OPS conducts research to support regulatory and enforcement activity and to provide the technical and analytical foundation necessary for planning, evaluating, and implementing the pipeline safety program.

Research Projects

	Unusually Sensitive Areas (USA) The Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act requires the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) to identify areas that are unusually sensitive to a hazardous liquid pipeline release.
	USA Data Catalog OPS is working with other Federal agencies, environmental groups, academia, resource association, and the pipeline industry to define and identify these unusually sensitive areas (USAs).
	A final report by Battele: In-line inspection technologies for mechanical damage and stress corrosion cracking in pipelines.

Research Papers

OPS Research: Past, Present and Future This paper presents some of the issues and events which have resulted in changes to OPS over the 32 plus years the office has been in existence with an emphasis on changes in research activity.