Defect Assessment in Pipelines
Led by Dr. Phil Hopkins
October 1-2, 2025 | Online
Important: please review our cancellation policy before you register.
For any questions, please contact Traci Branstetter at +1 (713) 449-3222.
Register before September 17, 2025 and save $200!
This course is for engineers responsible for verifying and validating ILI inspections of pipeline systems in accordance with the new 3rd edition of API Standard 1163 “In-line Inspection Systems Qualification.” API 1163 provides requirements for qualification of in-line inspection systems used in gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. The standard is incorporated by reference into PHMSA regulations 49CFR192 and 195, and the 3rd edition is expected to be incorporated after PHMSA’s review.
API 1163, 3rd edition, expands and makes mandatory requirements that pipeline operators both verify and validate ILI performance as part of a pipeline integrity management program:
The course will teach students practical techniques for verifying and validating a metal loss ILI in accordance with API 1163, 3rd edition. The course includes and provides instructions on the use of an API 1163, 3rd edition, spreadsheet recently released by PRCI to validate ILI results. Exercises conducted during the course will ensure students understand how to use the software, and they will help students build and maintain the skills needed to successfully apply API 1163, 3rd edition. The skills used for metal loss inspection program can also be applied to crack-detection and other inspections programs.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
Entering this course, you should have a basic understanding of what in-line inspection (ILI) entails
Upon completion of the course, participants will be awarded 1.4 CEUs.
Complete course presentation material will be available as a PDF download prior to the course.
Matt Ellinger is a Principal Engineer within DNV’s Integrity Solutions & Compliance department in Columbus, Ohio. Matt has over 17 years of industry experience with a focus on ILI projects.
Greg Morris is a Principal Engineer in the Incident Investigation section at DNV in Columbus. He joined DNV in 2019 with 27 years of experience in pipeline integrity management support, failure investigation, risk assessment, material specifications, and training.
SYLLABUS
Various forms of cracks and long seam weld anomalies are known to be present in pipelines, which can become a safety concern over the operational life of the pipeline. The most typical forms for cracking are environmentally assisted, manufacturing related and operational driven. This course will cover in greater depth the formation of cracking and seam weld defects and the conditions that drive their growth until they become unstable, leading to leaks or ruptures.
Led by Sergio Limon, this 2-day, in-person course is designed for pipeline engineers and managers. You will learn the basics of how and why cracks and seam weld anomalies form and how to effectively assess them. This will include hands-on demonstration and discussion of pipeline samples with cracking and seam weld defects. Appropriate assessment methods such as ILI tools and pressure testing will be discussed as well as traditional and current engineering methods for determining their severity for response and remediation. In-ditch Non-destructive Examination (NDE) methods and technologies will also be covered and demonstrated with actual pipeline samples. Each attendee will receive a complimentary Excel based crack assessment calculator which will be demonstrated in class using practical case studies.
Pipeline engineers, managers and service professionals who are involved with the operation, maintenance, inspection and repair of pipelines.
It will be necessary to bring a laptop to this course.
Complete course presentation material will be available as a PDF download prior to the course.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be eligible to receive 1.4 Continuing Education Units.
Sergio Limón is a Sr. Engineering Advisor with Blade Energy Partners responsible for developing, implementing, and executing strategic integrity management programs for gas and liquids pipelines, as well as performing fracture mechanics based structural evaluations, fatigue assessments and failure analyses. Sergio has worked in the oil & gas pipeline industry for more than 22 years with emphasis on pipeline integrity threat analysis and response. He was employed for 10 years with a large owner and operator of natural gas transportation pipelines where he led for six years the Asset Integrity group for the western division responsible for the analysis, response, and remediation of integrity threats. Sergio holds B Sc. and M Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis in fracture mechanics and materials from the University of Utah.
Imperfections and defects may be found in pipelines associated with the inherent steel making process, line pipe manufacturing, pipeline construction or introduced during its operation. Not all imperfections and defects are injurious to the safe operation of pipelines and established engineering methods exist for performing engineering assessments to make such determination. Those defects that are injurious require repair. The operator must then choose from a wide selection of repair methods considering regulations, industry guidance, repair effectiveness, and practical details.
To demonstrate existing and new Repair technologies and their application for specific defects uncovered during the defect assessment and NDE phases of pipeline rehabilitation.
Complete course presentation material will be available as a PDF download prior to the course.
Upon completion of the course, participants will be eligible to receive 1.4 Continuing Education Units.
This course will cover assessment methods and repair options for the most common pipeline imperfections and defects. PHMSA repair regulations and industry Codes ASME B31.8 and B31.4 associated with pipeline repairs will be discussed. The course will address pre-NDE activities, field NDE defect evaluation, engineering assessment, repair criteria, repair selection and installation. Hands-on NDE and repair installation demonstration are part of the workshop.
Led by Sergio Limon and Mike Rosenfeld, you will learn:
The course is intended for practicing pipeline professionals who are involved with the field defect evaluation, engineering assessment, and onsite repair preparation and installation activities; these include pipeline engineers and operators, bell hole support specialists, excavation inspectors, NDE service providers, repair manufacturers, ILI analysts and field support team.
