November 2009 Issue
In This Issue
- ANPRM on PHMSA Enforcement of Damage Prevention Laws
- Compliance Management System
- PHMSA Updates FAQ’s for Alternative MAOP Regulations
- PHMSA Adds New Liquid IMP FAQ #12.13
- PHMSA Advisory Committee Meeting – Advance notice
- Standard Operating Procedure Updates
- New Jersey Pipeline Regulations – Misc. Revisions
- Florida Pipeline Safety Regulations – Misc. Proposed Revisions
- Joint Workshop on New Spill Reporting Forms for the Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Industry
- ASME Conference
- Pipeline Regulations for iPhone
ANPRM on PHMSA Enforcement of Damage Prevention Laws
[Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0192]
PHMSA
has published an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to initiate a
rulemaking procedure to establish criteria for determining adequate state
enforcement of pipeline damage prevention laws. Under the Pipeline Inspection,
Protection, Safety, and Enforcement (PIPES) Act of 2006, establishment of these
criteria is a prerequisite should PHMSA find it necessary to conduct an
enforcement proceeding against an excavator for violation of one-call damage
prevention laws in the absence of enforcement action by the state where the
events occurred.
The ANPRM solicits feedback and comments regarding the criteria and procedures
PHMSA should use to determine if a state’s enforcement of its damage prevention
laws is adequate. These procedures will encourage states to develop effective
excavation damage prevention enforcement programs to protect gas and hazardous
liquid pipelines, but also allow federal enforcement authority should any state
fail to do so.
Persons interested in submitting written comments on this ANPRM must do so by
December 14, 2009 to http://www.regulations.gov and reference
Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0192. PHMSA will consider late filed comments so far as
practicable.
Compliance Management System
We’ve developed and successfully implemented an extremely powerful, affordable and simple-to-use web-based application that will streamline how you manage compliance activities and associated data. Some of the features of this application include:
- Web-based subscription with no “black-box” technology or license agreement hassles to work through
- GIS data interface is easily configured, allowing for reporting of data for web portal viewing and configured to import/export to any end-user GIS data model – very very cool
- Works well with web-enabled handheld devices or laptops allowing for data to be entered directly to the application without the need for hard copy inspection forms ever again
- Customized reporting and extremely powerful data query functionality
- E-mail reminders and compliance status reports for any task, activity, work order, qualification/training
- Document storage and linkage for any document or file, including procedures, inspection forms, maps, and images
- Multiple security and user privilege settings available
Existing applications either successfully implemented or under development include:
- Pipeline compliance management (O&M, OQ, IMP, reporting, etc.)
- Leak management (surveys, leak life cycle management, leak repair and closure, TX PS-95 reporting)
- Third party damage data (unauthorized encroachment, damage incident management, TX Chapter 18 reporting)
- Environmental, health and safety (inspections, permits, training)
- DIMP (system knowledge, threat ID, risk analysis, performance measurement, reporting, P&M measures, A/A actions)
- Management of Change
- Customer data management
- Measurement
To request a demonstration or to learn more about this, please contact Jessica Roger.
PHMSA Updates FAQ’s for Alternative MAOP Regulations
PHMSA
has posted several updates to the list of frequently asked questions concerning
the Alternative MAOP regulations found under 49 CFR 192.620. The latest
revisions are posted below. To download a complete list of these FAQ’s, go to
the following website: http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/maop/docsf/faqs.pdf.
1. What is the alternative MAOP Rule?
The alternate MAOP Rule was promulgated by PHMSA to allow certain gas
transmission pipelines to operate at higher pressures and pipeline stress
levels than regulations previously allowed when designed and operated with more
rigorous safety standards. By allowing pipelines to operate at higher pressures
and stress levels, greater efficiencies and gas product throughput can be
achieved (73 FR 62148).
Revised: 9/11/09
11. How will PHMSA handle Special Permit requests to allow pipeline
operation at higher stress levels that were submitted prior to the issuance of
the alternative MAOP Rule?
Formerly pipeline operators were allowed to submit Special Permit requests to
PHMSA to request approval to operate at pressures greater than allowed by the
former regulations. Operators of those pipelines must comply with the final
rule in order to operate their pipelines at a higher alternative MAOP. PHMSA
will examine special permits that have already been granted, as appropriate, to
determine if any modifications are needed.
Revised: 9/11/09
16. Can existing pipelines that have experienced a failure indicative of
materials concerns qualify for the use of a higher alternative MAOP?
