Risk Management Begins in the Planning Stage

Many of the most important measures to reduce pipeline risk management are made in the very early stages of formulating a pipeline plan. These decisions, if tempered by experience and judgment, will greatly facilitate the many actions that will follow to design, construct and operate a pipeline. Conversely, if knowledgable managers do not make these decisions and actions in a timely manner, the path to efficient operation and effective risk management will be an uphill struggle. The successful implementation of a pipeline facility plan entails a myriad of actions and decisions, beginning in the conceptual stage and continuing into the operation and maintenance stage. The purpose of this discussion is not to review the step-by-step procedures for pipeline planning, design, construction and operation; it is rather to highlight some of those early considerations and decisions that we have learned from experience are very important but often overlooked. Discussion will include these decisions that will be made in the planning and design stages of a pipeline project's evolution: 1) Early identification of pipeline project need, 2) Identifying high consequence areas, 3) Planning for outages, and 4) Planning for condition assessment.