News

Mr. Atikom Terbsiri, Chief Operating Officer, Upstream Petroleum and Gas Business Group, 

PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) confirmed that the safety measures for the gas pipeline system after the natural gas leak and fire in Bang Bo District, Samut Prakan Province, were in compliance with international standards (ASME B31.8) of the management of gas pipelines. PTT has always strictly followed the safety measures throughout the process:  design, construction, management, transportation and maintenance of the gas pipeline system for efficiency in gas transmission and the highest safety. Namely, PTT controls and monitors the transmission of gas via the automatic control system -Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System or SCADA system at Chonburi Operation Center which is able to control and track gas transmission data in real time 24 hours a day. This makes it possible to immediately know the abnormality of the gas transmission. Block Valve Stations are built to monitor pressure, temperature and flow of gas along the pipe. In case of an abnormal event, Gas delivery supervisor will be able to directly shutdown the valve to directly cut off the system at the incident point via the SCADA system.  

PTT has established rigorous standards for monitoring, maintaining and surveilling the pipeline as follows: 

• Pipeline patrolling to inspect the pipeline both by cars and employees is performed on a weekly basis. 
• Inspection of power sources and electrical connections to neighboring structures to monitor the efficiency of electricity isolation of gas pipeline protection systems from external corrosion (Cathodic Protection: CP) is carried out on a monthly basis. 
• Monitoring of electrical isolation applied to a system to protect pipes from external corrosion is undertaken annually. 

• Direct Current Voltage Gradient detection (DCVG)  to check pipe coatings abnormalities and Close Interval Potential Survey (CIPS)  to check the integrity of the system to protect the gas pipeline from external corrosion (CP) are performed every 5 years. 
• Inspection by Intelligent Pipeline Inspection Gauge (ILI PIG), which is sent through the pipe to collect the pipe condition data to be analyzed for its integrity is performed every 5 years. 

To perform, the ILI PIG test which is an internationally accepted standard, PTT has adopted both MFL Pig and Magnetic Flux Leakage to detect missing metal content and to check internal and external corrosion of piping systems and Geometry PIG or Caliper types. They can detect the deformation of gas pipelines such as roundness, dented pipes, and creases of the natural gas pipeline system. If an abnormality is found from the ILI PIG result, PTT will immediately repair and improve the gas pipeline in accordance with ASME 31.8 standards to ensure the highest security and safety of  PTT's gas transportation system. 

        Mr. Atikom added that during the current situation, PTT has raised the standard of its monitoring and surveillance levels to be higher than normal. The frequency of patrols for gas pipeline inspections has been doubled in all areas where the gas pipeline line passes through. To determine the cause, PTT has accelerated the process by coordinating with the relevant authorities. The parts from gas pipeline parts and soil samples at the scene were sent to the National Metal and Materials Technology Center (MTEC) to analyze the damage. Upon receiving the results of the analysis from MTEC, the loss adjuster will perform further analysis of the cause.