Page 71 - Pipeline Risk Management Manual Ideas, Techniques, and Resources

3/50 Third-party Damage Index
As of this writing, pipeline operators have little authority in case for buried sections). The evaluator should adjust the
specifying minimum distances for seismograph activity. weighting factor and the point schedule to values consistent
Technically, the operator can only forbid activity on the few feet with the company’s judgment and experience, but also recog-
of ROW that he controls. Cooperation from the seismograph nize that one company’s experience might not accurately repre-
company is often sought. sent the threats. One source reports that, due mainly to the
As an additional special case of potentially damaging activ- greater chance of impact and increased exposure to the ele-
ity, directional boring is not always sensitive to line hits. It is ments, equipment located above ground has a risk of failure
possible for a boring equipment operator to hit a facility with- approximately 100 times greater than for facilities under-
out being aware of the hit. The drill bits, designed to go through ground [67]. This will, of course, be situation specific.
rock, experience little change in resistance when going through While the presence of aboveground components is some-
plastic pipe or cable and can cause much damage to steel thing that is often difficult or impossible to change-their loca-
pipelines. This is another aspect that can be included in the tion is usually based on strong economic andor design
activity level variable. considerations-preventive measures can be taken to reduce
the risk exposure. This risk variable combines the changeable
and nonchangeable aspects into a single point value but recog-
C. Aboveground facilities (weighting: loo/,) nizes that a mitigated threat still poses more risk than a threat
that does not even exist.
This is a measure of the susceptibility of aboveground facilities The evaluator can set up a point schedule that gives the
to third-party disturbance. Aboveground pipeline components maximum point value for sections with no aboveground
have a different type of third-party damage exposure compared components-where the threat does not exist. For sections that
to the buried sections. Included in this type of exposure are the do have aboveground facilities, point credits should be given
threats of vehicular collision and vandalism. The argument can for conditions that reduce the risk of third-party damage
be made that these threats are partially offset by the benefit of (Figure 3.6). These conditions will often take the form of
having the facility in plain sight, thereby avoiding damages vehicle barriers or other obstacles or discouragements to
caused by not knowing exactly where the pipeline is (as is the intrusion.

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
$1

51
I1
I
I
I
I
I
I
1
I
I
I

Protection Points
trees (partial) 2
concrete barrier 4
fence 2
distance from highway 0
signs -
1
9 points
Figure 3.6 Protection for aboveground facilities.