PPIC and Hyprescon announce the formation of the Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance (CPMA)
Montreal, Quebec, Canada - November 16, 2004 - Canada's underground water transmission infrastructure is aging, and in need of rehabilitation. Estimates for the wholesale replacement of older pipelines run into the billions of dollars. However, if a strategic methodology is employed where utilities replace only those individual pipe that are in poor condition, this figure becomes much more manageable.
Typically, very few individual pipe in a line, even when under adverse environmental conditions, develop any defects, even after 50 years or more of continued operation. In the past, water transmission pipeline operators lacked the tools needed to identify and rehabilitate these pipe. In response to this need, the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company and Hyprescon have joined forces to create the Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance. This group will provide a turnkey solution for those Canadian pipeline owners and operators seeking to maximize the safe and economic life of their water pipelines through an approach that emphasizes condition based asset management.
This integrated approach entails: determining the baseline condition of the pipeline; using this information to make decisions on what to do with each individual pipe within the system; implementing any necessary rehabilitation steps and maintaining the system's structural integrity through periodic re-inspection or continued monitoring.
"By establishing the baseline condition of each pipe, areas of local distress can be identified," says Brian Mergelas, President & CEO of PPIC. "This allows operators to make informed decisions on the selective rehabilitation of individual pipe. This can lead to significant savings by eliminating unnecessary replacement of large lengths of transmission mains - maximizing the safe life of the asset and the effectiveness of the budget spend."
"Once the baseline condition of each pipe within a system has been established, owners and operators have information they can use to select the best and most suitable rehabilitation method for any given pipe material," continued Giorgio Napoletani, President of Hyprescon. "For example, owners and operators can identify individual pipe that have either an unacceptable projected remaining service life, due to defects developed by exposure to adverse conditions, or an unacceptable leak. They can then prioritize capital expenditures by implementing a selective repair and replacement program that is based on the actual condition of individual pipe."
In brief, the Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance's scope of services includes:
- Pipeline prioritization. CPMA's team has unparalleled experience in the water transmission sector. Its team can work with a utility's engineering team to prioritize which lines need inspection first.
- Pressure tapping. Occasionally, minor modifications to a line are required to facilitate condition assessment. The Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance can pressure tap any type of pipe up to 1500mm in diameter.
- Line Stopping. Line stopping is a means of temporarily stopping the flow in an operating pipe. It can be used to isolate pipelines for assessment, repair, alteration, or relocation. If used in conjunction with bypass lines, flow can be continued around the isolated section of pipe to be assessed or repaired. Line stopping is available for all types of pipes up to 1500mm in diameter.
- Condition Assessment. CPMA offers a number of proven condition assessment tools that can be used to determine the condition of each individual pipe in a pipeline.
- Engineering Recommendations. Using the condition assessment information, the Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance can recommend which individual pipe need to be repaired or replaced to restore a pipeline's structural integrity.
- Rehabilitation. Rehabilitating only those pipe that need it will save utilities an enormous amount of money when compared against the wholesale replacement of entire pipelines.
- 24 hour emergency service. If a utility encounters a problem with its water pipelines of any material construction type, an experienced technician or engineer will be able to assist.
The bottom line? The Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance's comprehensive approach to condition based asset management will save a utility time, money and frustration. "Entering into this alliance with Hyprescon allows us to offer utilities a truly integrated approach," asserts Mergelas. "When we first looked at forming this relationship, the synergies were obvious. Hyprescon is committed to building and maintaining Canada's water transmission infrastructure and their reputation in the Canadian marketplace is unequalled."
"Operators within the water transmission sector are beginning to standardize on PPIC's bottom-up condition assessment approach," adds Napoletani. "CPMA helps municipalities establish informed cost-savings plans for the rehabilitation and long-term maintenance of their lines."
For more information about the Canadian Pipeline Management Alliance please contact either Hyprescon at 1-800-361-4275 or PPIC at 1-877-275-7742.
About PPIC
A world leader in large diameter water and wastewater pipeline condition assessment, the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company (PPIC) offers forward looking solutions to help customers address aging infrastructure challenges in a reliable and cost effective manner. Our innovative services pinpoint damaged sections of a pipeline to help optimize infrastructure investments, stop leaks, reduce risk and ensure compliance. PPIC has inspected over 6,000 miles of critical pipeline assets over the past decade. For more information, visit www.ppic.com.
For more information, contact:
Michael Stadnyckyj
the Pressure Pipe Inspection Company
+1 905-624-1040 x 301
mstad@ppic.com