The
        
        
          evolution of
        
        
          pipeline
        
        
          Mark Wright
        
        
          and Ian Diggory,
        
        
          MACAW
        
        
          Engineering, UK,
        
        
          and Borja Martinez
        
        
          Perez and Ricardo
        
        
          Almandoz, ROSEN
        
        
          Integrity Solutions,
        
        
          Germany,
        
        
          describe
        
        
          the transition from
        
        
          historical semi-
        
        
          quantitative risk
        
        
          models to the
        
        
          next generation of
        
        
          quantitative risk
        
        
          models.
        
        
          
            R
          
        
        
          isk analysis has been a critical
        
        
          component of the integrity
        
        
          management process for a number
        
        
          of years. With the increasing
        
        
          availability of geographic information
        
        
          systems and quantitative inspection
        
        
          technologies for pipeline networks,
        
        
          there is now a growing expectation from
        
        
          operators worldwide to access a more
        
        
          quantitative approach to risk management.
        
        
          The risk assessment process
        
        
          Pipelines are recognised as one of the
        
        
          safest methods of transporting hazardous
        
        
          products but it must be appreciated that
        
        
          throughout their service life they are
        
        
          under constant threat from a variety of
        
        
          hazards, such as corrosion and third party
        
        
          damage. Risk assessment is therefore a
        
        
          critical element in the pipeline integrity
        
        
          management process.
        
        
          RISK
        
        
          MODELLING