{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-89-001","title":"PHMSA Alert Notice — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1989-03-08","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-89-001 response to PHMSA Alert Notice concerning 195.401.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-89-001.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-89-001.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-89-001","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1989/PI89001.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nMarch 8, 1989\nThe Office of Pipeline Safety recommends that you read the enclosed\ncopy of the latest \"Alert Notice\" and take appropriate preventive\nsteps.\nSincerely,\nRichard L. Beam\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\195\\401\\89-03-08\n1\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nALERT NOTICE\nIn January 28, 1988, the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS)\nissued an Alert Notice advising pipeline operators who have pipe\nmanufactured by the Electric Resistance Weld (ERW) process of the\noccurrence of twelve hazardous liquid pipeline failures and of\nactions which operators may take to reduce the risks of similar\nfailures.\nThe continuing failure of ERW seams remains a matter of\nconcern to the Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA).\nSince the issuance of the Alert Notice, the RSPA has data on eight\nadditional hazardous liquid pipeline failures and one on a gas\ntransmission pipeline involving pipe seams manufactured prior to\n1970 by the ERW process. Of the eight additional hazardous liquid\npipeline failures, two appear to be due to selective corrosion of\nthe ERW seam. As stated in the 1988 Alert Notice, seams with\nselective corrosion occurring in an area of manufacturing defects\nmay be particularly vulnerable to failure. However, the other\nfailures appear to have resulted from flaw growth of manufacturing\ndefects in the ERW seam.\nTwo of these failures resulted in some of the most significant\nspills (more than 20,000 bbls.) in recent years. Both of these\nfailures involved pipelines which had not been hydrostatically\ntested in accordance with current standards. One of the failures\noccurred after the long-standing operating pressure had been\nincreased a relatively short period of time before the failure.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\195\\401\\89-03-08\n2\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nThis increase in pressure clearly decreased the margin of safety\nbetween the operating pressure and highest pressure ever\nexperienced during the life of the pipeline and contributed to the\nacceleration of the growth of a defect to failure.\nThe RSPA is planning to conduct research aimed at\ncharacterizing ERW defects and their growth rates for variety of\nenvironmental conditions, in addition to the pipe having cathodic\nprotection at less than standard pipe-to-soil potentials, coating\ndisbondment, fatigue, and corrosion fatigue. If the research is\nsuccessful, the resulting data could provide a basis for\nestablishing criteria regarding when an ERW pipeline should be\nrehydrotested.\nIn view of the continuing ERW seam failures, OPS recommends\nthat all pipeline operators having ERW pipelines installed prior to\n1970:\n(1) Consider hydrostatic testing all hazardous liquid\npipelines that have not been hydrostatically tested to\n125 percent of the maximum allowable pressure, or\nalternatively reduce the operating pressure 20 percent;\n(2) Avoid increasing a pipeline's long-standing operating\npressure;\n(3) Assure the effectiveness of the cathodic protection\nsystem. Consider the use of close interval pipe-to-soil\nsurveys after evaluating the pipe coating and\ncorrosion/cathodic protection history; and\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\195\\401\\89-03-08\n3\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\n(4) In the event of an ERW seam failure, conduct\nmetallurgical examinations in order to determine the\nprobable condition of the remainder of the ERW seams in\nthe pipeline.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\195\\401\\89-03-08\n4\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nTELECOPIER COVER SHEET\n3-8-89\nRegarding ERW pipe. This was sent to printing today.\nDB\nC:\\WP51\\INTERPRT\\195\\401\\89-03-08\n5","truncated":false,"body_characters":3458}