eustream, a.s., Slovak Republic

Customer
Even the name of the eustream, a.s. company (known as SPP-Preprava, a.s. before) identifies the key sphere of its activities - the international transportation of natural gas, i.e. ensuring the continuous flow of natural gas to European markets. Except for natural gas transportation, the Company ensures the operation and maintenance of compressor plants and line sections of transportation gas lines within four areas (Velke Kapusany, Jablonov nad Turnou, Velke Zlievce and Ivanka pri Nitre).

Demand
Care for safety and reliability of gas line operation is ensured by means of operational pipeline diagnostics, as well as the evaluation of the actual pipe attributes and the impact of environment. The central evaluation of the measured and actual data, as well as potential consequences of the pipe break, forms the basis for the Risk Assessment and the subsequent Risk Management.

Solution
The project of implementation of the Risk Assessment Module within the line section of the transportation gas line is based on the long-term endeavour of the eustream, a.s. company to establish a complex information system supporting the safe gas transportation management. The Risk Model represents the sixth module of a robust yPipe solution. The implementation of this module improves the yPipe solution into a standard system belonging to a group of products known worldwide as the Pipeline Integrity Management System (PIMS). The Risk Model is based on the international standards ASME B31.8S and CEN/TS 15173:2005. The Model monitors and evaluates 42 thoroughly chosen risk factors structured into seven groups of risks and potential consequences.

Result
The yPipe (ITIS Piping) solution extended by the Risk Assessment Module is a crucial element enabling the eustream, a.s. analytics to identify weak points along the pipeline and optimise and plan targeted maintenance activities on the basis of the identified risks to ensure safe gas transportation. From the eustream, a.s. point of view, the project also brought and important knowledge, identification and transparent documentation of risk points along the high pressure pipelines to be provided to the state administration authorities and international audit teams.