TABLE OF CONTENTS John F. Kiefner and Willard A. Maxey, Adapted from Dr. John Kiefner, Kiefner and Associates, Inc. Reprinted with permission.
The purpose of this discussion is to clarify the issues regarding the use of hydrostatic testing to verify pipeline integrity. There are those who say it damages a pipeline, especially if carried out to levels of 100% or more of the specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) of the pipe material. These people assert that if it is done at all, it should be limited to levels of around 90% of SMYS. There are those who insist that pipelines should be retested periodically to reassure their serviceability. The reality is that if and when it is appropriate to test a pipeline, the test should be carried out at the highest possible level that can feasiblely be done without creating numerous test failures. The challenge is to determine if and when it should be done, the appropriate test level, and the test-section logistics that will maximize the effectiveness of the test.
The technology to meet these challenges has been known for 30 years. Nothing has arisen in the meantime to refute this technology. The problem is that people both within and outside the pipe industry either are not aware of the technology or have forgotten it, or for political reasons are choosing to ignore it.
In this discussion we show the following:
It makes sense to test a new pipeline to a minimum of 100% of...
