The safety of the U.S. undersea pipeline system is a major national interest and concern, whether the concern focuses on risk to human life or the potential for environmental pollution and damage. Focusing primarily on the Gulf of Mexico system, this book reviews historical examples of pipeline failure, assesses the potential for future pipeline failures and the means of mitigating them, and considers the efficacy of existing safety systems and inspection procedures. It also identifies alternatives for improvements in the regulatory framework and in lawmaking.

This comprehensive handbook on submarine pipeline systems covers a broad spectrum of topics from planning and site investigations, procurement and design, to installation and commissioning. It considers guidelines for the choice of design parameters, calculation methods and construction procedures. It is based on limit state design with partial safety coefficients.

"TRB Special Report 321: Strengthening the Safety Culture of the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry offers recommendations to industry and regulators to strengthen and sustain the safety culture of the offshore oil and gas industry. The committee that prepared the report addresses conceptual challenges in defining safety culture and discusses the empirical support for the definition of safety culture offered by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, the nine characteristics or elements of a robust safety culture, methods for assessing company safety culture, and barriers to improving safety culture in the offshore industry. The committee's report also identifies topics on which further research is needed with respect to assessing, improving, and sustaining safety culture"--Provided by publisher.

Over the brief history of automatic leak detection, perhaps 40 years, there has been a great deal of experimentation and conjecture along with the application of real and meaningful science and technology. This is not unusual in a young field, but it has interfered with the development of a broad understanding of the underlying concepts and realities. This book places the need for leak detection on pipelines in a societal context using both a regulatory and a risk-based approach. It develops the applicable science, starting with first principles. It explores the technology available for implementation, shows how to estimate and monitor performance, and discusses how to maintain and ensure consistency over time. This book is an excellent reference for professionals who develop and apply leak detection systems, as it discusses the fundamentals of leak detection science and technology, including the mathematics on which the fundamentals are based. It also includes key information about threats pipelines encounter, along with the underlying concepts, capabilities, and limitations of leak detection technology. This information will be of great value to regulators as well as to petroleum industry executives, safety and technology managers, and operations managers.

• Updated edition of a best-selling title • Author brings 25 years experience to the work • Addresses the key issues of economy and environment Marine pipelines for the transportation of oil and gas have become a safe and reliable way to exploit the valuable resources below the world's seas and oceans. The design of these pipelines is a relatively new technology and continues to evolve in its quest to reduce costs and minimise the effect on the environment. With over 25years experience, Professor Yong Bai has been able to assimilate the essence of the applied mechanics aspects of offshore pipeline system design in a form of value to students and designers alike. It represents an excellent source of up to date practices and knowledge to help equip those who wish to be part of the exciting future of this industry.

The blowout of the Macondo well on April 20, 2010, led to enormous consequences for the individuals involved in the drilling operations, and for their families. Eleven workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig lost their lives and 16 others were seriously injured. There were also enormous consequences for the companies involved in the drilling operations, to the Gulf of Mexico environment, and to the economy of the region and beyond. The flow continued for nearly 3 months before the well could be completely killed, during which time, nearly 5 million barrels of oil spilled into the gulf. Macondo Well-Deepwater Horizon Blowout examines the causes of the blowout and provides a series of recommendations, for both the oil and gas industry and government regulators, intended to reduce the likelihood and impact of any future losses of well control during offshore drilling. According to this report, companies involved in offshore drilling should take a "system safety" approach to anticipating and managing possible dangers at every level of operation-from ensuring the integrity of wells to designing blowout preventers that function under all foreseeable conditions-in order to reduce the risk of another accident as catastrophic as the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill. In addition, an enhanced regulatory approach should combine strong industry safety goals with mandatory oversight at critical points during drilling operations. Macondo Well-Deepwater Horizon Blowout discusses ultimate responsibility and accountability for well integrity and safety of offshore equipment, formal system safety education and training of personnel engaged in offshore drilling, and guidelines that should be established so that well designs incorporate protection against the various credible risks associated with the drilling and abandonment process. This book will be of interest to professionals in the oil and gas industry, government decision makers, environmental advocacy groups, and others who seek an understanding of the processes involved in order to ensure safety in undertakings of this nature.