An overview of the infrastructure, practices and regulations for the pipeline safety and integrity management in downstream gas distribution networks in USA.

1. TRENDS IN GAS PIPELINE
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
Vaishali Sangtani
Product Manager, Gas AMI
Solutions

2. AGENDA
1
 Regulation and Trends in Pipeline Safety Management
 Utility compliance programs

3. REGULATIONS &
TRENDS IN PIPELINE
SAFETY MANAGEMENT
• Natural Gas Industry Facts
• Overview - Natural Gas Delivery System
• Regulatory Environment
• Need for Regulation

4. NATURAL GAS INDUSTRY FACTS
3
United States Total Number of Gas Utilities 1,670
Customer
Total 72.2
Million
Consumption
Total 23.7bcf
Funding
Total $1.1
billion
Sources : AGA Gas Utility Statistics System (GUS System)
AGA‐CEE Natural Gas Efficiency Programs Survey
US Energy Information Administration
US Department of Transportation
Nearly 23 Billion Cubic feet of Natural gas is delivered to these 66 million residential and 5 million commercial &
industrial customers through a safe, sound, 3.0 million mile underground pipeline system
2.1 million miles of local utility Distribution Pipe Lines
0.9 million miles of Transmission Pipe Lines.
Together, gas utility and pipeline companies spend close to $7 billion per year to ensure that natural gas is delivered
safely and reliably.
U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently
announced that in 2013, it proposed more than $9.7 million in civil penalties against pipeline operators who violate
safety regulations.

5. 4
Compressor Stations
• Boots pressure
• System Controls
• “Line packing”
Gate Stations
• Pressure reduction - Tx to Dx
• Flow rate measurement
• Shutoff valve controls
Transmission Lines
• High Strength Steel Pipes (few Cast Iron)
• Pipe Size - 20-42 Inch in dia.
• Pressure - 200-1500 PSI
Or Mains
• Plastic or Steel
• Pipe Size - 2-24 Inch in dia.
• Pressure – 1/4th - 200 PSI
• Grid Patterns , extensive branching and interconnections
through densely populated urban areas.
• Typically operate at less than 1/5th of designed pressure.
Utility Central Control Station
• Monitor system Flow rates and Pressure
• Ensure that pressure stays below max. for each
segment of the system
Service Lines
• Mostly Plastic
• Pipe Size – 1 Inch in dia.
• Pressure – 1/4th – 60 pounds per sq. inch

6. REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
5
Pipeline and Hazardous
Materials Safety
Administration
National Association of
Pipeline Safety
Regulation
National Association of
Regulatory Utility
Commissions
Passed Transmission Pipelines Integrity Management Regulations for hazardous liquids (2000) and natural gas
(2003)
- These specify how pipeline operators must identify, prioritize assess, evaluate, repair and validate – through
comprehensive analysis- the integrity of their pipelines.
- Required operators to proactively manage risk to their pipelines.
Passed Distribution Integrity Management Program Rule , DIMP (Effec. Feb 2010 / Implemented Aug 2011)
- Gas Transmission Integrity Management Rule (49 CFR Part 192, Subpart O), commonly referred to as the “Gas IM Rule.”
- Stakeholder perspectives and Oversight expectations
- Encourage a risk based DIMP and allows operators to develop a DIMP plan to suit their individual systems and customers.
Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011
Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission

7. NEED FOR REGULATION
6
Causes of Significant Incidents in Gas Pipelines (1988-2008)
Transmission Pipeline Distribution Pipeline
DIMP (HCA due to being in high populated areas) is just as important as TIMP

8. CURRENT DIMP PRACTICES
7
 Structural integrity Damage control – Prevention and Surveillance
 Corrosion Damage Control – Prevention and Surveillance
Assessment Methods
• In-line inspection (ILI)
• Hydrostatic testing
• Direct assessment (DA)

9. PIPELINE SAFETY, REGULATORY CERTAINTY, AND JOB
CREATION ACT OF 2011
8
Few Sections Pertinent to Natural Gas
 Pipeline Damage Prevention – Excavation / Corrosion impact on pipeline safety
 Automatic and Remote-Controlled Shut-Off Valves on Transmission Pipeline facilities
 Integrity Management system requirements for HCA (TIMP and DIMP )
 Public Education and Awareness of National Pipeline Mapping Systems
Specifically to emergency response agencies.
 Cast Iron Pipelines – Progress on replacement and safe management.
 Accident and Incident Notification – Notification requirements to DOT and National Response center
 Gas and Hazardous Liquid Gathering Lines – review and recommendations on existing regulations
 Excess flow valves – recommendation on issuing regulations for requiring EFV’s or equivalent
technologies to beyond service lines to multi family residences and small commercial facilities. An
Excess Flow Valve (EFV) is a self-actuating valve that automatically closes when gas flow exceeds a
predetermined rate
 Maximum allowable operating Pressure – mandates DOT to require transmission lines and HCA line
owners/operators to verify records to confirm operational compliance.
Etc…….

10. 9
9
BILLING
Residential
BILLING
Commercial
(General)
BILLING
Commercial
(High Value)
DISTRIBUTION
Pipeline
Integrity
Low Data
Applications
DISTRIBUTION
Pipeline
Integrity
High Data
Applications
Low Volume
Gas Meters –
Mechanical
Pulse outputs
Rotary
Meters
Large
Diaphragm
Meters
Pulse
Devices like
TCI and EC
Electronic
Volume
Correctors
(EVC) –
Serial data
communica
tion for
billing
Electronic
Volume
Correctors
(EVC)
Electronic
Pressure
Monitors
(EPM)
Flow Computers
Chromatographs
Gas Market – Segmentation by Application Spaces

11. OPEN DISCUSSIONS
QUESTIONS
CONCERNS
10