Component Software for the Pipeline Industry

RiskCalculator™

To assist pipeline operators in meeting increasingly more stringent regulations, Sewall now offers RiskCalculator™, a modular software tool for pipeline relative risk assessment. Part of the Sewall integrity management suite, RiskCalculator™ enables pipeline operators to evaluate the condition of their gas pipeline and to identify, locate, and maintain segments of pipe of highest relative risk. Utilizing operator-selected data sources, including pipe attribute, construction, operational, and inspection information, the application calculates for each pipe segment a relative risk ranking, quantitatively weighing major threats and consequences based upon user-defined or pre-defined threat categories (ASME B31.8S-2001). With varying user permission levels, operators can build a customized risk model, setting parameters to accommodate company-specific history, operating conditions, interpretations, and requirements. They are able to print out pipe segment reports, view and compare results on screen, and export the data to GIS or other applications. Proven easy to use and effective in multiple implementations, operators find RiskCalculator™ a critical component to managing high consequence areas as mandated by DOT 49CFR Part 192, Subpart O.

A FLEXIBLE, EFFICIENT SOLUTION
RiskCalculator™ is a stand-alone .NET application designed to support integrity management data stores in multiple relational database management systems, including Oracle (8.17, 9i, and 10g), SQL Server 2000, and Access 2000 and above. The application receives input from two separate database connections, one for user-specified definitions of the company’s risk model, the other for pipe attribute and operating data from the company integrity data mangement system. Based on permission-control access, the user is able to configure the settings of the risk model, adding or removing threats, defining the weighting of threats, and assigning variables to each threat category with variable weights. The second database connection is used to extract attribute data on the pipeline itself from a variety of data models including PODS.

For every segment of pipe, the application calculates an overall relative risk ranking from 1 to 100, the value of each threat category (e.g., external, internal, and stress corrosion; manufacturing, construction, and equipment failure; damage from weather, third-party activity, and incorrect operations), and the value of variables that comprise each threat. The user is able to print reports on each segment or export results to other software for further analysis. In addition, the user can view and compare results of previous models on screen for mitigation and remediation planning. Risk analysis with RiskCalculator™ is based on ASME B31.8S specifications for characterizing threats and W. Kent Muhlbauer’s risk assessment methodology for analyzing pipeline risks.

INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT TOOLS AND SERVICES
RiskCalculator™ is one application in Sewall’s suite of integrity management tools that support class location analysis, pipeline alignment sheet generation, and high consequence area calculation (ClassLocator™, ASGPipeline™, and HCACalculator™). Sewall provides installation, training support, and maintenance services for all applications in the pipeline suite and will assist operators in acquiring and assessing data for use in risk ranking. Other pipeline-related services include aerial photography, surveying, GIS consulting and customization, data conversion, and data maintenance.

For more information on our pipeline services and software, please contact Clarence Young, Project Manager, James W. Sewall Company, at (800) 648-4202; Email: youc@jws.com

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