Pipeline Integrity Management
 To ensure the integrity of their pipelines, operators need to have a program that identifies all the integrity threats and their likelihood and effect. Skystone provides pipeline integrity management programs which include the prevention or mitigation of these threats. These programs include processes to:
  • Maintain accurate pipeline inventory
  • Risk ranking
  • Prepare adequate mitigation and operating activities
  • Continuously improve mitigation and operating activities
Featured Services Include
  • Inspection Plan Implementation
  • Regulations and Reporting
  • Chemical Program Assessment and Design
  • Liner Installation Design Review and Recommendation
  • Non-Metallic Material Selection
  • Repair Program Design
  • Failure and Investigations
  • Procedures Development and Review
  • Project Management
  • Business Process Assessments
  • Cost Models
  • Corrosion Assessments
  • Material Selection
  • Data Collection
  • Compliance Monitoring
  • Pipeline Operations and Maintenance Manual Development

Inspection Plan Implementation
 Skystone provides a complete integrity management program that includes mitigation, monitoring, inspection and repairs. This service also includes program design and ongoing support for implementation, quality control, compliance reporting as well as regular audits and reviews.


Regulations and Reporting
 Working as a liaison between industry players and the ERCB, Skystone assists clients in maintaining compliance of pipeline activities as they relate to the Pipeline Acts and Regulations. To ensure industry pipelines are correctly identified within the ERCB's records, Skystone will routinely review licence information and recommend proper updating procedures, should any discrepancies be found. In the event that an amendment to a pipeline takes place, Skystone will gather the required information from the industry and complete the licence application and submit it directly to the ERCB for approval. This is done in alignment with Directive 056. Skystone also initiates educational and training programs for staff to ensure our team is as up to date on new ERCB regulations and guidelines as possible.


Chemical Program Assessment and Design
 With an extensive background in chemical treatment programs, Skystone continues to offer its expertise in the area of oil and gas applications. As a multi-disciplined team, our chemical program assessment and design services are integrated with and complement related elements of the integrity management plan.


Liner Installation Design Review and Recommendation
 Liner technology has improved significantly over the past few years and provides a practical and economical solution for high corrosivity situations. Skystone provides liner material recommendations and review to support clients in meeting production pipeline service conditions and regulatory requirements.


Non-Metallic Material Selection
 Non-metallic materials are widely used for corrosive conditions in gas plants, waterfloods and production barriers. Skystone provides design solutions for effective application of non-metallics in these situations as well as providing inspection services and repair management for coated equipment.


Repair Program Design
 Our team designs repair programs for pressure equipment, in addition to having the resources and expertise to implement the repairs. All repair program preparations include obtaining jurisdictional approval.


Failure and Investigations
 Skystone conducts failure analysis on oil and gas pipelines, pressure vessels, as well as facility and downhole equipment.  Mechanical testing, chemical analysis and visual inspection are all used to determine the root cause of a failure.  All results are used to provide recommendations for the prevention of future failures.


Procedures Development and Review
Skystone develops custom maintenance procedures for oil and gas production facilities. These include procedures that are developed specifically for the operational constraints of a specific facility and in accordance with design codes, OEM requirements and applicable regulations.


Project Management
Skystone provides project management services to ensure the efficient execution of Integrity Management Programs as listed above. This service includes full turn-key in-line inspection programs, pipeline discontinuances, abandonments, reactivations and other compliance driven activities.


Business Process Assessments
The oil and gas production industry is continually changing. Often these changes involve organizational and business process changes as well. Proactive companies initiate business process assessments in order to find and adjust internal procedures, programs and practices. Skystone provides senior personnel to assess operating and maintenance business processes and provide an organizational summary that includes improvement recommendations.


Cost Models
 Referred to as total cost models, these models provide a comprehensive cost summary for the maintenance and reliability components of a business, and reflect the complexities of the business. Skystone's multi-disciplined skill set provides the basis for building appropriate cost models that allow businesses to make better decisions about opportunities to manage overall costs. The key to this process is the technical interrelationship between different approaches to maintenance and reliability. Ultimately the ability to describe the cost benefits in the context of total costs is paramount in delivering value to the operating organization.


Corrosion Assessments
 Skystone provides corrosion assessments for both facility and pipeline assets. The likelihood of corrosion (both internally and externally for pipelines) is determined using operating conditions, operating history and previous inspection results. The likelihood of corrosion is then combined with the consequence of failure and operating logistics so that a comprehensive corrosion mitigation plan may be designed. Skystone also provides recommendations for measuring the success of the mitigation plan through monitoring, inspections and periodic reviews.


Material Selection
 Materials for the construction of pressure containment equipment including plant facilities and pipelines requires consideration of cost, service condition, constructability and maintenance. Skystone provides engineering support for the consideration of these factors, including optimal selection of materials for the design and operating conditions of all production equipment.


Data Collection
 Skystone manages facility data for industry clients. We research all facilities, interview personnel, accurately collect data from all available sources and ensure data is complete prior to entering it into the Spectrel asset management system. From there we actively manage information reviews and updates on a regular basis. We then incorporate a rigorous internal and client review processes to ensure the information is current, while reporting is designed to meet the unique needs of each client.


Compliance Monitoring
This report card is typically conducted on a quarterly basis and is used to inform management that the required tasks outlined in the O&M Manual are being completed. With this monitoring, all documentation would be readily available in a compliance cabinet should an ERCB audit be conducted. As per CSA Z662 pipeline code, pipeline and operating maintenance manuals shall be developed and required tasks listed within the O&M Manual. This documentation is then complied and filed as well. This service is not limited to the tasks conducted by the operations staff, however, do include monthly cathodic rectifier readings, annual cathodic surveys, pipeline pigging summaries, compliance to corrosion chemical programs, right-of-way surveillance, pressure switch function testing and calibration, pipeline discontinuation/abandon procedures, ground disturbance documentation and crossing agreements.


Pipeline Operations and Maintenance Manual Development
 Skystone is actively involved with industry groups and regulatory bodies in an effort to maintain a current and sound knowledge of regulations and best practices, as they relate to the operations and maintenance of pipelines. We develop pipeline operations and maintenance manuals that address regulatory requirements and match the business processes of the pipeline licensee.