255.8 Onshore gathering lines.

(a)For purposes of determining the start of an onshore gathering line under this Part, a production facility is comprised of wellhead assemblies, including traps or separators, heaters, control valves, and flow lines of less than 100 feet (30.5 meters) in length between the wellhead and trap or separator, or casing and tubing in gas or oil wells. A flowline of greater than 100 feet (30.5 meters) in length between the wellhead and trap or separator is considered to be gathering lines.#

(b)Each operator must determine and maintain, for the life of the pipeline, records documenting the methodology by which the operator calculated the beginning and end points of each onshore gathering pipeline it operates, as described in subdivision (c) of this section.#

(1)Each onshore gathering pipeline (or segment of onshore gathering pipeline) shall be categorized, based on the feature as described in table below, as Type A, Type B, or Type R. Where the stress level of metallic pipe is unknown, an operator must determine the stress level according to the applicable provisions of sections 255.101 through 255.127 of this Part.#

(2)Each Type A, Type B and Type R gathering line shall comply with the provisions listed in the third column of the table below.#

Type | Feature | Applicable Regulations A | In Class 1, 2, 3 or 4 location (see section 255.5 of this Part) and: - Metallic and MAOP that produces 20 percent or more of SMYS; or - MAOP of 125 psig or more | All provisions of this Part applicable to transmission lines, except sections 255.13(e), 255.150, 255.285(f), 255.485(c) 225.493, 255.506, 255.607, 255.619(e), 255.624, 255.710, 255.712, and 255.901 through 255.951 of this Part. B | In Class 2, 3 or 4 location (see section 255.5 of this Part) and MAOP less than 125 psig. | Section 255.9 of this Part; and sections 255.801 through 255.821, 255.829 and 255.831 of this Part. R | All other onshore gathering lines | Subdivisions 255.9(b), (c) and (d); and sections 255.801 through 255.821, 255.829 and 255.831 of this Part.#

(d)Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Part, where natural gas is gathered from production facilities, transported off the property on which the production facilities are located, and sold directly to an end user, the following shall apply:#

(1)The portion of the pipeline that is downstream of the point at which no additional gas enters the pipeline from a production facility or, in cases involving a single production facility, that is downstream of the point at which the pipeline enters a public right-of-way, or adjacent private right-of-way, is a transmission line if it operates at a hoop stress of 20 percent or more of SMYS or, otherwise, is a distribution line. Such transmission or distribution lines shall fully comply with the applicable requirements contained in this Part for such lines.#

(2)In cases where gas is transported directly from production facilities and sold to a single end-user, that portion of the pipeline which is downstream of the end-user's property line is a service line and shall comply with the applicable requirements contained in this Part.#

(3)Any person who intends to transport and sell gas from a production facility directly to an end-user shall report such intent as part of the notification required by subdivision 255.9(c) of this Part.#