49 CFR 192.620 (b) provides for the performance of a root cause analysis to
determine if a failure is indicative of a systemic problem and precludes use of
a higher alternative MAOP only if a failure is determined to be systematic in
nature. Results of the analysis must be reported to regulators (PHMSA Regional
Office or applicable state regulatory authorities).
Revised: 9/11/09
20. How is overpressure protection addressed when operation is at a higher
alternative MAOP?
The alternative MAOP is higher than the upper limit of the required overpressure
protection under previous regulations. 49 CFR 192.620(e) increases the
overpressure protection limit to 104 percent of the MAOP, which is 83.2 percent
of SMYS for a pipeline segment operating at the alternative MAOP in a Class 1
location.
Revised: 9/11/09
23. Why include conditions on plate or coil quality when operating at a
higher alternative MAOP?
All steel pipe is made from either plates or coils. If these steel plates or
coils are of superior quality, then the pipe will also be of superior quality.
Assuring quality requires that the mill that made the plate or coil had an
inspection and quality control program to limit variation and to improve the
quality of its final product – the plate and/or coil. The condition simply
requires that operators verify that such a program was in place at the mill.
Revised: 9/11/09
24. Why are mill test reports required for the Alternate MAOP rule?
The alternate MAOP rule allows operators to establish MAOPs higher than
previously allowed by 49 CFR Part 192. One of the requirements is to have mill
test reports (mechanical and chemical properties) on the steel that went into
the pipe that will operate under the higher stress levels allowed by the
alternate MAOP rule. This requirement was included because PHMSA needs assurance
that the pipe operating at higher stress levels does not to pose a risk to the
integrity of the pipeline. To provide this assurance, an operator must have
documented proof of the actual yield strength, tensile strength, and chemistry
properties of the steel used in the pipe.
Revised: 9/11/09
26. Does the recent advisory bulletin ADB-09-01 (Docket No. PHMSA-2009-0148
– “Potential Low and Variable Yield and Tensile Strength and Chemical
Composition Properties in High Strength Line Pipe”) affect pipelines that
are planned to operate in accordance with the MAOP Rule?
The advisory bulletin informs pipeline system owners and operators of the
potential for high strength line pipe installed in recent pipelines may exhibit
inconsistent chemical and mechanical properties. Yield strength and tensile
strength properties that do not meet the line pipe specification minimums have
been observed. This advisory bulletin pertains to microalloyed high strength
line pipe grades, generally Grade X-70 and above. PHMSA has reviewed
metallurgical testing results from several recent projects indicating pipe
joints produced from plate or coil from the same heat may exhibit variable
chemical and mechanical properties by as much as 15% lower than the reported
strength values by the pipe manufacturer. The advisory bulletin can be obtained
online here.
PHMSA expects operators of pipelines under the alternate MAOP to perform
in-Line Inspections (ILI) that will identify (remove) all threats to the
pipeline. The operator should plan to use a high resolution deformation tool in
lieu of a geometry tool to address the threat described in the Advisory
Bulletin. The deformation tool must include multi-finger sensors and have an
accuracy of +/- 1% to identify expanded pipe and dents.
The results of the initial ILI must be integrated with the initial CIS and
DCVG/ACVG surveys required in accordance with §192.620(d). The operator should
evaluate and repair all anomalies, expanded pipe and dents in accordance with
the MAOP Rule prior to increasing the pressure above the 72% SMYS MAOP to the
alternative MAOP of 80% SMYS for Class 1 locations.
The results of all deformation and geometry tool run results for expanded pipe
and dents should be analyzed and submitted to the PHMSA Regional Director. All
pipe exhibiting an indicated diameter greater than 1.00 % (based upon pipe
diameter) above the nominal pipe diameter should be noted on the report of
potential deformations.
The operator should review with PHMSA Regional Director, the deformation and/or
geometry tool reports. This analysis will consider pipe properties and property
distributions, hydrostatic test pressures and reported test behavior, and pipe
end to center variations. Based on local pressure and expected behavior, any
expansion exceeding anticipated expansion by more than 1.50% may be
investigated by excavation to determine actual expansion and, if necessary, to
verify pipeline special permit segments yield and ultimate tensile strengths,
elongation and chemistry. This guideline may be modified by PHMSA if initial
verification reviews by PHMSA Regional Director show negligible integrity risk.
Revised: 9/11/09
PHMSA Adds New Liquid IMP FAQ #12.13
12.13
Are Safety-Related Condition Reports required to be filed when an operator
implements a pressure reduction for an immediate repair per §195.452(h)(4)(i)?
The requirements for safety-related condition reports are distinct from those
for integrity management. Where the provisions of §195.55 require a report,
such report must be made independent of any requirements in the integrity
management rule.
