May 2017, Vol. 244, No. 5
Features
Establishment of an MAOP Validation Program
The federal regulatory code governing natural gas pipeline design, operations and maintenance came into effect in about 1970 (some U.S. states had regulatory codes governing these activities in effect prior to 1970). I say “about” because, as with any regulatory codes, it takes time for operators to progress activities to be in compliance with regulations. However, the intent of the code fulfills a government objective – impose regulations on industry to ensure the protection of the people and their property.
Regulation on businesses is in place to protect the people from fraud and misrepresentation. In our case, as natural gas system operators, the code is imposed to make sure pipelines do not go bump in the night (or in the day).
Initially, the regulations did not tell operators how to perform the activities, but instead what the results of the activities ought to be. The rules were not prescriptive. Flexibility and creativity were given to the operators on how they would comply with the rules.
Today, as the natural gas industry is getting ready to receive the new rules, we see that the tone has changed. Some of the proposed new rules are prescriptive, very much telling operators how to do things. This is not necessarily bad, and it can be argued that the accountability for compliance effectiveness has now moved a little to the regulating body. If the prescriptions work, that’s great. If they don’t, there is now an opening for finger-pointing.
Installations and Records
One can argue pipelines are designed, constructed, operated and maintained by very competent and ethical people. In addition, guidelines had been available for the performance of these activities long before 1970. Therefore, it can be assumed that this caliber of individuals would use these guidelines and exceed them because that’s what they do. In most cases, through the cycle of conceiving a pipeline and maintaining it, activities are performed very well, if not excellently. However, there are still incidents due to a myriad of reasons.
The San Bruno incident in 2010 was an awakening for many pipeline operators. The irony is that many incidents of this magnitude and with devastating human impact had occurred before this date and incidents continue to occur today.
Graphic by PHMSA
Operators have gained invaluable insight from the San Bruno tragedy. One of the enlightenments was the recognition of the degradation of records management and asset knowledge in the industry through the years. Many operators discovered that office consolidations, company mergers and acquisitions had created a problem in the lack of availability of comprehensive records.
In addition, the creation of geospatial information systems (GIS) led many to believe that these systems, which were often created from secondary records, served as the version of the truth in asset knowledge. In reality, unless a GIS was created through the utilization of source records, and is feature-based, the information is suspect.
NPRM Improvement
In an effort to improve pipeline safety, PHMSA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that has many proposed modifications to 49CFR, Part 192. In addition, there are two new sections that will have a significant impact to operators.
- 192.607 Verification of Pipeline Material
- 192.624 Maximum allowable operating pressure verification
Once codified, these sections will require operators to know the material composition of their assets and their qualifications for service. In addition, they will require a systemic approach to verifying a pipeline’s MAOP. In a perfect world, excellent records traceability from design, material ordering, construction, and testing will allow for the most efficient manner of compliance with these sections. However, this is not realistic and most operators will have to perform a significant amount of work to achieve compliance.
The performance of the work described in these new sections of code is not exactly new to the industry. What is new is – how do you get a good understanding of your assets and prioritize the necessary work in an efficient production-line manner?
Gaining Asset Knowledge
Before setting up a production line for performing MAOP validation, you must be honest and recognize that you are going to find issues. These issues will require direct examinations of pipeline assets, immediate replacements of inferior assets, and pressure reductions until longer-term mitigations can be accomplished. As a result, here are some critical responsive processes that you must establish:
- Issues resolution – Identifying, categorizing, prioritizing and mitigating issues as they are discovered.
- System reviews and pressure reductions – Hydraulic analysis to reduce system pressure or alter systems will be required on an as-needed basis. It will also be critical to keep track of the pressure reductions so that systems can be returned to the necessary state after mitigations are complete.
- Direct examinations – This activity is not new, but the volume will significantly increase as you find out what you don’t know, but you need to know … now.
- Emergency material – Throughout this program you will utilize a greater amount of emergency material. This is a good opportunity to review your current stock and update required material types and inventory. Don’t forget about pressure control fittings.
- Pipeline features list (PFL) data use – What are you going to do with the data once MAOP calculations have been performed? Are you going to use this data to update GIS tables? Access the PFL data via GIS? Make these decisions early on so that your program can have an end in mind and minimize costly changes.
Once you establish how you are going to deal with what can go wrong, you can focus on the development of your MAOP Validation production line. Here are some of the critical elements of your production line:
- Process development – Clear and repeatable processes, procedures and checklists are needed for: 1) records review, 2) pipeline features lists build, 3) proxy specifications utilization, 4) quality control, 5) quality assurance.
- Records management – Records typing, attribution, storage and accessibility. These records will be used throughout the life of the pipeline, not just for this program.
- Personnel training – It is important that some individuals know the big picture intimately and it is critical that production individuals know their specific activities to an expert level. Training provides consistency of method.
- PFL storage – Your storage solution will be dependent on how you have decided that you are going to use this data. Remember, you started this program with the end in mind.
Advanced Tactics
Organization Engagement and Commitment – The entire organization must be engaged and committed to this effort. If the entire organization is not on the same page, you will have inconsistencies such as the integrity management group using assumption values for their work and MAOP validation using different values for their effort. These types of inconsistencies are difficult to rationalize to your regulator.
Regulator Involvement – A final, but critical, bit of advice is to work with your regulator throughout the development of your program. Bring them in. Make them be a part of the solution, not an adversary. Don’t keep them in the dark! And, if you have a marginal or non-existent relationship with your regulator, now is the time to build that critical relationship.
Author: Joe Medina joined GTS in 2014 after over 30 years working for a gas and electric utility in California. Medina has a background in engineering, maintenance, construction and operations, as well as development of MAOP validation processes. He is has a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Davis and an MBA from St. Mary’s College in Moraga, CA.
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