{"operation":"document","citation":"PI-93-004","title":"Amoco Production Company — Pipeline Safety Interpretation","source_type":"guidance","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1993-02-05","effective_on":null,"summary":"PI-93-004 response to Amoco Production Company concerning 191.27.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-93-004.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-93-004.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-interpretation-pi-93-004","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/legacy/interpretations/Interpretation%20Files/Pipeline/1993/PI93004.pdf","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nFebruary 5, 1993\nMr. Bill Scaife\nAmoco Production Company\nPost Office Box 50879\nNew Orleans, LA 70150\nDear Mr. Scaife:\nThis is in response to Mr. H. C. Van, Jr's letter of January 18,\n1993, concerning a question on the Interim Final Rule pertaining to\nResponse Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines, 49 CFR Part 194. He\nindicated:\n\"The term onshore oil pipeline needs to be more clearly\ndefined. Does this interim final rule apply to onshore\ngas pipelines that carry minimal amounts of condensate\nalong with the gas?\n\"Condensate forms in many gas transmission lines and is\ntransported along with the gas. Inclusion of onshore\ngas lines under these rules would impart a significant\nburden on the industry to submit response plans by the\nFebruary 18, 1993, deadline imposed by OPA 90.\"\nMost gas gathering lines are connected to processing plants where\nheavier hydrocarbons are removed from the gas and sold separately.\nThe small amount of condensates in such lines could not reasonably\nbe expected to cause substantial harm to the environment.\nTherefore, oil spill response plans covering these gas gathering\nlines would not be required to be filed by February 18, 1993.\nDownstream of such processing plants, the gas is in a condition fit\nfor use by gas customers. Beyond the processing plant, the gas\ngenerally is transported in a transmission line for delivery to a\ndistribution center or storage facility. Natural gas, depending on\nthe volume of gas transported and temperature differentials, will\nform small amounts of light hydrocarbons or condensates while being\ntransported in the transmission pipelines because of the recurring\ncompression and subsequent pressure drops. Condensates so formed\nare likewise not considered to cause substantial harm to the\nenvironment and oil spill response plans would not be required to\nbe filed by February 18, 1993.\nI hope this responds fully to your inquiry.\nSincerely,\nCesar De Leon\nDirector Regulatory Programs\nOffice of Pipeline Safety\ndal\\191\\27\\93-02-05","truncated":false,"body_characters":2008}