{"operation":"document","citation":"CPF 520176029W","title":"WHITING PETROLEUM CORP — Warning Letter","source_type":"enforcement","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2017-08-10","effective_on":null,"summary":"CLOSED warning letter citing 195.563(a).","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520176029w.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520176029w.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-enforcement-520176029w","source_url":"https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-data/case/520176029W","body":"Warning Letter involving WHITING PETROLEUM CORP. PHMSA's enforcement data identifies the cited regulation as 195.563(a). The case was opened on 2017-08-10 and is reported as closed as of 2017-08-10. Open the official case record for notices, responses, orders, and the latest status.\n\nOfficial case documents:\n\n520176029W_Warning Letter_08102017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520176029W/520176029W_Warning%20Letter_08102017.pdf\n\n520176029W_Warning Letter_08102017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520176029W/520176029W_Warning%20Letter_08102017_text.pdf\n\n520176029W_Warning Letter_08102017_text.pdf\n\nWARNING LETTER\nCERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED\nAugust 10, 2017\nMr. James Volker\nChairman, President, and CEO\nWhiting Petroleum Corp.\n1700 Broadway, Suite 2300\nDenver, CO 80290\nCPF 5-2017-6029W\nDear Mr. Volker:\nOn December 5 through 8, 2016, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials\nSafety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code,\ninspected your Redtail Crude Line in Weld County, Colorado.\nAs a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed a probable violation of the\nPipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The item\ninspected and the probable violation is:\n1. §195.563 Which pipelines must have cathodic protection?\n(a) Each buried or submerged pipeline that is constructed, relocated, replaced, or\notherwise changed after the applicable date in Sec. 195.401(c) must have cathodic\nprotection. The cathodic protection must be in operation not later than 1 year\nafter the pipeline is constructed, relocated, replaced, or otherwise changed, as\napplicable.\nDuring the inspection of your records, it was noted that Whiting Petroleum Corp (WPC) did\nnot install Cathodic Protection (CP) on the Redtail Crude Line within one (1) year after the\npipeline was constructed in accordance with §195.563(a). It is our understanding that the\n\n\n\nRedtail Crude Line was built and then commissioned on April 15, 2015; however, the CP was\nnot installed until April 27, 2016. Interviews with your PSM/DOT/One Call Supervisor\nrevealed that WPC will be conducting a Close Interval Survey (CIS) of the line to ensure it\nwas not affected by external corrosion.\nAs of April 27, 2017, under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a\ncivil penalty not to exceed $209,002 per violation per day the violation persists up to a\nmaximum of $2,090,022 for a related series of violations. We have reviewed the\ncircumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to\nconduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We\nadvise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Whiting\nPetroleum Corp being subject to additional enforcement action.\nNo reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer\nto CPF 5-2017-6029W. Be advised that all material you submit in response to this\nenforcement action is subject to being made publicly available. If you believe that any\nportion of your responsive material qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C. 552(b),\nalong with the complete original document you must provide a second copy of the document\nwith the portions you believe qualify for confidential treatment redacted and an explanation of\nwhy you believe the redacted information qualifies for confidential treatment under 5 U.S.C.\n552(b).\nSincerely,\nKim West\nActing Director, Western Region\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\ncc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry\nPHP-500 J. Coleman (#154305)\n2","truncated":false,"body_characters":3712}