Failure analysis expert system for onshore pipelines. Part-II: End-User interface and algorithm

In order to develop a Failure Analysis Expert System (FAES), with application for onshore pipeline transporting oil and gas products, the work was split in two parts. Previously failure database and knowledge acquisition method were described in the first part whereas the present, part II, the End-User interface and Algorithm are explained in detail.The proposed Failure Analysis Expert System (FAES) identifies the possible failure mechanism of onshore pipelines considering specific variables, and defining specific tests to validate the potential failure mode. The expert system training has been achieved by including variables from a structured onshore pipelines failures database. FAES showed good correlation compared to documented failure cases reported in service.