U.S., Canadian Pipeline Companies Back Plan to Certify Inspectors
Representatives of U.S. and Canadian oil and gas pipeline owners have agreed to support an initiative to ensure all pipeline inspectors doing work for their member companies are certified by 2018. The boards of directors of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), the INGAA Foundation Inc., the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) and the CEPA Foundation — major pipeline trade associations in the United States and Canada, respectively — have voted to endorse the program, according to a Feb. 18 statement.
“The decision is consistent with the INGAA board’s commitment to zero pipeline incidents,” said INGAA president and CEO Don Santa. “Safe pipeline construction and quality materials help ensure safe operation. Having certified inspectors helps everyone raise the bar.”
CEPA Foundation chairman Kent Wilfur agreed, adding that the initiative will help attract new workers to the industry.
“Our industry is committed to ensuring continuous improvement processes are developed to enhance the operational reliability of pipelines,” Wilfur said. “By standardizing the baseline certification of inspectors across the industry, the industry can enhance the quality of new construction. This significant change in approach also establishes that pipeline inspection is a genuine career choice. We hope this action will encourage new entrants in the pipeline construction field to pursue inspection as a career opportunity.” Wilfur is also vice president of project execution for Spectra Energy.
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An inspector certification test — American Petroleum Institute (API) RP 1169, Recommended Practice for Basic Inspection Requirements for New Pipeline Construction — has been available in the United States since November 2014. The test provides an industrywide credential for inspection of onshore pipelines and will meet industry requirements in Canada in the spring of 2016. The INGAA and CEPA Foundations established a “body of knowledge” about pipeline inspections to help improve the test and enhance inspector knowledge.
All pipeline inspectors are eligible to take the test, regardless of training, education or other certifications. Pipeline inspectors can choose to take additional tests to become a specialty inspector for areas such as pipeline welding or pipeline coating.
The INGAA and CEPA Foundations intend to continuously improve the inspector certification program, including by working with API to develop future versions of the API 1169 certification test.
Tags: CEPA, CEPA Foundation, INGAA, INGAA Foundation, pipeline inspection
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