Pipeline Control Room Management

API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 1168 SECOND EDITION, FEBRUARY 2015

2-YEAR EXTENSION: JULY 2020

Special Notes

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Copyright © 2015 American Petroleum Institute

Foreword

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Contents

Page

1. Scope 1

   1. Purpose 1

   2. General 1

2. Normative References 1

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations 1

   1. Definitions 1

   2. Abbreviations 3

4. Personnel Roles, Authorities, and Responsibilities 3

   1. General 3

   2. Pipeline Controller Authorities and Associated Responsibilities 3

   3. Interfacing with the Public 5

   4. Non-Controller Operations Authorities and Associated Responsibilities 5

5. Guidelines for Shift Turnover 6

   1. General 6

   2. Shift Turnover Process 6

   3. Shift Turnover Procedure 6

   4. Shift Turnover Information Exchange 7

   5. Information to Exchange 7

6. Provide Adequate information 10

   1. General 10

   2. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) System 10

   3. Point-to-Point Verification 10

   4. Internal Communication 11

   5. Testing Backup SCADA Systems 11

7. Fatigue Management 12

   1. General 12

   2. Work Schedule 12

   3. On-shift Breaks 13

   4. On-shift Stimulation 13

   5. Education 13

   6. Pipeline Control Room Environment 13

   7. Exercise Equipment 13

   8. Fatigue-mitigation Room 13

   9. Hotel/Sleep Facilities 13

   10. Transportation Service 13

8. Change Management 14

   1. General 14

   2. Inclusion of Pipeline Control Room Representative 14

   3. Systems/Processes Undergoing Change 14

   4. Notification and Training 14

   5. Emergency Change Management 14

      v

      Contents

      Page

9. Operating Experience 15

10. Training 16

    1. General 16

    2. Roles and Responsibilities 16

    3. Shift Turnover 16

    4. Fatigue Mitigation 16

    5. Alarm Management 17

    6. Change Management 17

    7. Operating Experience 17

    8. Team Training 17

    9. Other Training 18

11. Workload of Pipeline Controllers 18

Bibliography 19

Pipeline Control Room Management

1. Scope

   1. Purpose

      
      

      The purpose of this recommended practice is to provide pipeline operators, and pipeline Controllers with guidance on industry best practices on control room management to consider when developing or enhancing processes, procedures, and training. This document was written for operators with continuous and non-continuous operations, as applicable.

      
      

   2. General

      
      

      This document addresses pipeline safety elements in Pipeline Control Rooms for hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines in both the transportation and distribution sectors:

      
      

      • personnel roles, authorities, and responsibilities;

        
        

      • guidelines for shift turnover;

        
        

      • provide adequate information;

        
        

      • fatigue mitigation;

        
        

      • change management;

        
        

      • training;

        
        

      • operating experience; and

        
        

      • workload of pipeline Controllers.

      
      

2. Normative References

   This document contains no normative references. A list of documents associated with API RP 1168 is included in the bibliography.

   
   

3. Terms, Definitions, and Abbreviations

   1. Definitions

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

3.1.1

abnormal operating condition AOC

A condition identified by the operator that may indicate a malfunction of a component or deviation from normal operations that may:

1. indicate a condition exceeding design limits; and/or

   
   

2. result in a hazard(s) to persons, property, or the environment.

1