Description

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Currently, the U.S. has over 3.7 million kilometers (2.3 million miles) of pipelines crossing the country transporting natural gas and hazardous liquids from sources such as wells, refineries, and ports to customers. It is estimated that almost 2/3 of the energy consumed in the U.S. passes through a pipeline at some point between its origin and the point of consumption and pipelines account for about 20% of the total mass-distance that oil and natural gas are transported 1,2]. Clearly, the maintenance of an uninterrupted energy supply to the public requires the operation of these pipelines in such a manner that corrosion does not result in an unscheduled interruption to the flow of these energetic materials to the nation, as occurred recently in Alaska 3]. This task is accomplished by pipeline operating companies, who follow standards, codes, and practices set out by variety of regulatory agencies, industrial consortia, and standards developing organizations. the Pipeline Standards developing Organizations coordination Council (PSDOCC) coordinates the activities of these groups and the Department of Transportations Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is the main regulatory agency with final responsibility over this system of codes and practices 2].