May 2015 Issue
In This Issue
DOT Pipeline Compliance Workshop – Gas
June 2-4, 2015
June 2-4, 2015
Join us June 2-4, 2015 in Houston at our corporate office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics . This workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191, 192, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations, engineering concepts and pressure test requirements. It is appropriate for people who are new to pipeline regulations, who could use a refresher, or anyone who needs to know the latest developments in these areas. This workshop will address gas pipeline topics only.
Topics to be addressed in the workshop include:
- An overview of DOT/OPS pipeline compliance requirements
- State and Federal agency roles for pipeline safety
- PHMSA Jurisdiction
- PHMSA Inspections and Enforcement Processes
- Engineering Concepts and Stress – Strain Relationships; %SMYS
- Design Requirements
- Construction Requirements
- Corrosion Control Concepts and Requirements
- Operations and Maintenance Requirements
- Emergency Response Requirements
- Damage Prevention Programs
- Operator Qualification Programs
- Drug and Alcohol Programs
- Public Awareness Programs
- Gas Integrity Management Programs
- Control Room Management Programs
We will also discuss the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 (pipeline reauthorization bill), recent Advisory Bulletins from PHMSA, and new, pending and proposed rulemakings.
Each attendee will receive the presentation as well as applicable handouts in a hardcopy notebook, and electronic copies of the applicable regulations and voluminous reference materials including rulemakings, letters of interpretation, and other guidance documents. The workshop will adjourn at 2 p.m. on the third day, for those who need to fly out Thursday evening.
To register for our workshop, click here.
API’s 66th Annual Pipeline Conference
Savannah, GA
API’s 2015 Pipeline Conference and control room forum was held in Savannah, Georgia last week with over 600 members in attendance. The lure of the river boats and mossy trees were not the only attractions bringing this group together. The keynote address was given by Alex Epstein, author of The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, and there was an Executive Roundtable focusing on which issues Pipeline Company Presidents and CEO’s view as the most challenging issues facing our industry as well more than 50 technical sessions featuring topics such as Business, Natural Forces, Safety Culture, Human Resources and a host of other timely subjects.
API Occupational Safety Performance Awards for no OSHA recordable incidents for employees and contractors went to the following companies. In the small operator category, four companies shared that honor:
- CITGO Pipeline Company
- Equistar Chemicals, LP – Equistar Pipelines
- Portland Pipe Line Corporation
- Wolverine Pipe Line Company
- BP Pipelines (North America) Inc. won in the large operator’s category.
The Environmental Performance Award in the small operator category, with each recipient reporting no releases, went to:
- CITGO Pipeline Company
- Equistar Chemicals, LP – Equistar Pipelines
- Portland Pipe Line Corporation
- Alyeska Pipeline Service Company won the award in the large operator category
And last but not least – API awarded its 2014 Distinguished Safety and Environmental Award to:
Equistar Chemicals, LP – Equistar Pipelines
This is API’s highest safety and environmental performance award. Equistar won the Distinguished Award in the small operator category. The award reflects the company’s consistent record of safe and environmentally sound operations.
Congratulations to all!
If you missed this year’s conference, bookmark API’s calendar of events for updates regarding next year’s Pipeline Conference and Cybernetics Symposium April 12 -14, 2016, at La Costa in Carlsbad (San Diego) California. We’ll be there!
Passing of the Baton
Cheryl Trench, President of Allegro Energy Consulting, has analyzed and summarized the data in the Pipeline Performance Tracking System (PPTS) since its inception more than 15 years ago. She has provided keen insights, with great wit, and never refused to speak truth to power concerning performance within the liquid pipeline industry. She gave a presentation at the 2015 API Pipeline Conference concerning the history and accomplishments of PPTS – which are many, and substantial. The liquids pipeline industry owes a debt of gratitude to Cheryl for all her contributions, which was reflected in small part by an award from API and a standing ovation from the audience. I count Cheryl as a dear and personal friend, as do many in the industry, and am humbled that RCP will be taking on the responsibilities for PPTS support in the future. We will be standing on the shoulders of a giant.
And Moving On
Peter Lidiak has been pipeline director for API for 10 years, and has proved to be an effective leader, administrator, and facilitator for numerous initiatives within the pipeline industry, culminating in the pending RP 1173 on Pipeline Safety Management Systems. He has announced his retirement from API effective April 30, but assures us that he intends to continue his contributions in some other capacity in the near future. I, like many of his friends and co-workers, look forward to that opportunity.
