Integrity and Regulatory Compliance

Records Validation and MOP/MAOP Reconfirmation

ENTRUST Solutions Group provides comprehensive record validation services. Our team evaluates data that is being collected to support critical Traceable, Verifiable, and Complete (TVC) requirements. This can occur during the As-Built phase of new construction or on existing pipelines to determine Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) reconfirmation or Class Location change studies. We also optimize the collection and validation process to meet other operational needs, such as risk analysis or PSMS implementation. The information can be integrated into a client’s GIS system, making it available to be leveraged when planning future design work, conducting risk assessments, and implementing process improvements.

Material Verification

Material verification can be an extensive undertaking for transmission pipeline operators. ENTRUST can help operators in all aspects of their material verification programs, from setting up initial procedures to tracking samples and managing the data received. ENTRUST’s metallurgy experts are experienced in defining populations, managing destructive testing, validating and using non-destructive testing, tracking samples, material verification of components, establishing expanded sampling programs, and any step in between.

Threat and Risk Analysis

Threat and risk analysis experts at ENTRUST Solutions Group assist clients by looking at their pipeline system holistically, determining which pipeline threats apply to their systems, and then providing a risk ranking on the threats to their system. This process can be applied to either transmission or distribution assets as part of client’s integrity management program. Whether using ENTRUST-developed, third-party commercially available, or client’s homegrown risk models our personnel can evaluate the risk model itself, the source data, and/or the result output.

In-Line Inspection Support

With decades of operational and project experience, our professionals provide expertise in ILI data analysis, metallurgical support for repair or replace decisions, and GIS data integration. ENTRUST can assist through the life cycle of the inspection or perform specific tasks, including:

ILI plan and procedures support
ILI feasibility studies
Data quality assessment
Integrity dig management
ILI verification and validation per API Std 1163
NDT results evaluation, repair determination, repair/replacement decisions
Run to run analysis

Direct Assessment

Our direct assessment services are delivered by an expert team of professionals who can perform all four phases of an ECDA/ICDA project or certain phases based on our clients’ needs.

With the increased focus on traceable, verifiable, and complete documentation, ENTRUST can perform documentation and survey data reviews of historical ECDA and ICDA projects to assess the completeness, and ensure the assessment has been performed per the intent of applicable pipeline regulations and operator-written plans and procedures.

ENTRUST is uniquely qualified to help natural gas and liquid pipeline operators perform in-depth reviews of their pipeline safety programs and procedures. Our pipeline safety professionals work with a variety of operator stakeholders, including legal counsel, internal audit, upper management, and program managers, to evaluate the current state of pipeline safety programs against regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

Our experienced team of regulatory compliance professionals can assist in helping before and after a jurisdictional audit. To help an operator prepare for an audit, ENTRUST can assist in preparing responses to audit questions and/or protocols. Other preparation services may include bulleted talking points, presentations to use during the audit, or conducting a mock audit. Post-audit, ENTRUST can help respond to and address agency findings.

ENTRUST has a team of professionals with extensive experience in Control Room Management compliance including former controllers and control room managers. Support includes:

Plan and procedure development and updates
Pre and post audit support
Control room training
Alarm management support

AC and DC Interference

AC and DC interference can result in severe external corrosion of underground assets, with rates exceeding 100 mpy. ENTRUST is an industry leader in assessing, modeling, and mitigating AC and DC interference for over 25 years. ENTRUST owns multiple licenses of SES CDEGS software to allow for predictive modeling of these complex interactions and can offer unique solutions to not only manage the corrosion risk but also navigate state, provincial, and federal code requirements. Our offerings include field assessments, modeling, monitoring, mitigation design, commissioning, training, and internal standards development.

Cathodic Protection Design and Troubleshooting

Rectifier replacements, compliance readings, hot-spot protection, down-read confirmation, distribution zone assessments, corrosion life prediction, and general troubleshooting – we have seen it all. ENTRUST grew from a natural gas utility operator and cathodic protection is a foundational offering of our consulting group. Whether its buried pipelines, electrical transmission towers, pier-side quay walls, solar field foundations, or industrial processes, our portfolio of experience covers most industries and situations. Our AMPP (formerly NACE) certified engineers and technicians have the skills and can offer solutions and services to support your needs.

