# SHELL PIPELINE CO., L.P. — Notice of Amendment

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** CPF 420175016M
- **title:** SHELL PIPELINE CO., L.P. — Notice of Amendment
- **source type:** enforcement
- **agency:** Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
- **status:** historical
- **official:** true
- **published on:** 2017-05-03
- **effective on:** Not available
- **summary:** CLOSED notice of amendment citing 195.202, 195.212(b), 195.248(a), 195.260.
- **machine formats:** - **json:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420175016m.json
- **markdown:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420175016m.md
- **app url:** https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-420175016m
- **source url:** https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/420175016M
**body:**

Notice of Amendment involving SHELL PIPELINE CO., L.P.. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulations as 195.202,  195.212(b),  195.248(a),  195.260. The case was opened on 2017-05-03 and is reported as closed as of 2017-12-04. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.

Official case documents:

420175016M_Closure Letter_12042017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175016M/420175016M_Closure%20Letter_12042017.pdf

420175016M_Closure Letter_12042017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175016M/420175016M_Closure%20Letter_12042017_text.pdf

420175016M_Notice of Amendment_05032017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175016M/420175016M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_05032017.pdf

420175016M_Notice of Amendment_05032017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175016M/420175016M_Notice%20of%20Amendment_05032017_text.pdf

420175016M_Operator Response to the Notice_05312017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/420175016M/420175016M_Operator%20Response%20to%20the%20Notice_05312017.pdf

420175016M_Closure Letter_12042017_text.pdf

CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
December 4, 2017
Mr. Greg Smith
President
Shell Pipeline Company
150 Dairy Ashford
Building A
Houston, TX 77079
CPF 4-2017-5016M
Dear Mr. Greg Smith:
From June to November 2016, representatives from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code, conducted an on-
site pipeline safety inspection of Shell Pipeline Corp (Shell) procedures in Houston, TX. As a
result of the inspection, Shell was issued a Notice of Amendment on May 3, 2017, which proposed
amendment of your procedures.
Shell submitted its amended procedure on May 31, 2017. My staff reviewed the amended
procedures, and it appears that the inadequacies outlined in this Notice of Amendment have been
corrected.
This letter is to inform you no further action is necessary and this case is now closed. Thank you
for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Frank Causey
Acting Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

420175016M_Notice of Amendment_05032017_text.pdf

NOTICE OF AMENDMENT
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
May 3, 2017
Mr. Greg Smith
President,
Shell Pipeline Company
Two Shell Plaza
777 Walker Street
Houston, TX 77002
CPF 4-2017-5016M
Dear Mr. Smith:
Between June and November 2016, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code inspected Shell
Pipeline Company’s (Shell) operation and maintenance procedures in Houston, Texas.
On the basis of the inspection, PHMSA has identified the apparent inadequacies found within
Shell’s procedures, as described below:
1. § 195.202 Compliance with Specifications or Standards
Each pipeline system must be constructed in accordance with comprehensive written
specifications or standards that are consistent with the requirements of this part.
§ 195.248 Cover Over Buried Pipeline
(a) Unless specifically exempted in this subpart, all pipe must be buried so that it is
below the level of cultivation. Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section,
the pipe must be installed so that the cover between the top of the ground level,
road bed, River bottom, or underwater natural bottom (as determined and
generally accepted practices), as applicable, complies with the following table….



Shell’s procedure 40 TS-002 Construction of Onshore Pipelines and Related Facilities Section 17
Backfilling did not reference where to find depth of cover standards for use when backfilling
operations are being performed.
Shell’s Manual (40 TS-002), Section 17 Backfilling needs to include a reference to Pipeline I&M
Manual section 3.7.6 Depth of Cover Requirements to adequately convey the required depth of
cover when performing backfilling operations.
2. § 195.202 Compliance with Specifications or Standards
Each pipeline system must be constructed in accordance with comprehensive written
specifications or standards that are consistent with the requirements of this part.
§ 195.260 Valves: Location
A valve must be installed at each of the following locations:
(a) On the suction end and the discharge end of a pump station in a manner that
permits isolation of the pump station equipment in the event of an emergency.
(b) On each line entering or leaving a breakout storage tank area in a manner that
permits isolation of the tank area from other facilities.
(c) On each mainline at locations along the pipeline system that will minimize damage
or pollution from accidental hazardous liquid discharge, as appropriate for the
terrain in open country, for offshore areas, or for populated areas.
(d) On each lateral takeoff from trunk line in a manner that permits shutting off the
lateral without interrupting the flow in the trunk line.
(e) On each side of a water crossing that is more than 100 feet (30 meters) wide from
high-water mark to high-water mark unless the Administrator finds in a
particular case that valves are not justified.
(f) On each side of a reservoir holding water for human consumption.
2



Shell’s procedure ODM 05.01.T.00 Basic Design & Engineering Package did not specify where
valves are to be placed during design and construction of their pipelines.
Shells’ procedure ODM 05.01.T.00 Basic Design & Engineering Package needs to specify where
valves are to be located in a manner that meets the requirements of §195.260 during the design
and construction phase.
3. § 195.202 Compliance with Specifications or Standards
Each pipeline system must be constructed in accordance with comprehensive written
specifications or standards that are consistent with the requirements of this part.
§ 195.212 Bending of Pipes
(b) Each circumferential weld which is located where the stress during bending
causes a permanent deformation in the pipe must be nondestructively tested
either before or after the bending process.
Shell’s procedure 40 TS-002 Construction of Onshore Pipelines and Related Facilities Section 14
Field Bends did not specify that circumferential welds located where the stress during bending
causes a permanent deformation in the pipe must be nondestructively tested either before or after
the bending process.
Shell’s procedure 40 TS-002 Construction of Onshore Pipelines and Related Facilities Section 14
Field Bends needs to specify that circumferential welds located where the stress during bending
causes a permanent deformation in the pipe must be nondestructively tested either before or after
the bending process.
Response to this Notice
This Notice is provided pursuant to 49 U.S.C. § 60108(a) and 49 C.F.R. § 190.206. Enclosed as
part of this Notice is a document entitled Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance
Proceedings. Please refer to this document and note the response options. Be advised that all
material you submit in response to this enforcement action is subject to being made publicly
available. If you believe that any portion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential
treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b), along with the complete original document you must provide a
second copy of the document with the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment
redacted and an explanation of why you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential
treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b).
3



Following the receipt of this Notice, you have 30 days to submit written comments, revised
procedures, or a request for a hearing under §190.211. If you do not respond within 30 days of
receipt of this Notice, this constitutes a waiver of your right to contest the allegations in this Notice
and authorizes the Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety to find facts as alleged in this Notice
without further notice to you and to issue an Order Directing Amendment. If your plans or
procedures are found inadequate as alleged in this Notice, you may be ordered to amend your plans
or procedures to correct the inadequacies (49 C.F.R. § 190.206). If you are not contesting this
Notice, we propose that you submit your amended procedures to my office within 30 days of
receipt of this Notice. This period may be extended by written request for good cause. Once the
inadequacies identified herein have been addressed in your amended procedures, this enforcement
action will be closed.
It is requested (not mandated) that Shell Pipeline Company maintain documentation of the safety
improvement costs associated with fulfilling this Notice of Amendment (preparation/revision of
plans, procedures) and submit the total to Terri J. Binns, Acting Director, Southwest Region,
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. In correspondence concerning this
matter, please refer to CPF 4-2017-5016M and, for each document you submit, please provide a
copy in electronic format whenever possible.
Sincerely,
Terri J. Binns
Acting Director, Southwest Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
Enclosure: Response Options for Pipeline Operators in Compliance Proceedings
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