ISO standard pipeline transportation systems: Reliability-based limit state methods

The purpose of this paper is to give the rationale for the development of an ISO standard on "Reliability-based limit state methods" for application to pipeline transportation systems. This standard is complementary to the traditional pipeline design standard under development by ISO, "Petroleum and Natural Gas Industries Pipeline Transportation Systems", DIS 13623. The development of a new international standard dealing with reliability-based methods is outlined, followed by a discussion of the various limit state design concepts of relevance, which basically would cover both the so-called "deterministic method" and the "probabilistic method". The main objective and the basic safety philosophy as will be implemented in this ISO standard are given. The standard as described is applicable to both offshore and onshore pipeline systems.