Indirect Assessments & Compliance Surveys

ENTRUST’s qualified and trained engineers and technicians perform indirect assessments and compliance surveys throughout North America. Our experience includes CIS, ACVG, DCVG, and PCM. These surveys have been performed as part of ECDA, ICDA, SCCDA, or as part of troubleshooting for external corrosion. ENTRUST specializes in collecting quality data to allow for comprehensive analysis. Our compliance surveys ensure valid readings to allow for accurate risk assessments of system integrity.

Natural Gas Storage Field Corrosion Support

Natural Gas storage fields have unique challenges with respect to corrosion control and asset integrity. ENTRUST supports natural gas storage facilities in managing, designing, and assessing their internal and external corrosion control and integrity programs. This support includes E-log-I testing, CPP tool runs, interference assessments, gathering line CP, down-hole surveys, sample data review, risk model assessments, and program management. Our experience extends across North America to help ensure the safe and reliable operation of these assets.

Electric Transmission & Distribution Corrosion Support

Overhead electrical towers have foundations which can experience external corrosion and premature failures leading to reliability and even electrical fault concerns. Underground electric transmission cables are often legacy assets and installed in congested areas with unique challenges. ENTRUST has experience assessing, troubleshooting, designing, and providing engineering support for HPFF, HPGF, SCFF, and solid dielectric cable; electric transmission tower foundations; HVDC overhead and underground cables, splice pits, and inverters; and even electrical substations. ENTRUST’s 25 years of corrosion experience can assist owners and operators to extend their asset’s operational life.

Electromagnetic Effects & Interference

As Rights-of-Way become more congested with multiple services and electric grid demand becomes ever-increasing, electromagnetic interference effects are becoming a concern for operators, regulators, jurisdictions, and the general public. ENTRUST offers in-house expertise to measure, monitor, predict, and mitigate EMI and EMF interference concerns from above-grade electrical transmission towers and substations. ENTRUST owns multiple licenses of SES CDEGS software for predictive assessment and can include any asset or service for consideration.

Failure Analysis

Pipeline components fail due to unanticipated loading conditions or reduction of material strength from mechanical damage, corrosion, or other environmental factors. Determining the root cause of failure requires understanding of the material properties, microstructure, manufacturing processes and original function of the component. ENTRUST failure analysts are degreed metallurgical and mechanical engineers with decades of pipeline industry experience in determining the cause of failures. Through metallurgical investigations using optical and scanning electron microscopy, and stress analysis using finite element analysis, ENTRUST can determine the cause and suggest corrective actions to guard against similar failures in the future.

Welding Specifications and Qualifications

ENTRUST provides welding procedure and manual development and qualification to support pipeline installation, maintenance, and repair. Our metallurgical team has assisted pipeline companies in developing construction and in-service Welding Procedure Specifications (WPSs) and welder qualifications. Our services include field and classroom training for WPS, welder qualification and inspection to ensure safe welds in compliance with regulatory requirements and practices. We can also perform engineering critical assessments (ECAs) in accordance with Annex A of API 1104.

Material Test Reports

Federal pipeline regulations require that all components have traceable, verifiable, and complete (TVC) records to be maintained for the life of the pipeline. ENTRUST’s material specialists regularly review the material test reports (MTRs) of purchased engineered pipe and components to ensure conformance to industrial standard (ASTM, ASME, API) requirements.

Fitness-for-Service

A fitness-for-service evaluation determines the capability of an engineering component to continue functioning with a known defect – metal loss, corrosion, crack-like flaws, laminations. In the petrochemical, refinery and pipeline industries, the standard API 579-1/ASME FFS-1 Fitness-for-Service is widely used and ENTRUST has performed many API 579 fitness-for-service evaluations on pipelines and pressure vessels with corrosion, mechanical damage, and cracks. These evaluations provide repair/replace decisions and inspection scheduling intervals for components determined suitable for continued operation.

Engineering Critical Assessments

Engineering Critical Assessments (ECA) are performed on crack-like defects. Fracture mechanics techniques are employed to determine the predicted failure pressure (PFP), adhering to the CFR 192.712 methodology, assuring pipeline operators that the integrity of the pipeline materials satisfy all regulatory and performance standards. ENTRUST offers ECA analysis from a team of leading metallurgists and specialists in pipeline maintenance and integrity for predicted failure pressure and cyclic fatigue. Our assessments can be conducted either during downtime or when the structures in question are in use.

Procurement Support

Procurement of pipeline and facility components to meet design requirements depend upon accurate descriptions in bills-of-material and thorough specifications defined at purchase. ENTRUST metallurgists can help with design specifications and mill audits to ensure that operators get the best product for their lines.