scope:

PURPOSE AND USE

This guideline provides a recommendation and potential guidance to address observed gaps in data and recordkeeping practices that are currently prescribed in the ASME pipeline standards B31.8, B31.8S, and B31.4. The authors reviewed pipeline industry standards and standards from other industries to identify potential best practices and lessons learned. The industry needs a go-forward approach that will manage new records and data in a way that will maximize the utility of available records wherever practical, and improve upon record keeping practices for the future to take advantage of modern technology and lessons learned.

In practice, once operators have established upgraded data and recordkeeping systems, the systems will need to be managed and maintained, or else there would be risk of repeating old mistakes and the need to re-create the system from the ground up. A records maintenance team and controlled processes are required to manage and maintain the systems effectively. This guideline summarizes guidance that a pipeline operator could use to enhance a data and recordkeeping structure in accordance with modern standards.