Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Large Diameter Rural Gas Gathering Lines

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1182 FIRST EDITION, MARCH 2020

Special Notes

API publications necessarily address problems of a general nature. With respect to particular circumstances, local, state, and federal laws and regulations should be reviewed.

Neither API nor any of API’s employees, subcontractors, consultants, committees, or other assignees make any warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the information contained herein, or assume any liability or responsibility for any use, or the results of such use, of any information or process disclosed in this publication. Neither API nor any of API’s employees, subcontractors, consultants, or other assignees represent that use of this publication would not infringe upon privately owned rights.

API publications may be used by anyone desiring to do so. Every effort has been made by the Institute to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the data contained in them; however, the Institute makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this publication and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use or for the violation of any authorities having jurisdiction with which this publication may conflict.

API publications are published to facilitate the broad availability of proven, sound engineering and operating practices. These publications are not intended to obviate the need for applying sound engineering judgment regarding when and where these publications should be utilized. The formulation and publication of API publications is not intended in any way to inhibit anyone from using any other practices.

Any manufacturer marking equipment or materials in conformance with the marking requirements of an API standard is solely responsible for complying with all the applicable requirements of that standard. API does not represent, warrant, or guarantee that such products do in fact conform to the applicable API standard.

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced, translated, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission from the publisher. Contact the Publisher, API Publishing Services, 200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20001-5571.

Copyright © 2020 American Petroleum Institute

ii

Foreword

Nothing contained in any API publication is to be construed as granting any right, by implication or otherwise, for the manufacture, sale, or use of any method, apparatus, or product covered by letters patent. Neither should anything contained in the publication be construed as insuring anyone against liability for infringement of letters patent.

The verbal forms used to express the provisions in this specification are as follows:

• the term “shall” denotes a minimum requirement to conform to the standard;

  
  

• the term “should” denotes a recommendation or that which is advised but not required to conform to the standard;

  
  

• the term “may” is used to express permission or a provision that is optional;

  
  

• the term “can” is used to express possibility or capability.

ThisdocumentwasproducedunderAPIstandardizationproceduresthatensureappropriatenotificationandparticipation in the developmental process and is designated as an API standard. Questions concerning the interpretation of the content of this publication or comments and questions concerning the procedures under which this publication was developed should be directed in writing to the Director of Standards, American Petroleum Institute, 200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20001. Requests for permission to reproduce or translate all or any part of the material published herein should also be addressed to the director.

Generally, API standards are reviewed and revised, reaffirmed, or withdrawn at least every five years. A one-time extension of up to two years may be added to this review cycle. Status of the publication can be ascertained from the API Standards Department, telephone (202) 682-8000. A catalog of API publications and materials is published annually by API, 200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20001.

Suggested revisions are invited and should be submitted to the Standards Department, API, 200 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20001, standards@api.org.

Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

   1. General 1

   2. Applicability 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations 1

   1. Terms and Definitions 1

4. Risk Categorization 3

   1. General 3

   2. Type C and Type D Gathering Line Attributes 3

   3. Potential Impact Radius 4

   4. Class Location Unit Alternative to PIR 5

   5. Risk Categorization Workflow 5

5. Design, Construction, and Testing for New Gathering Pipelines 6

   1. General 6

   2. Design, Construction, and Testing for Type C Gathering Line Systems 6

   3. Design, Construction, and Testing for Type D Gathering Line Systems 6

6. Corrosion Control on New and Existing Type C Gathering Lines 8

   1. General 8

   2. Implementation 8

   3. External Corrosion Control for Buried or Submerged Pipelines 8

   4. Internal Corrosion Control 9

   5. Atmospheric Corrosion Control 9

   6. Determining the Remaining Strength of Pipe 9

   7. Corrosion Control Records 10

7. Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 10

   1. General 10

1. Uprating 10

2. MAOP Maintenance 11

1. Operations and Maintenance for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   1. General 11

   2. Damage Prevention Programs for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   3. Line Markers for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   4. Emergency Response for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   5. Repair for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   6. Patrolling of Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   7. Security for Type C and Type D Gathering Lines 11

