Aiming　at　the　operation　safety　of　city　gas　polyethylene　pipeline,　this　paper　proposes　a　semi-quantitative　risk　evaluation　technique　to　determine　the　possibility　of　risk　failure　and　severity　of　consequence　of　PE　gas　pipeline.　According　to　the　basic　procedure　of　semi-quantitative　risk　assessment,　the　failure　probability　and　failure　consequence　of　buried　pipeline　are　analysed,　and　the　safety　risk　level　of　each　location　of　pipeline　is　evaluated　comprehensively.　The　application　of　semi-quantitative　risk　assessment　technology　to　gas　polyethylene　pipeline　in　a　city　in　China　shows　that　this　technology　can　realize　scientific　management　of　pipeline　according　to　risk　level　and　further　reduce　the　possibility　of　failure,　so　as　to　ensure　safe,　economical　and　reasonable　operation　of　pipeline.　©　2020　IEEE.