DOT's perspective on in-line inspection

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and its Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) have been involved with in-line inspection (ILI) pigs since the construction of the Alaska crude oil pipeline. Congressionally mandated reports concerning ILI pigs, and a regulation requiring new and replaced pipe and components be designed and constructed to accommodate ILI pigs, were issued by DOT. DOT also may mandate ILI pigs to be run on some pipelines. There is no current federal requirement to run ILI pigs. They are required by OPS in selected compliance cases. DOT supports future ILI pig research. The use of ILS pig surveys, incorporated in pipeline operators' future risk management plans developed as safety alternatives to the established pipeline safety regulations, will be supported.