Pipeline Operations & Integrity Flashcards
6 cards from real CPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Pipeline Operations & Integrity flashcards as text
What technology do 'smart pigs' (inline inspection tools) use to detect metal loss and corrosion in steel pipelines?
Answer: Magnetic flux leakage (MFL) or ultrasonic testing (UT)
Smart pigs use magnetic flux leakage or ultrasonic sensors to detect wall thickness variations, corrosion, dents, and cracks from inside the flowing pipeline.
Which type of valve is designed to automatically shut off flow when a pipeline experiences a sudden pressure drop indicating a rupture?
Answer: Automatic shutoff valve (ASV) / Emergency Flow Restrictor
Automatic shutoff valves detect abnormal pressure conditions consistent with a rupture and close automatically to stop flow and limit product release.
What is the primary cause of pipeline failures in the United States according to PHMSA incident data?
Answer: Third-party excavation damage
Third-party excavation damage — from digging, boring, or construction near pipelines — is consistently the leading cause of pipeline incidents in PHMSA data.
The '811 Call Before You Dig' program in the United States is designed to prevent what type of pipeline hazard?
Answer: Third-party excavation damage to buried utilities
Calling 811 notifies pipeline and utility operators to mark underground lines before excavation, preventing accidental strikes that are the leading cause of pipeline incidents.
What does a pipeline's 'integrity management program' (IMP) require operators to do on a scheduled basis?
Answer: Assess, evaluate, and mitigate risks in high consequence areas
IMPs require periodic risk assessments, inline inspections or pressure tests, and remediation of identified anomalies in high consequence areas per PHMSA regulations.
Which condition in a natural gas pipeline can form solid ice-like plugs that block flow, particularly in cold or high-pressure environments?
Answer: Hydrate formation
Gas hydrates form when water molecules in natural gas crystallize around hydrocarbon molecules under high pressure and low temperature, creating solid plugs that block pipelines.