Pipeline Safety TrustFort Worth Natural Gas Production Issues

John W. PepperProject Manager

Office of Pipeline SafetySouthwest Region, Houston, Texas

Relevant Pipeline Safety Issues

• Jurisdiction• Right-of-Ways• Design• Construction• Operations• Public Awareness – Damage Prevention• Potential Supplemental Actions• Conclusions

Jurisdiction

• Gathering, Transmission, and Distribution Pipelines, Part 192 regulations - building and operating regulations– Interstate, crossing State boundaries– Intrastate, contained within a State’s

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 48-inches.

• 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.

Pipeline Coating and Cathodic Protection

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

• Operator specifications and inspections– Coatings– Welds– Burial free of damaging rock

• Always – Federal and state inspections during construction

Operations Leakage Surveys and Signage

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.

Public Awareness – Damage Prevention

Call Before You Dig

Public Awareness – Damage Prevention

• Based on Part 192 regulations• Written Continuous public education program targeted

for:– General public– Local government agencies– Excavation community

• Education must relate to:– Use of One-Call– Hazards from unintended gas releases– Identifying leaks or problems

• Always – Ongoing Federal and State inspections.

Potential Supplemental Actions

• Enhanced signage requirements – more signage possibly per state regulations

• Excavator education – all excavators educated for damage prevention purposes

• Noise control – ordinances associated with allowable noise limits

• Enhanced public awareness communications• Others???

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