Reliability-Based Maintenance System for Offshore Pipelines in Malaysia

Pipelines, like other structures in nature, deteriorate over time. The deterioration of pipeline in the form of corrosion is found to be a major problem to the pipeline operators and it becomes even worse as a pipeline ages. Pipeline operators throughout the world are faced with the expensive and risky task of operating aged pipeline because of corrosion and its destructive effect. Hence, a proper maintenance program which involves the injection of corrosion inhibitor for these pipelines is crucial to maintain a safe and continuous operation. Due to the fact that there are no codes providing the rule of thumb of releasing corrosion inhibitor into the pipeline system, most of the operators are confronted with the problem in optimizing the maintenance schedule. A study on the probabilistic methodology for the purpose of creating a reliability based maintenance system that optimizes the corrosion inhibitor injection for offshore pipelines in Malaysian waters is presented in this research.