Abstract: Abandonment is inevitable for a pipeline in its lifecycle and also an important component in its operation and maintenance. This paper presents a comprehensive study on scientific judgment of old pipeline abandonment at home and abroad. Some regulations, standards, cases, and questionnaires about pipeline abandonment are investigated. It is found that, in abroad, upstream resources & downstream market, operational economics and operational risks are often taken as the basis for making decision about abandonment. At present, relevant researches in China are mainly conducted to define three aspects concerning the judgment of pipeline abandonment, namely, initiation conditions, work process and rules. In other words, based on the operational risks and integrity of pipeline, acceptable indicators will be established for technical status and operational risks of the pipeline and the methods and rules for judging if the pipeline should be abandoned are proposed.