Many of today’s pipeline operators have acquired segments or entire pipeline systems from other companies and are faced with the challenge of integrating these lines into the company’s overall Risk Management Program. Often problems arise out of vastly different operating and maintenance philosophies (cut-out and replace all anomalies versus an active engineering remaining life assessment program in which anomalies are left in place or sleeved), to the absence of complete records not obtained during the pipeline acquisition. In order for a Risk Management Program to function properly, the more information that is known about a pipeline, the better the results. This paper will describe the challenges faced by one hazardous liquid pipeline company who successfully overcame the difficulties involved in historical data discovery and supplemental data acquisition needed to complete the risk
assessment process.