Professional Documents
Culture Documents
John W. Pepper Project Manager Office of Pipeline Safety Southwest Region, Houston, Texas
Jurisdiction
Gathering, Transmission, and Distribution Pipelines, Part 192 regulations - building and operating regulations
Interstate, crossing State boundaries Intrastate, contained within a States boundaries
Texas, The Texas Railroad Commission The State can adopt more stringent, but not less stringent, safety regulations Texas Has!!!
Urban Right-of-Ways
Right-of-Ways
Condemnations are not under the jurisdiction of the OPS. The OPS does work with affected landowners when concerns arise regarding regulated pipeline activities. Easements are between the landowner and the pipeline company. Some recommendations are:
Negotiate for the best terms Read and understand Adhere to terms
Design
Based on Part 192 regulations (Subparts A, B, C, & D) Pipelines are designed based on the population density existing along each mile of pipeline.
Class 1, 72%, 10 or fewer structures intended for human occupancy (SIHO) (Very rural locations) Class 2, 60%, 11 to 45 SIHO Class 3, 50%, 46 or more SIHO (Urban locations)
Design (Continued)
Pipeline Sizes vary from 2-inches to 48inches. Gathering pipelines are generally from 2 to 10 inches in size. Pipeline Pressures vary from ounces of pressure to more than 1400 pounds per square inch (psig) of pressure.
Design (Continued)
Pipeline Coatings are applied to the pipeline to minimize the potential for corrosion. Cathodic Protection is applied to the entire pipeline system to mitigate against flaws in the coating.
Ongoing for the life of the pipeline Surveys to determine effectiveness
Design (Continued)
In general, pipelines and associated facilities are designed to operate reliably and safely, almost indefinitely, given proper operating and maintenance practices.
Urban Construction
Construction
Based on Part 192 regulations (Subparts E, F, G, & J) Standards
Burial to proper depth, X-Ray welds for defects, Hydrostatically test for defects
Operations
Based on Part 192 regulations (Subparts I, L, M, N, & O) Ongoing surveillance on the ground and often by air Leakage survey frequency is based on population density Corrosion Control Integrity management practices are implemented in all High Consequence Areas on a continual basis.
Identify potential risks such as corrosion or third party damage. Perform hydrostatic tests and make associated repairs. Conduct Inline Investigations and make associated repairs. Implement supplemental preventive and mitigative measures to address ongoing potential risks.
Operations (Continued)
Implement emergency response preparation. Demonstrate operator qualifications to work on and around pipelines. Participate actively in One-Call programs, 811 Call Before You Dig. Always Ongoing Federal and State inspections.
Signage
Conclusions
Pipelines are extremely reliable. Pipelines are inspected during construction and throughout their operational lives. Operators must maintain reliable and thus safe pipelines through prudent practices. Operators must work with emergency providers in order to be ready for emergencies. Operators must provide ongoing education programs for all of the affected public.
Important Links
Office of Pipeline Safety www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline Federal Energy Regulatory Commission www.ferc.gov National Transportation Safety Board www.ntsb.gov Common Ground Alliance www.commongroundalliance.com
Thank You!
John W. Pepper John.pepper@dot.gov Work 713-272-2849