
Oil & Gas Pipeline Safety

Exponent provides services related to oil and gas pipelines in the areas of engineering management, engineering, environmental, and health consulting. Our multi-disciplinary staff of engineers, architects, scientists, and technical specialists provides these services to both the public and private sectors. From a risk management perspective, our experience in analyzing thousands of failures, using both traditional and situation-specific innovative methods, enables us to aid our clients in minimizing health and safety risks, business interruption, and bottom-line financial losses due to accidents and system failure.
We offer a broad range of expertise in regard to pipeline integrity management. Our change management services help clients improve business-unit performance and productivity through application of proven organization and process assessment, development, and implementation techniques. Our technical consultants have extensive experience developing and implementing quality management systems across many industries. We have successfully developed quality programs in compliance with various industry standards and regulations. Exponent has worked closely with clients to rapidly respond to corrective action requests issued by regulatory agencies, including the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
Services
Engineering Management
Exponent provides engineering management services to our clients to identify and achieve opportunities for business process improvement. Exponent’s staff has experience and expertise to assist its clients in assessing the need for improvement, performing root cause analysis of business process breakdowns, and developing the implementation strategy to meet these improvement goals. Our team also assists in on-site implementation to ensure that identified improvements are achieved. Exponent is able to provide a diverse team of consultants to ensure that all aspects of a process are effectively addressed. Our services include: risk management, quality management, change management and regulatory compliance.
Risk Management
- Root-Cause Analysis
- Project Risk Assessment and Mitigation Planning
- Preliminary Hazard or Risk Analysis (PHA/PRA)
- Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA)
- Business Interruption Analysis and Mitigation
Quality Management
- Quality Management System Development
- Quality Program Assessments
- Incident / Safety-Related Condition Trending
- Pipeline Inspection Program Development / Review
Change Management
- Organizational Assessments
- Configuration Management
- Methodology for Collection, Validation, and Integration of Data and Documentation
- Business Process/Performance Improvement
Regulatory Compliance
- Pipeline Integrity Management Program Development
- Compliance Assessments / Audits
- Regulatory Requirements Compliance
- Response to PHMSA Requests / Corrective Action
Engineering Services
Exponent engineering services are provided to both assist clients in the prevention of failures and in evaluating the root cause of failures. Exponent has developed a rigorous model for failure analysis and prevention and utilizes this process to solve difficult technical and business problems and to define corrective measures.
Our engineering services include the following areas of expertise:
- Corrosion Science and Engineering
- Thermal Sciences (Fire and Explosion Analysis)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Geotechnical Engineering and Hydrology
- Structural Engineering
- Construction Consulting
- Accident Investigation
- Materials Analysis
- System Failure Analysis
- Electrical Engineering
- Pipeline Integrity
Environmental Consulting
Exponent scientists have extensive practical project experience in designing programs, providing and interpreting data, and reviewing the documents and related information required to answer our clients’ environmental questions. The project experience of Exponent scientists has included work on oil spills, chemical contaminant forensics (petroleum hydrocarbons, metals, hydrogeology transport-and-fate modeling), and cost allocation. Our services include:
- Environmental Forensics
- Spill, Transport, and Fate Analysis
- Ecological Effects / Risk Assessment
- Human Health Exposure
- Natural Resource Damage Assessment
- Site Investigation and Remediation Consulting
Testing and Analysis
Exponent has developed and implemented test programs for monitoring and modeling the performance of various components in real time under a range of conditions. This includes determining thermal hot spots, temperature rise and distribution analysis and modeling. Our staff has the experience and capability to perform a wide range of tests on devices such as motors, relays and instrumentation to evaluate the electrical and thermal management systems performance under predetermined thermal, electrical and environmental stress conditions.
A list of sample tests that we routinely perform includes:
- Materials and corrosion
- Mechanical
- Electrical
- Environmental
- Combustion and fire
- Small explosions
Professionals
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Robert D. Caligiuri, Ph.D., P.E., FASMMaterials & Corrosion EngineeringCorporate Vice President & Principal EngineerMenlo Park
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Brad A. James, Ph.D., P.E., FASMMaterials & Corrosion EngineeringGroup Vice President & Principal EngineerMenlo Park
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Shane Kennett, Ph.D., P.E., CWIMaterials & Corrosion EngineeringPrincipal Engineer & Office DirectorDenver
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