HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR PIPELINE

Transmission pipelines are the safest way of transporting fuels, and have an excellent safety record. This paper presents an overall pipeline management system, which can be used on onshore and offshore oil and gas pipelines and has safety management as an integral part. This system is formulated as a structured document that is authorised by top management and implemented by all staff in all departments of a pipeline company. This document acts as a benchmark for all managers in a company, to be used to monitor management performance and assess its effectiveness, and explains to company staff, clients, and regulatory authorities how the company and its assets are managed in a safe and cost-effective way. It includes overall plans and methods of implementation, and specifies roles and responsibilities and how the company achieves stated objectives and regulatory requirements. The document can easily be updated, and it can be made available to any contractors who may operate parts of the company's assets. The paper has charts which show: (1) the key elements in a safety management system; (2) the structure of a pipeline management system; (3) performance measures in a pipeline system; (4) differing levels in a management system; and (5) the management system for a particular company.