8:00am – Introductions
Pressure Reduction Guidelines and pre-NDE Activities (Sergio)
Non-Destructive Evaluation Methods (Sergio)
Common Pipeline Repair Systems (Mike)
Repairing Corrosion (Mike)
12:00-1:00pm – Lunch Break
Repairing Cracks (Sergio)
Demonstration of NDE Methods
5:00pm – End of Day 1
8:00am – Course resumes
Repairing Gouges and Grooves (Mike)
Repairing Seam Weld Defects (Sergio)
Repairing Seam Weld Corrosion (Mike)
Repairing Plain Dents and Dents with Damage (Sergio)
Repairing Wrinkle, Buckles and Ripples (Mike)
12:00-1:00pm – Lunch Break
Repairing Grith Weld Defects (Mike)
Repairing Hard Spots, Laminations, Blisters (Sergio)
Demonstration of Repair Systems Installation
5:00pm – End of Workshop
Sergio Limón is a Sr. Engineering Advisor with Blade Energy Partners responsible for developing, implementing, and executing strategic integrity management programs for gas and liquids pipelines, as well as performing fracture mechanics based structural evaluations, fatigue assessments and failure analyses. Sergio has worked in the oil & gas pipeline industry for more than 22 years with emphasis on pipeline integrity threat analysis and response. He was employed for 10 years with a large owner and operator of natural gas transportation pipelines where he led for six years the Asset Integrity group for the western division responsible for the analysis, response, and remediation of integrity threats. Sergio holds B Sc. and M Sc. degrees in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis in fracture mechanics and materials from the University of Utah.
Michael J. Rosenfeld, PE – RSI Pipeline Solutions LLC, is an experienced consultant in pipeline fitness for service, pipeline integrity, pipeline design and construction, causes of pipeline failures, pipeline regulations and standards, and related matters. He has performed numerous pipeline failure investigations and root cause failure analyses; research funded by the pipeline industry on the effects of mechanical damage, fatigue, pipeline integrity threat interactions, and methods to determine the probable grade of undocumented pipe materials; engineering analyses of a broad range of design, operations, or integrity matters for numerous pipeline operators; and provided expert support in litigation. He chairs the Subgroup on Design, Materials, and Construction of the ASME B31.8 Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Committee and serves on other ASME piping standards development committees. Mr. Rosenfeld has authored or co-authored over 100 published articles or public presentations, is an ASME Fellow, and is a Professional Engineer registered in the State of Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the University of Michigan (1979) and a Master of Engineering from Carnegie-Mellon University (1981).
Payment by check, credit card or bank transfer is due in full prior to the start of the event.
Cancellations received on or before 15 days prior to the event will be refunded less a $200 fee to cover pre-event costs incurred. ($50 if the registration fee was less than $200.) Cancellations received on or after 14 days prior to the event are non-refundable. Substitutions may be made at any time; if you wish to transfer to another course or conference at another time, a 50% credit will be applied for fees already paid.
Confirmation will be made in writing as soon as possible upon receipt of payment. This confirmation will be sent to the address given on the registration form, unless otherwise required.
The organizers reserve the right to cancel any event due to insufficient enrollment. In this event fees will be refunded in full. However, the organizers assume no liability for travel or any expenses other than fees paid.
This course is designed for pipeline personnel in engineering, integrity management, operations, and regulatory compliance roles. This course will cover a wide range of topics related to hydrostatic testing of pipelines for gas and hazardous liquid service for both in-service and new construction according to CFR 49 Parts 192 and 195.
To provide attendees with necessary information for planning and conducting a successful hydrostatic test, whether it’s for initial service or retesting existing lines. Planning will cover review of integrity prior to testing through evaluation of test results. The course will focus on testing with water but testing with other medium will be discussed.
On completion of the course, participants will be awarded 1.4 CEUs.
The course is intended to cover the technical aspects of planning and conducting a hydrotest. It is designed for engineers, project managers, integrity management, and operation personnel to prepare for testing. The following topics will be covered:
Gary Zunkel, PE, is an independent consultant specializing in pipeline integrity, based in Ames, IA. Prior to establishing his consultancy, he was Senior Engineer of Pipeline Integrity with BlueFin in New Iberia, LA. He has been involved in the oil and gas industry for over 30 years with the last 10 years focusing on pipeline integrity management. He has been involved with over 200 pipeline tests; planning, managing, executing, and reviewing. In recent years, he has planned and conducted multiple, simultaneous tests on large diameter in-service pipelines for integrity verification.
1. Establishing Test Requirements
2. Conducting a Safe Test
3. Preliminary planning
4. Test Schedule
5. Water as a test medium
6. Other test medium
7. Leak Detection
8. Test Documentation
9. Managing water movement
10. Instrumentation
11. Data Interpretation & calculations
12. Test Failure
13. Contingency Planning
