The industry trade associations filed joint comments to the “congressional mandates” rulemaking to amend the federal safety regulations applicable to gas transmission and gathering pipelines. (See related article in the April 2018 Edition of the DOT Pipeline Compliance Newsletter.) Their comments and the GPAC Slide Presentation on the Gas Rule are posted on the regulations.gov website.

PHMSA plans to break-up the mega-rule into three smaller rulemakings. This first rulemaking is associated with the 2011 congressional mandates, including: MAOP reconfirmation, pipeline integrity for non-HCA's and O&M. Most believe it will be published in the federal register as a final rule before the end of the year.

The second rulemaking will deal with the remaining mega-rule proposals, minus gas gathering. And, the third rulemaking will deal with new regulations applicable to gas gathering pipelines. These rulemakings are expected sometime in 2019.

RCP has been closely following this rulemaking since its inception and published a Special Edition Newsletter devoted entirely to this mega-rule.

Join RCP on June 5-7, 2018 in Houston at our corporate office and dedicated training facility for an informative, lively, and interactive workshop on DOT Pipeline Compliance topics. The workshop provides an overview of the DOT pipeline regulations in 49 CFR 191, 192, 194, 195, 196, and 199. It also describes pipeline operations and engineering concepts. 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 be a combined format, addressing both gas and liquid pipeline topics in parallel. This will eliminate some redundancy of materials, and will allow more time for in-depth discussions for each topic.

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 (including spill response planning requirements for liquid pipelines)
• Damage Prevention Programs
• Operator Qualification Programs
• Drug and Alcohol Programs
• Public Awareness Programs
• Integrity Management (gas and liquid) Programs
• Control Room Management Programs

We will also discuss the PIPES Act of 2016; 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.

PHMSA has announced a public meeting of the Voluntary Information-sharing System (VIS) Working Group on June 20, 2018, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET at a location yet to be determined in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area. The VIS Working Group will convene to discuss and identify recommendations to establish a voluntary information-sharing system. The VIS Working Group agenda will include briefings on topics such as mandate requirements, integrity management, data types and tools, in-line inspection repair and other direct assessment methods, geographic information system implementation, subcommittee considerations, lessons learned, examples of existing information-sharing systems, safety management systems, and more. As part of its work, the committee will ultimately provide recommendations to the Secretary, as required and specifically outlined in Section 10 of Public Law 114-183, addressing:

1. The need for, and the identification of, a system to ensure that dig verification data are shared with in-line inspection operators to the extent consistent with the need to maintain proprietary and security-sensitive data in a confidential manner to improve pipeline safety and inspection technology;
2. Ways to encourage the exchange of pipeline inspection information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
3. Opportunities to share data, including dig verification data between operators of pipeline facilities and in-line inspector vendors to expand knowledge of the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of in-line inspection technology and methodologies;
4. Options to create a secure system that protects proprietary data while encouraging the exchange of pipeline inspection information and the development of advanced pipeline inspection technologies and enhanced risk analysis;
5. Means and best practices for the protection of safety and security-sensitive information and proprietary information; and
6. Regulatory, funding, and legal barriers to sharing the information described in paragraphs (a) through (d).

The Secretary will publish the VIS Working Group's recommendations on a publicly available DOT website and in the docket. The VIS Working Group will fulfill its purpose once its recommendations are published online.

Additional information can be found on PHMSA's meeting website.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released an updated version of its “Pipeline Security Guidelines” which outlines the measures that should be taken to protect pipeline cyber assets. These Guidelines had not been updated since 2011. TSA has oversight over more than 2.6 million miles of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. While the Guidelines are not mandatory, the threat of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure sectors, including the energy sector, has increased in volume, sophistication, and magnitude over the last seven years. The updated Guidelines can be found on the TSA website.

Check out the updated website and resources for Pipeline Safety Management System development, implementation, and evaluation at www.pipelinesms.org. This refreshed website includes the recently released tool and associated guidance document for Pipeline SMS evaluation. Come back often for news and updates about Pipeline SMS events and resources.

The Kentucky Public Service Commission has proposed amendments to KRS Chapter 278, 49 CFR 192 changing the engineering specifications of piping to conform with current industry standards. For a copy of the proposed changes, contact Jessica Foley.

AGA OPS CONFERENCE & SPRING COMMITTEE MEETINGS
June 25-29, 2018
OMNI Shoreham Hotel, Washington, DC

The annual AGA Operations Conference (June 26-29) is the American natural gas industry’s premier gathering of natural gas utility and transmission company operations professionals that share technical knowledge, ideas, and best practices to promote the safe, reliable, and cost-effective delivery of natural gas to the end-user. AGA’s Operations Section Technical Committees and Spring Committee Meetings will meet in conjunction with the Operations Conference, June 25-26.

