Why Pipelines Should be Replaced and How Often?
Pipeline transportation, usually underground, is one of the versatile ways for transferring liquid and gas products. These underground pipeline explosions have various reasons like excavation hits, natural disaster, corrosion, weld failures, soil movement, improper pipeline installation. Pipeline aging is one of the key reasons since the average life expectancy of a pipeline is about 50 years.
Life expectancy of pipes differs according to the geographical location, pipeline coating, maintenance and pipe material. A study from Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) shows that about 20 percent of pipeline accidents that are caused due to corrosion, do more damage to the pipe and also records higher number of injuries and death.
In 2011, a natural gas pipeline at Allentown, Pennsylvania exploded killing five people and damaging 50 buildings. The cast iron pipeline was found to be installed in 1928. One other incident is the Kentucky pipeline explosion that happened in August, 2019, which claimed a 58 year old Lisa Denise Derringer also injured five others.
The gas pipelines are designed to withstand for a long period. The most commonly used pipe materials are grey cast iron, ductile iron, steel and plastic pipes. The best way of identifying the time or period to replace a pipeline, is to identify the pipeline health with regular inspection of pipes, since the life expectancy varies with material differences.
Average life of a steel pipe can be up to 75 years and more, black iron pipe and polyethylene pipe can last up to 100 years. Among these materials, cast iron and bare steel pipes are high-risk indicators and need more attention to health. Regular checks and replacement of old material pipes that show higher risk to better material of the age can significantly reduce the damages in the future.
Reference sites:
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/data-and-statistics/pipeline-replacement/pipeline-replacement-background
