Problems in current pipeline risk assessment and countermeasures

Qualitative or semi-quantitative method is commonly used in pipeline risk assessment currently. However, because of multiple pipeline, diversified evaluation methods, less standards/specifications, and inadequate data, some problems often exist in such evaluation, including absence of evidences and excessive dependence on experience. In this paper, the deficiencies in current pipeline risk assessment are stated by inductive analysis method. The analysis results show that several problems exist in risk assessment by qualitative or semi-quantitative method. For instance, the evaluation methods are less comparable; the relationship between evaluation and detection is unclear; evaluation results sometimes can't comprehensively reflect key risks; the evaluation model is not fully applicable; historical data of pipe failures are inefficiently used. Against these problems, some countermeasures are proposed, such as scientific research on pipeline risks, establishment of pipeline failure and corrosion database, quantitative risk assessment, and formulation of appropriate risk assessment system according to actual situations.