AFGROWing (in) the Pipeline Industry - Workshop 2020
AFGROWing (in) the Pipeline Industry - Workshop 2020
Lyndon Lamborn*, James Harter** - ENBRIDGE PIPELINES INC., LexTech Inc.*
Pipeline operators spend tens of millions of dollars annually on managing the crack threat on pipelines. A pipeline shutdown can result in up to $1M per day in lost revenue. Yet the state of crack growth analysis remains absurdly archaic. Introducing modern fracture mechanics to the industry has been met with roadblocks and resistance, but progress is nevertheless being made. The current uses of AFGROW in the industry, while limited, are already making a difference. The future is appearing brighter as time passes, and development initiatives which pave the way for integration of AFGROW crack life cycle analysis into assessment will be described. Maximizing incident learning, making pipelines more reliable, and reducing maintenance costs remain the main end game elements driving introduction of AFGROW and modern fracture mechanics to the pipeline industry.