, CEO and Chair, National Energy Board |
12:00pm |
End of Workshop |
Participation
Participation in the workshop is by invitation and the capacity of the workshop has been reached.
Invitations were extended to Industry representatives including manufacturing, distribution and pipeline companies primarily with experience in cases involving fittings that did not meet specifications. Regulators, consultants and academia were also invited.
Location
The venue for the workshop is in downtown Calgary, Alberta at:
- The Metropolitan Centre
333 4 Ave SW
Calgary AB T2P 0H9
Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Metropolitan+Conference+Centre/
There are several hotels in the vicinity.
- Date modified: