This represents a major revision to the Standard, and includes a great many changes, the most significant of which will change the way that the pipe wall thickness is designed, and the way that the “design factor” is used. The Safety section of the draft has been rewritten to incorporate experience gained in applying the risk assessment obligations introduced in the 1997 revision.

The proposed revision also includes a requirement for “no rupture” in T1 and T2 location classes (and in a number of the new “Sub” location classes), together with a requirement to limit the maximum credible energy release rate in these location classes. The proposed revision includes a new section dealing with the minimum requirements for MAOP Upgrade for qualifying pipelines. The preface to the proposed revision contains a listing of the major changes by section. The Committee responsible for preparing the Standard, ME-038 Petroleum Pipelines is seeking comment from the industry and from interested members of the public to ensure that the 2005 revision meets the requirements of the industry and the expectations of the public.

To assist the committee to collate and review comment, please download the Public Comment Form available on the Standards web site as a Word document, make comment on that form, and submit the form to the address on that document. On December 7 and 8, APIA held an International Seminar to introduce the proposed revision, and in particular to draw on the experience of four international experts who use and design pipelines with a design factor of 0.8, and who have upgraded and permitted the upgrading of pipelines to operating pressures with an effective design factor of 0.8.