   8. Public Awareness for Type C Gathering Lines 11

   9. Leak Surveys and Mitigation for Type C Gathering Lines 12

2. Conversion to Service 13

   1. Conversion 13

3. Change of Service 13

   Contents

   Page

4. Acquisitions 13

Annex A (informative) Applications 14

Bibliography 16

Figures

1 Risk Categorization Workflow 6

Tables

1 Type C and Type D Gathering Line Attributes 3

A.1 Applications 14

Introduction

This recommended practice is intended to address the emergence of larger diameter, higher pressure gas gathering lines in shale plays.

The provisions in this recommended practice are intended to work together and should not be considered in isolation. The provisions for the design, construction, testing, operation, and maintenance of rural gas gathering lines are not necessarily appropriate under different definitions.

Background

In August 2011, The Department of Transportation (DOT) published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) asking for public comment on the need to change the federal pipeline safety standards for gas gathering lines in 49 C.F.R. Part 192. (Docket No. PHMSA-2011–0023; 76 Fed. Reg. 53,086). If a pipeline is an onshore gas gathering line, DOT’s regulations require operators to determine if the pipeline meets the definition of a “regulated onshore gas gathering line”. Under the March 2006 final rule, regulated onshore gas gathering lines are limited to pipelines in more populated, class 2, 3, or 4 locations. Onshore gas gathering lines in less populated, class 1 locations are exempt from regulatory requirements.

In April 2016, DOT issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) with potential changes to the regulations for onshore gas gathering lines (Docket No. PHMSA-2011–0023; 81 Fed. Reg. 20,721). The proposed changes included new definitions for onshore production and gathering operations and new safety standards for certain gas gathering lines in class 1 locations. After submitting comments in response to the NPRM, the American Petroleum Institute (API) formed a working group to consider whether to develop a new recommended practice for the safe operation of large diameter onshore gas gathering lines in rural areas.

Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Large Diameter Rural Gas Gathering Lines

1. Scope

   
   

   1. General

      
      

      This recommended practice (RP) contains provisions relating to the design, construction, testing, corrosion control, operation, and maintenance of onshore gas gathering lines as defined in API RP 80. The requirements in the RP are applicable to pipelines > 12.75 in. outside diameter in class 1 locations (3.1.4) or class 2 locations (3.1.5) that are not regulated onshore gas gathering lines as defined in 49 CFR 192.8.

      
      

      NOTE As of the time of publication of this document, API RP 80, 1st Edition was incorporated by reference into U.S. Federal Regulation (49 CFR 192). The 2nd Edition of API RP 80 has not been incorporated by reference into U.S. Federal Regulation (49 CFR 192). Users of this document may also need to reference the 1st Edition of API RP 80.

      
      

   2. Applicability

      
      

      Annex A describes the sections of this RP and their applications.

      
      

      1. New Pipelines

         
         

         Except where otherwise noted, the provisions of this recommended practice apply to new pipelines.

         
         

      2. Existing Pipelines

         
         

         The design, construction, and testing provisions in Section 5 do not apply to existing pipelines. Except where otherwise noted, all other provisions in this RP apply to existing pipelines.

         
         

2. Normative References

   
   

   The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the reference document (including any amendment) applies.

   
   

   API Recommended Practice 80, Guidelines for the Definition of Onshore Gas Gathering Lines

   
   

3. Terms, Definitions, Acronyms, and Abbreviations

   
   

   1. Terms and Definitions

For the purposes of this document, the following definitions apply.

3.1.1

active corrosion

Continuing corrosion, which, unless controlled, could result in a condition that is detrimental to public safety or the environment.

3.1.2

building intended for human occupancy

A residential, commercial, or industrial building that is intended to be regularly occupied by people, such as a house, apartment, store, or office, but not including a building intended to be used intermittently and solely for pipeline operations and maintenance activities.