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Introduction to This Resource Site

Concept of Pipeline Risk Management

Pipeline risk management is a complex and fascinating practice, bringing together aspects of science (including physics, chemistry, biology, geology, and more), engineering, history, probability theory, human psychology, and even philosophy.

It begins with assessing the risks. Here is the typical challenge: decades ago, someone designed and built a multi-component engineered structure using pressurized pipe, valves, fittings, compressors, pumps, tanks, etc. It was installed in a highly variable natural/man-made environment across deserts, jungles, farms, rivers, lakes, mountains, urban centers—often with changing soils, temperature extremes, micro-organism activity, magnetic field effects, etc.

Now, years and years later, we are trying to determine where weaknesses and more consequential failure locations exist. A myriad of scientific phenomena—both natural and man-made—are interacting to complicate our ability to understand and creating a puzzle with thousands of pieces to fit together. What an interesting confluence of manmade engineering coexisting with Mother Nature!

Next comes the practical applications of having ‘solved’ this puzzle: armed with an understanding of the risks, what can and should now be done? This is where we must leave the realm of pure science and engineering and enter into aspects of the human behavioral sciences.

This site endeavors to examine more completely the solving of the puzzle—the risk assessment—and then lightly step into the issues of managing risk.

The intention is to equip the risk manager with the tools to understand the risk and the ability to efficiently apply this knowledge when making decisions.