Degree

Master of Business Administration Executive

Faculty / School

School of Business Studies (SBS)

Year of Award

2026

Advisor/Supervisor

Dr. Muhammad Wasif, Visiting Academic Department of Management Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi

Project Type

MBA Executive Research Project

Access Type

Restricted Access

Keywords

Pipeline integrity management, Predictive Analytics, Risk-Based Inspection (RBI), Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment (ICDA), Digital Transformation in Oil & Gas, Asset  Integrity Management

Executive Summary

Hydrocarbon and associated fluid transmissions through pipeline systems safely and efficiently is the lifeline of oil and gas industry. Hence, its integrity is critical for almost all of exploration and production (E&P) companies globally and PPL (PPL) is no exception. Pipeline Integrity management above and beyond being a primary operational need, also holds strategic significance as well by ensuring financial losses are curtailed, company reputation remains intact and environmental degradation is avoided. In reality, integrity management effectiveness, in oil and gas industry, is extremely difficult because of lack of reliable and consistent data and subjective monitoring measurements.

For this purpose, this report compares integrity management weaknesses to establish global standards (such as API 1160, ASME B31. 8S, NACE/AMPP practices) and combines insights derived from semi-structured interviews with internal key personnel and external experts. Based on interview analysis, recurring constraints have been identified in PPL’s current approach, firstly, internal corrosion monitoring often becomes less of a priority when sampling (such as corrosion coupons) requires shutdowns of production flow, causing delays and creating blind spots. Secondly, for older pipelines (twenty years or older), lack of baseline and periodic inspection data creates reliability issues for remaining life calculations and limits the effectiveness of risk-based inspection methodologies, often resulting in conservative assumptions rather than data driven decisions.

To address these issues, this study recommends implementing the Internal Corrosion Direct Assessment (ICDA) approach under NACE SP0208. ICDA is a model to predict internal corrosion risk that would help to eliminate the possibility of production shutdowns, targeted validation and proactive risk mitigation with minimal disruptions. In addition to ICDA, the cathodic protection (CP) digitalization (via Remote Monitoring Units) and the use of non-intrusive integrity tools to improve monitoring and decision quality.

The viability assessment supports the shift towards a systematic integrity management approach that is technically supported and provides financial benefits. Technically, it improves consistency by enabling more rigorous evaluation of remaining pipeline life (e.g., RSTRENG and ASME B31G methods), validate safe remaining life and focusing interventions where risk is highest, the approach can defer the need for large-scale pipeline replacement far beyond their useful life and materially reduce lifecycle costs compared to full asset replacement.

Practically we recommend identifying indicative cost benchmarks through targeted integrity management actions. For instance, ICDA implementation to reduce shutdown dependency, Microbiologically Influenced Corrosion (MIC) verification to replace assumptions with evidence, ECDA surveys to identify coating weaknesses, and Cathodic Protection (CP) remote monitoring to close data gaps and accelerate response to corrosion signals.

Although residual risks (such as localized data gaps, human error, and changing environmental conditions) cannot be eliminated entirely, a closed-loop predictive integrity system significantly strengthens proactive risk management, improves operational efficiency, and supports stronger alignment with regulatory and international best practices, particularly ASME B31.8S, while maximizing the lifecycle value of PPL’s pipeline assets.

Pages

xiv, 126

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