{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-07-0103","title":"Kinder Morgan, Inc. — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2007-04-11","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-07-0103 response to Kinder Morgan, Inc. concerning 192.3.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-07-0103.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-07-0103.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-07-0103","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/2007/g07-04-11_HANCOCK_192.3_Pipeline-nlmx.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nPI-07-0103\nApril 11, 2007\nMr. Bruce Hancock\nManager, Codes and Standards\nKinder Morgan, Inc.\nP.O. Box 281304\nLakewood, CO 80228-8304\nDear Mr. Hancock:\nOn October 20, 2006 you wrote to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration (PHMSA) requesting interpretations of 49 CFR 192.153, 192.503 and 192.505 as\nthey pertain to temporary pipeline pig launchers and receivers.\nIn your letter you ask, “When a temporary launcher or receiver is built utilizing standard\npipe and fittings with the intention of running pipeline cleaning and inspection tools in gas\npipelines does that fabrication fall under the jurisdiction of 49 CFR 192.153, Components\nfabricated by welding?”\nThe pipeline safety regulations at § 192.3 define a “pipeline” to mean “all parts of those\nphysical facilities through which gas moves in transportation, including ... fabricated\nassemblies.” As fabricated assemblies through which gas moves in transportation, temporary\npig launchers and receivers are regulated by 49 CFR Part 192, including Subpart D, Design of\nPipeline Components. The temporary pig launchers and receivers you describe, however, would\nmeet the exceptions in Subpart D, § 192.153(a), if the standard pipe and fittings used to build the\nlaunchers and receivers are joined by circumferential welds and any connections to the launchers\nor receivers are branch connections welded to the launcher or receiver in accordance with\n§ 192.155, Welded Branch Connections.\nYou also ask, “When a temporary launcher or receiver is placed in a gas pipeline for the\npurpose of running pipeline cleaning or inspection tools is a pressure test required in\nconformance with 49 CFR 192.505?”\nAs stated above, temporary pig launchers and receivers are fabricated assemblies through\nwhich gas moves in transportation, therefore, they must be tested in accordance with 49 CFR\nSubpart J, which includes § 192.505. Subpart J also includes general test requirements,\nenvironmental and safety requirements, record keeping requirements, and references to other\nsections in 49 CFR 192 that also apply to launchers and receivers. The regulations do allow a\npre-installation strength test for fabricated units and short sections of pipe for which a post\ninstallation test is impractical on pipelines operated at a hoop stress of 30 percent or more of the\nspecified minimum yield strength (SMYS) [see § 192.505(e)].\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nLastly you ask, “When a temporary launcher or receiver is moved to a new location on the\nsame or a different gas pipeline is a new pressure test required prior to placing the launcher or\nreceiver back into temporary service?”\nSection 192.503 states that a segment of a pipeline cannot be returned to service after it has\nbeen relocated until it has been tested in accordance with Subpart J and § 192.619 to substantiate\nthe maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP). A pipeline includes temporary pig\nlaunchers and receivers as explained above. Accordingly, testing must be performed after a\ntemporary pig launcher or receiver is relocated and before it is returned to service as required by\n§ 192.503 (a). As also stated above, the regulations do allow a pre-installation strength test for\nfabricated units and short sections of pipe for which a post installation test is impractical on\npipelines operated at a hoop stress of 30 percent or more of SMYS [see § 192.505(e)].\nIf I can further assist you with this, or any other regulatory matter, please contact me at\n(202) 366-4595.\nSincerely,\nFlorence L. Hamn\nDirector, Office of Regulations","truncated":false,"body_characters":3558}