Abstract
This study presents the implementation of a multidisciplinary team approach to geohazard identification, characterization, assessment, and mitigation \, that includes landslide subject matter experts (SMEs) in geotechnical and hydrotechnical engineering and geology and pipeline stress analysis with the pipeline owner/operator (Owner). This approach provided targeted and programmatic geohazard training, identification, exploration, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring, and hase been coin as the “TIEAMM” approach. The Owner worked with the geohazard SMEs to develop a system-wide geohazard pipeline integrity management program, including a phased geohazard assessment along the right-of-way, office and field-based training for the local operations staff, risk-based design mitigation approaches, on-site construction support, and continued monitoring.
The landslide discussed in this study is used as an example to demonstrate the TIEAMM approach; this site was identified by local operations staff, documenting differential movement of approximately 15 feet between November 2018 and February 2019. A more detailed geological exploration and assessment as well as a pipeline strain assessment was completed. The work allowed for mitigation efforts and corresponding costs to be optimized. The mitigation design was flexible to address ongoing monitoring, and then field-fit to address site conditions observed during the construction work. The approach to geohazard management completed for this site provided the data and information needed to make informed decisions to support targeted optimization for the scope and scale of mitigation work, and thereby avoided over-conservative (and thereby overly-costly) mitigation efforts.
