Understanding the Practical Mitigations for a Pipeline’s Electrical Hazards

Mitigation options for pipelines subject to electrical hazards are frequently misunderstood, leading to questions as  to which strategies are most practical or effective in reducing the risk. Established options for mitigating these hazards are associated with appropriate changes to either the electrical power line or pipeline’s earthing systems. The power line, for example, could be located further from the pipeline increasing the separation, fault limitation or implement increased conductor screening.

The pipeline may benefit from improved earthing characteristics, be broken into shorter conductive lengths or have localised voltage mitigation installed. Additional options may be identified through risk assessment, where real-world contact scenarios may be considered. This paper aims to present the available mitigation options for pipeline electrical hazards and assess their effectiveness through various metrics.