Stress corrosion cracking (SCC) is a known integrity threat to the safe operation of the nation’s critical pipeline infrastructure. This threat has been studied and examined in the past, but the phenomenon generally is not well understood. As part of its many efforts to foster safe pipeline operations, OPS commissioned a study of SCC issues relating to pipeline integrity for both gas and liquid lines. The SCC study has been designed to synthesize what is already known about the history of SCC, level of risk, indicators of the potential for SCC, detection methods, mitigation measures, assessment procedure, and actions taken by pipeline operators to facilitate response to SCC-related incidents. The study is intended to be comprehensive in scope and provide a common basis for improving avoidance, detection, and management of this integrity threat.
This study was extensively coordinated with pipeline regulators – both U.S. and Canadian, major pipeline industry trade organizations, selected pipeline operators with SCC expertise, and well known technical experts. Known information on the subject of SCC has been assembled or identified, and any gaps in the efforts to understand, identify, assess, manage and mitigate SCC effects and efforts were identified.
This report is still in draft format! A final report will be issued approximately one month after the public comment period.
The full SCC report can be viewed by selecting the following link: http://primis.rspa.dot.gov/docs/sccReport/SCC%20REPORT%20FULL%20TEXT.PDF