Introducing TestOp®
The software that RCP utilizes on-site to validate our customer’s pressure tests is now available to license. The license allows operators to create, plan, simulate, execute and generate comprehensive reports of pressure tests using a web-based platform with optional offline data upload capabilities. Some key features of TestOp® include:
- Useful for any pressure test conducted under
- 49 CFR 192 Subpart J Test Requirements
- Gas transmission
- Gas distribution
- Regulated gas gathering
- 49 CFR 195 Subpart E Pressure Testing
- ASME B31.3 Process Piping, Section 345 Testing
- 49 CFR 192 Subpart J Test Requirements
- All allowable test mediums
- Water
- Nitrogen
- Air
- Natural gas
- Applications
- New construction
- Repairs & replacements
- Uprates
- Conversion of service
- Integrity / MAOP verification
- Grandfathered pipe
- Spike / elevated pressure testing
- Pipeline integrity assessments, including ASME B31.8S, Table 3
Pressure Test Services
RCP is a leading industry expert on pressure testing. We design and validate pressure tests using a proprietary web-based program (TestOp®) that calculates the allowable pressure/temperature change for a particular test segment, confirming or denying the presence of pin-hole leaks while also detecting possible pipe yielding or air entrapment during a spike. RCP also offers Pressure Test Workshops that teach you how to plan for a pressure test from start to finish, and how to determine/prove if the test was successful.
To request a demonstration or obtain more information on RCP’s pressure test services, contact Jessica Foley.
PHMSA Workshop on Pipeline Safety Management Systems
On April 22, PHMSA hosted its third workshop / webcast on the draft API Recommended Practice 1173, Pipeline Safety Management Systems. The Recommended Practice should be issued as final before June 1. Members of the Recommended Practice Committee reviewed the elements of the Recommended Practice and answered questions from the audience (live and online). The questions included:
- Would the Recommended Practice be incorporated by reference into the regulations?
- How will it be used in enforcement?
- What should pipeline companies do now?
Linda Daugherty (PHMSA) replied that PHMSA did not have plans to incorporate the Recommended Practice by reference into the regulations, but that could change in the future. It will not be used for enforcement purposes, but a company’s efforts in developing a PSMS could be a factor in incident investigations and follow up. Representatives from the various pipeline industry organizations briefly described their projects for developing implementation tools and promoting the implementation of the Recommended Practice among their membership.
Summer Conference Schedule
May – August 2015
Have you registered and confirmed your reservations for these upcoming conferences? RCP will be attending. We hope to see you there!
AGA Conference & Biennial Exhibition
May 19 – 22, 2015
Gaylord / Grapevine, TX
The annual AGA Operations Conference is the natural gas industry’s premier gathering of natural gas utility and transmission company operations management from across North America and the world for the sharing of technical knowledge, ideas and practices to promote the safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of natural gas to the end-user. Be sure to mark your calendar and plan to attend Bill Byrd’s presentations on May 20:
- “Thermal Stabilization During Hydrostatic Testing” [Transmission Pipeline Operations Track A7 (10:15 am – 11:00 am)]
- “Monte Carlo Methods for Pipeline Site Risk Assessment” [Distribution Measurement/ Engineering Track B3 (3:50 pm – 4:35 pm)]
TGA O&M Conference
June 7 – 10, 2015
Moody Gardens / Galveston, TX
LGA Pipeline Safety Conference
July 20 – 24, 2015
Royal Sonesta / New Orleans, LA
SGA Operating Conference & Exhibits
July 20 –22, 2015
OMNI Hotels & Resorts / Nashville, TN
Power-Gen Natural Gas
August 18 – 20, 2015
Greater Columbus Convention Center /Columbus, OH
New this year! An annual conference and exhibition targeting gas-fired generation related to the development of natural gas reserves in the Marcellus and Utica shales of the Appalachian Basin.
Western Regional Gas Conference
August 25 & 26, 2015
Tempe Mission Palms / Tempe, AZ
Midwest Energy Association Legal, Regulatory & Government Affairs Summit
Breckenridge, CO
The Midwest Energy Association (MEA) is holding a summit designed specifically for legal and regulatory professionals working with energy delivery companies and will include candid, practical information from those in the know. The summit will be held from September 29 – October 1, 2015 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Breckenridge, CO. Visit the MEA website for more information regarding registration, agenda, and hotel.
Save the Dates!
RCP Workshop Schedule for 2017
- DOT Gas & Liquid Pipeline Workshop: March 21-23 (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday)
- Fundamentals of Pipeline Operations Workshop: May 24-25 (Wednesday & Thursday)
- Pressure Test Workshop: June 20-21 (Tuesday & Wednesday)
Visit our training website for updates, registration, and hotel information.
W. R. (Bill) Byrd, PE
President
RCP Inc.