Ask the Experts

Q: Why did my pipeline fail? How can I minimize the chance of ruptures?

Pipe failures are stressful events. Almost always unexpected, a pipeline failure usually means unhappy customers, unhappy employees and unhappy pipeline owners. If a failure occurs, a utility’s immediate concerns are public safety and getting the line back in service as quickly as possible. Lingering in the back of everyone’s mind are the questions: “Why did this happen”? and “Where will this happen next”?

The ‘Why’ question is a difficult one to answer but immediately after a failure, is the best time to collect forensic information on the pipeline to aid in determining the cause of the pipe burst. Unfortunately, because efforts are focused on returning to full operation, this is a difficult task for pipe owners to accomplish. To answer the ‘Where’ question, a pipe failure is a perfect opportunity to examine the condition of the pipeline upstream and downstream of the failure site since the line is out of service while crews are performing repairs. This area of the pipeline has experienced a significant event and it is worthwhile investigating to see whether nearby pipe sections are compromised.

In either case, Pure Technologies has emergency crews and inspection equipment available 24/7 and both can be dispatched throughout North America within hours by calling our emergency inspection phone line. Once you call, a pipeline expert will walk you through a few questions to obtain details on the pipeline and then make some recommendations as to how best proceed. When the emergency is contained, Pure Technologies pipeline experts can help you develop a program of condition assessment so that the risk of a future failure on this line, and others, is reduced.

- Mike Garaci, Solutions Manager

Mike Garaci has over a decade of global experience with pipeline condition assessment and leak detection. Specializing in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Mike has worked on projects with some of the largest water utilities in the world. For more information, contact Mike at Mike.Garaci@puretechltd.com.