
Typical design-bid-build (DBB) and engineer-procure-construct (EPC) pipeline projects are made up of multiple critical steps based on the project’s procurement needs, but one thing is constant: The materials matter. Pipes, fittings, flanges and closures: If miscalculations are made or the incorrect material is purchased for the project, it could result in safety shortfalls, cost overruns, delays or equipment failures.
Pipeline Project Considerations
According to the American Gas Association, the natural gas industry has added an average of 20,724 miles of pipe annually from 1998-2020. When scoping and planning construction of a new pipeline prior to purchasing any of the materials and equipment that is needed, project managers and pipeline owners/operators consider several factors:
- The planned route of the pipeline.
- The necessary diameter and wall thickness of the piping system.
- The stress and forces imposed on the pipeline.
- Required burial depth or special lay provisions.
- Rights-of-way/land acquisition.
- Any environmental impact.
- Any unique material specifications.
After these factors are considered, a pipeline project moves from planning into the design phase, which is when the procurement process often begins. The procurement process is when members of the project team specify to a vendor the types of material and quantities needed to be purchased to complete the project, no matter if the customer is utilizing a DBB, EPC or any other project delivery method.