In the wake of four major pipeline accidents in June, emergency preparedness is taking center stage. With a leaking oil pipeline igniting a huge blaze in China, pipelines exploding in Malaysia, Ukraine, and India, where 16 were killed, operators of these and other pipelines are taking a hard look at how vulnerable their assets are to third-party threats. They are also evaluating whether they are prepared to respond rapidly with a repair solution, should disaster strike their critical lines.

IRM Systems, an independent supplier of pipeline integrity services, notes that these incidents are a dramatic reminder of the random threats that can affect pipelines, and the urgency for having an Emergency Pipeline Repair System (EPRS) in place. “Operators must have an EPRS that offers the shortest possible time between the incident and re-commissioning. They must also achieve the highest possible level of post-repair integrity, at the lowest possible cost,” said Rutger Schouten, General Manager of IRM Systems.

Tags: IRM Systems