Last Revision: 10/15/09
PHMSA Advisory Committee Meeting – Advance notice
We have received notice that PHMSA plans to hold a joint session of the hazardous liquid and natural gas technical pipeline safety advisory committee members from noon December 9 until noon December 10. The advisory committee members will vote on the proposed rules “Updates to Pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas Reporting (the One Rule)” and “Pipeline Safety: Periodic Updates of Regulatory References to Technical Standards and Miscellaneous Edits”. The meeting will be held in the Washington DC area, but is not listed yet on PHMSA’s website.
Standard Operating Procedure Updates
RCP has developed standard operating procedures for hundreds of pipeline operators ranging from gas transmission, hazardous liquids, gas distribution, reservoir and salt dome gas storage facilities, oil terminals, regulated onshore gathering and offshore oil & gas facilities. Our procedure development process goes well beyond the typical cookie-cutter generic templates that you can buy off the shelf. We have a strong track record with successful PHMSA and state inspection performance. Our procedure development process integrates with the daily operating processes that your personnel and contractors currently follow. When complete, you will have a comprehensive set of procedures that are easy to manage and comply with federal and state regulatory requirements. For more information, contact Jessica Roger.
New Jersey Pipeline Regulations – Misc. Revisions
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has made numerous changes to their natural gas pipeline safety regulations, as of October 19, 2009. These regulations can be found in Chapter 7 of Title 14 of the New Jersey State regulations. The revisions include changes to pipeline siting, construction supervision, directional drilling, pressure testing, burial, backfilling, leak detection, and valve spacing requirements, as well as responding to Notices of Probable Violations.
Florida Pipeline Safety Regulations – Misc. Proposed Revisions
The Florida Public Service Commission is proposing to make several minor changes and updates to their pipeline safety regulations. The proposed changes include adopting more recent federal pipeline safety regulations, incorporating a newer welding standard, and increasing the dollar amount for reporting accidents to the Commission. Various minor changes include adding clarifying language, deleting references to a repealed rule, correcting an address, changing a date, updating a form number and reducing the number of copies filed for a required report, and eliminating an unneeded report. For additional information, contact Kathryn Cowdery, Office of General Counsel, 2540 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0850, (850) 413-6216, kcowdery@psc.state.fl.us.
Joint Workshop on New Spill Reporting Forms for the Hazardous Liquids Pipeline Industry
Both
the industry’s Pipeline Performance Tracking System (PPTS) reporting forms and
the PHMSA 7000-1 have undergone significant changes. There is new reporting in
the areas of integrity and control room management in the 7000-1, as well as
enhanced reporting for some failures, and expanded cause detail. This forum
will provide a one-stop shop for explanations and answers for these new
reporting requirements. Everyone who will be providing input for their
company’s reporting — from control room supervisors to integrity specialists
to compliance specialists and data entry personnel — should attend. You will
hear from those who know it best: PHMSA personnel and the industry’s team that
manages PPTS.
The workshop will be held December 2-3 at the Hilton Westchase Hotel in
Houston, Texas. There is a modest registration fee. For more information, go to
http://new.api.org/meetings/calendar/ppts.cfm
or contact Cheryl Trench, Allegro Energy Consulting at ctrench@rcn.com.
To register on-line please click here. You do not have to be a
participant in PPTS to attend.
ASME Conference
November 18, 2009
Attend the International Mechanical Engineering Conference and Exhibition for the Safety Engineering, Risk Analysis and Reliability Methods (SERAD) presentations track, co-chaired by our president Bill Byrd, on November 18, 2009. At the conference, you will get unique insights into engineering’s cutting-edge research and development and how it will determine the evolution of technology worldwide. You will also discover trend setting innovations and tools being showcased by industry leading companies. The conference will be held at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Hotel in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Click here for more information on the conference.
Pipeline Regulations for iPhone
At
our request, Tekk Innovations has developed an iPhone application containing
the federal pipeline safety regulations (49 CFR 40, and 190-199). It has
keyword search and the capability to e-mail excerpts of the regulations to
others. The app can be found in the iTunes store by searching for
“pipeline regulations” or by clicking here. The cost is $9.99.
Tekk Innovations has also developed apps for all the other CFRs, including all
of 49 CFR for those who want all the transportation regulations, not just the
pipeline ones.
Editor’s Note: I like the app with just the pipeline parts of 49 CFR, since I
can search the pipeline regulations easier that way without getting hits from
the other transportation regulations.
W. R. (Bill) Byrd, PE
President
RCP Inc.