MAOP Validation
Pipeline safety has always been, and continues to be, of utmost importance to all of our energy clients. Monitoring and ensuring operational safety involves maintaining accessible records of pipeline infrastructure data. Maintaining accessible records of that magnitude of data can be a daunting task for even the smallest pipeline operator. However, it is a task that has taken on even more heightened significance in recent months. In response to nationwide natural gas pipeline issues the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) has issued an advisory bulletin to natural gas pipeline operators and several legislative bills have been introduced in Congress to address the issue of pipeline safety.
One of the issues addressed by PHMSA’s advisory bulletin, as well as the legislative
bills, refers to the issue of determining the maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) in the pipeline systems. A movement is afoot to expand pipeline safety regulations to revisit the process used to verify the MAOP for every separately operated section of a pipeline. Additionally, the bulletin and bills advise that pipeline companies re-verify and mainta in the historical records used in determining a pipeline’s MAOP and periodically reevaluate MAOP status to avoid potential pipeline failures and continually ensure public safety.
In light of this enhanced pipeline safety movement, many pipeline operators are beginning to evaluate the completeness of their records and working toward organizing their information such that it will be in conformance with anticipated Federal requirements.
PHMSA’s bulletin provides some initial guidelines for the energy companies in determining MAOP. Under Federal pipeline safety standards Title 49 Code of Federal Regulation (49 CFR) Section 192.619(a) for establishing MAOP, four criteria are considered:
- design records;
- pressure testing;
- the highest actual operating pressure in the five years preceding the passing of the 1970’s Federal pipeline safety code; and,
- the maximum safe pressure considering the operating history.
The task of determining MAOP can be complicated by the age of pipeline infrastructure. According to the American Ga
s Association (AGA), approximately 61% of natural gas pipelines in service today were installed prior to Federal regulations of the 1970’s. Many pipeline operators are deliberating how they will comply with anticipated MAOP regulations when much of their infrastructure is represented by data derived nearly a half century ago or more. Further, they consider how they will gather and analyze the volumes of historical data needed in order to determine MAOP for their systems.
Coler & Colantonio, Inc. understands the natural gas pipeline industry. We have designed pipelines. We have managed the construction of pipelines. We have assisted in pipeline data collection. We have developed assets management software (Intrepid TM) to organize, compile, and analyze pipeline assets data, including the determination of MAOP for each segment of the pipeline. This breadth of knowledge combined with an understanding of the MAOP validation efforts that are in development position us to assist our clients in this new frontier.
Coler & Colantonio, Inc. can provide our natural gas pipeline clients MAOP Validation Services including: