Pipelines 102: Part 192 Regulatory Requirements for Natural Gas Pipelines

Complying with 49 CFR Part 192

January 16, 2019 | Houston, TX ::

0119-pipelines-102

Several recent major accidents have increased regulatory scrutiny of the natural gas pipeline industry. Pipeline operators are now faced with an increasing number of compliance inspections from regulatory agencies – the USDOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and/or the many state pipeline safety agencies under PHMSA’s oversight.  At a time when PHMSA is hiring a record number of new inspectors nationwide, pipeline operators are faced with a changing work force and the loss of seasoned, knowledgeable employees due to retirements and layoffs created by mergers, acquisitions and depressed energy prices.

These changes and personnel shifts in the industry have increased the need for new compliance and operations personnel to better understand and comply with the pipeline regulations found in 49 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 192 (Minimum Safety Standards for Natural Gas, et. al). 

This course will concentrate on those areas of the regulations (construction, operations, maintenance, and recordkeeping) that have the largest impact on the safety of pipeline systems – whether gathering, transmission, or distribution.  It is primarily intended for compliance personnel and field supervisors who are responsible for interpreting and implementing the requirements of these regulations.

The instructors in this course have over 80 years’ combined experience, both having worked on the regulatory side (with both state & federal pipeline safety agencies) and with the natural gas and petroleum industries.  They can provide a perspective of the intent of PHMSA and the regulations and also the means that an operator must follow to ensure compliance.

Learning Outcomes

• Combine basic concepts with the associated pipeline regulation
• Review the intent of PHMSA natural gas regulations (construction, operations, and maintenance)
• Briefly discuss history, background, and navigation of the regulations
• Define pertinent terms and definitions
• Describe record keeping requirements
• Identify best practices for pipeline O&M and construction
• Relate PHMSA recent enforcement citations and penalties
• Assist operators in preparing for PHMSA & state inspections

Credits

EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 1.5 CEUs for this event.

 

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must sign in/out each day and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

PowerPoint presentations and discussion will be used in this course.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. :: Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. :: Course Timing

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Group Luncheon

Introduction

• Welcome
• Introduction of students & instructors
• Class agenda
• Training objectives

Background and History of Pipeline Regulations

• 1968 Natural Gas Act & regulations
• How regulations are created (ANPRM, NPRM, Final Rules, Advisory Bulletins)

Navigating Part 192

O&M Procedures

• Written manuals & procedures
• Natural gas customer service
• Excess Flow valves
• Farm taps
• Odorization
• Patrolling
• Continuing Surveillance
• Tapping/purging pipeline

Valve & Station Inspection & Maintenance

• Valve inspection & maintenance
• Regulator station inspection & maintenance

Operator Qualifications (OQ)

• Written program
• Covered tasks
• Qualification methods
• Aligning field activities, code requirements & OQ evaluations

Thursday, January 17, 2019

8:00 – 8:30 a.m. :: Continental Breakfast

8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. :: Course Timing

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. :: Group Luncheon

Welding and Joining Plastic Pipe

• Code requirements
• Qualification of procedures
• Qualification of welders
• Maintaining welder qualification
• Production welding
• Qualification of plastic pipe joiners

Construction and Testing

• Construction specifications/standards
• Code requirements
• Field applications
• Testing requirements

Corrosion Control

• Types of corrosion (external, internal, atmospheric)
• Basics of corrosion and cathodic protection
• Coatings
• Test stations
• Monitoring requirements
• Other code requirements

Pipeline Integrity Management

• Natural gas pipelines
• Liquid petroleum pipelines

PHMSA Inspection and Enforcement

• Compliance program per Part 190
• Preparation for PHMSA inspections (inspection forms)
• Recent enforcement actions
• Electronic resources

Thomas Lael, formerly with ConocoPhillips Pipeline Company

Mr. Lael has been involved with the pipeline industry for over 45 years.  He has worked for various State Pipeline Regulatory agencies (Illinois, Connecticut, and California) and the Federal government (Transportation Safety Institute, now known as Training and Qualification’s (T&Q)).  More recently Mr. Lael has worked for major petroleum pipeline operators as a code compliance officer, and Operator Qualifications Administrator.  He has been responsible for determining the operator’s compliance with Federal and State pipeline safety regulations and determining the intent of current and proposed PHMSA regulations.

Mr. Lael spent ten years working with ConocoPhillips as the OQ administrator for the company OQ program. His employment with ConocoPhillips evolved from his initial employment with Tosco Corporation starting in 1999, merged into Phillips Pipeline Company in 2001 and finally into ConocoPhillips in 2002. He was responsible for the OQ qualifications for approximately 950 employees and over 1,500 contract individuals.

Mr. Lael has worked as an expert witness on legal cases concerning pipeline safety and accident/incident investigations.  Mr. Lael has investigated numerous natural gas and petroleum pipeline explosion and fires.

Don McCoy, formerly with PHMSA’s Office of Pipeline Safety

Don is a native of Georgia and a graduate of Georgia Tech with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering. After several years in the aerospace industry, Don changed careers to the natural gas industry and pipeline safety, including regulatory stints with the Georgia Public Service Commission and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration – Office of Pipeline Safety. Don’s pipeline industry experience included 40+ years at Oklahoma-based companies Mustang Fuel Corporation, Enogex Inc., Chesapeake Energy, Chesapeake Midstream, and Access Midstream.

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Pipelines 102: Part 192 Regulatory Requirements for Natural Gas Pipelines

January 16, 2019 | Houston, TX