# WHITING PETROLEUM CORP — Warning Letter

- **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:** Not available
- **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.

Official case documents:

520176029W_Warning Letter_08102017.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520176029W/520176029W_Warning%20Letter_08102017.pdf

520176029W_Warning Letter_08102017_text.pdf: https://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/enforcement-documents/520176029W/520176029W_Warning%20Letter_08102017_text.pdf

520176029W_Warning Letter_08102017_text.pdf

WARNING LETTER
CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
August 10, 2017
Mr. James Volker
Chairman, President, and CEO
Whiting Petroleum Corp.
1700 Broadway, Suite 2300
Denver, CO 80290
CPF 5-2017-6029W
Dear Mr. Volker:
On December 5 through 8, 2016, representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials
Safety Administration (PHMSA), pursuant to Chapter 601 of 49 United States Code,
inspected your Redtail Crude Line in Weld County, Colorado.
As a result of the inspection, it is alleged that you have committed a probable violation of the
Pipeline Safety Regulations, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR). The item
inspected and the probable violation is:
1. §195.563 Which pipelines must have cathodic protection?
(a) Each buried or submerged pipeline that is constructed, relocated, replaced, or
otherwise changed after the applicable date in Sec. 195.401(c) must have cathodic
protection. The cathodic protection must be in operation not later than 1 year
after the pipeline is constructed, relocated, replaced, or otherwise changed, as
applicable.
During the inspection of your records, it was noted that Whiting Petroleum Corp (WPC) did
not install Cathodic Protection (CP) on the Redtail Crude Line within one (1) year after the
pipeline was constructed in accordance with §195.563(a). It is our understanding that the



Redtail Crude Line was built and then commissioned on April 15, 2015; however, the CP was
not installed until April 27, 2016. Interviews with your PSM/DOT/One Call Supervisor
revealed that WPC will be conducting a Close Interval Survey (CIS) of the line to ensure it
was not affected by external corrosion.
As of April 27, 2017, under 49 U.S.C. § 60122 and 49 CFR § 190.223, you are subject to a
civil penalty not to exceed $209,002 per violation per day the violation persists up to a
maximum of $2,090,022 for a related series of violations. We have reviewed the
circumstances and supporting documents involved in this case, and have decided not to
conduct additional enforcement action or penalty assessment proceedings at this time. We
advise you to correct the item identified in this letter. Failure to do so will result in Whiting
Petroleum Corp being subject to additional enforcement action.
No reply to this letter is required. If you choose to reply, in your correspondence please refer
to CPF 5-2017-6029W. 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).
Sincerely,
Kim West
Acting Director, Western Region
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
cc: PHP-60 Compliance Registry
PHP-500 J. Coleman (#154305)
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