Note: AGA attendees will receive complimentary transportation and an exhibit pass to the World Gas Conference Exhibits on Thursday, June 28th.

WORLD GAS CONFERENCE
June 25-29, 2018
Walter E. Washington Convention Centre, Washington, DC
RCP Exhibit Space #2207

The World Gas Conference (WGC) is the most important gas industry gathering in the world. The triennial event has over 600 speakers consisting of the industry’s most influential leaders and policy-makers, including US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, and CEOs from companies such as Chevron, ExxonMobil, Qatar Petroleum, Gazprom, BP, Total, ConocoPhillips and Shell.

TGA OPERATIONS & MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE
June 11-13, 2018
Wyndham Riverwalk
San Antonio, Texas

2018 APGA Annual Conference
July 22-25, 2018
Hilton Portland Downtown
Portland, OR

The American Public Gas Association (APGA) Annual Conference is the largest gathering of municipal natural gas professionals across the nation. From the educational sessions with key industry figures generating new ideas to networking opportunities with hundreds of colleagues from across the nation, the APGA Annual Conference is the event of the year for city- and community-owned natural gas utility professionals and industry experts.

SGA OPERATING CONFERENCE & EXHIBITS
July 30-August 1, 2018
Tampa Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina
Tampa, Florida

The SGA Operating Conference format is a focused round table discussion. Attendees learn smart practices and lessons learned from their peers with 22 concurrent facilitated sessions to choose from. Breakout sessions with presentations from subject matter experts open the conference following the keynote address. Make plans to visit the exhibit hall, which will include over 100 services and product service organizations showcasing the latest products and services available to the industry.

LGA PIPELINE SAFETY CONFERENCE
July 30-August 3, 2018
Astor Crowne Plaza, New Orleans

RCP is once again a proud sponsor and exhibitor at this year's conference, which has been referred to as the "Premier Pipeline Safety Conference." We are excited to showcase our newest developments and all our services for Pressure Test support.

WESTERN REGIONAL GAS CONFERENCE
August 28-29, 2018
(Note: Updated conference dates!)
M Resort in Henderson, Nevada

The Western Regional Gas Conference provides a forum for the free exchange of information between natural gas companies and their state and federal regulators, and with associated industry organizations, consultants, manufacturers and vendors that serve the pipeline industry.

2018 RRC PIPELINE SAFETY TRAINING SEMINAR
August 22-24, 2018
AT&T Conference Center, Austin, TX

Note: The Texas Gas Association (TGA) is not coordinating this meeting this year. Contact the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) via their website for additional information.

PIPELINE SAFETY TRUST ANNUAL CONFERENCE
October 18-19, 2018
Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans

Each year since 2006, the Pipeline Safety Trust has hosted pipeline safety conferences. What makes them unique among pipeline conferences is the mix of attendees, who come with experience as the affected public, the pipeline industry, and government regulators. All these people come together to discuss barriers to safer pipelines.

2018 APGA Operations Conference
October 30-November 1, 2018
The Chattanoogan Hotel
Chattanooga, TN

RCP will be hosting webinar presentations to discuss pipeline pressure testing practices and demonstrate the advantages of utilizing new technology for planning, designing, and capturing real-time data to validate and document whether it was a successful test. The same technology that RCP has used for the past six years to validate our customer's pressure tests has been greatly enhanced and is now being made available as a web-hosted solution for operators to use themselves.

TestOp® takes the confusion out of pressure testing by providing real-time determination of whether the test segment is experiencing potential issues, such as yielding or air entrapment volume absorption, all while modeling the mass balance relationship of pressures, volumes and temperatures of the test. TestOp will provide real-time indicators and corresponding data to confirm whether the test is successfully performing to plan or if there might be a small pin-hole leak that would otherwise go undetected before taking the line segment off test. TestOp generates comprehensive and consistent reports, including a certification letter, pressure test plan versus actual test results, pressure/spike test log, test instrument and pump calibrations, pipe volume calculations sheet, stress/strain and pressure/volume plots as well as upload capability for pictures and other document scans associated with the test.

We encourage any liquid or gas pipeline operator who has upcoming projects that involve replacement, integrity verification, new construction, uprates, conversions and/or reversals to sign up for the 45 minute webinar. Some of the largest and most respected pipeline operators are now using TestOp because they see the value it brings to their overall pipeline integrity assurance program and we are confident you will too once you have seen it in person.

Mark your calendar and plan to attend one of these sessions or request an individual demonstration for your company at a date convenient to you.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss our services with you.

Sincerely,


W. R. (Bill) Byrd, PE
President
RCP Inc.

Explore our services