Crude Oil Pipeline Operations

Course Description

• This course utilizes case studies and industry best practices for operating and maintaining onshore crude oil and liquid pipeline systems that maximize life cycle reliability; employee, public, and environmental safety; and operational cost effectiveness. It focuses on open discussions and troubleshooting techniques that
  may be applied to crude, HVL (High Volatility Liquids) and refined product pipelines and their associated infrastructure. The course aims to improve the operation profitability and communication with management and engineering staff.

Course Objectives

• Apply regulatory codes, standards, and industry guidelines (PHSMA 195, ASME B31.4, API-1173 and others) that control and guide the operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities.
• Explain fluid properties and behaviour of crude oils, wax behaviour, temperature relationships and use of DRA in crude oil pipelines.
• Explain pipeline hydraulics, pipeline pressure gradients and predict capacity on the system.
• Identify pipeline MOP, surge and causes of overpressure and mitigation measures.
• Explain pipeline facilities; pump stations, filtration, metering and LACT units, sampling and testing, pigging equipment, tank terminalsand truck/rail loading facilities.
• Explain liquid pipeline operations; commissioning and purging/filling, start up, stopping, pigging and pig receiver operations, measurement and sampling activities.
• Identify principle causes of loss of containment and mitigating measures; corrosion, environmental cracking, overpressure, 3rd party damage and error.
• Review regulatory compliance requirements for CFR 49, Part 195, to be better prepared in the case of compliance audits.
• Explore emergency response measures to spills and loss of containment.

Who Should Attend?

• Pipeline operations personnel who require a working knowledge of onshore liquid pipeline and terminal systems, including the common operational difficulties that may arise and operational tactics used to resolve them. Also suitable for maintenance personnel, metering technicians, lead supervisors, area managers,
  and engineering staff that need a working knowledge of field pipeline operations.

Course outline

• Crude oil transportation systems.
• Industry codes and regulations, scope and applicability.
• Crude oils, waxes and DRA, fluid properties and behavior.
• Hydraulic analysis of pipelines and gradients.
• Pipeline pumps – components, operation, seal systems and seal leak detection.
• Pipeline surge and overpressure protection systems.
• Pipeline facilities – filtration, pressure controls, pigging equipment.
• Terminal facilities – tanks, truck/rail loading, metering, sampling and proving.
• Pigging goals, processes and activities.
• Pipeline repairs and maintenance.
• Corrosion overview and prevention.
• Leak detection methods.
• CFR 49, Part 195 review of documentation requirements and terminology.

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