# Amoco Production Company — Pipeline Safety Interpretation

- **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:** Not available
- **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>>>

February 5, 1993
Mr. Bill Scaife
Amoco Production Company
Post Office Box 50879
New Orleans, LA 70150
Dear Mr. Scaife:
This is in response to Mr. H. C. Van, Jr's letter of January 18,
1993, concerning a question on the Interim Final Rule pertaining to
Response Plans for Onshore Oil Pipelines, 49 CFR Part 194. He
indicated:
"The term onshore oil pipeline needs to be more clearly
defined. Does this interim final rule apply to onshore
gas pipelines that carry minimal amounts of condensate
along with the gas?
"Condensate forms in many gas transmission lines and is
transported along with the gas. Inclusion of onshore
gas lines under these rules would impart a significant
burden on the industry to submit response plans by the
February 18, 1993, deadline imposed by OPA 90."
Most gas gathering lines are connected to processing plants where
heavier hydrocarbons are removed from the gas and sold separately.
The small amount of condensates in such lines could not reasonably
be expected to cause substantial harm to the environment.
Therefore, oil spill response plans covering these gas gathering
lines would not be required to be filed by February 18, 1993.
Downstream of such processing plants, the gas is in a condition fit
for use by gas customers. Beyond the processing plant, the gas
generally is transported in a transmission line for delivery to a
distribution center or storage facility. Natural gas, depending on
the volume of gas transported and temperature differentials, will
form small amounts of light hydrocarbons or condensates while being
transported in the transmission pipelines because of the recurring
compression and subsequent pressure drops. Condensates so formed
are likewise not considered to cause substantial harm to the
environment and oil spill response plans would not be required to
be filed by February 18, 1993.
I hope this responds fully to your inquiry.
Sincerely,
Cesar De Leon
Director Regulatory Programs
Office of Pipeline Safety
dal\191\27\93-02-05
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- **body characters:** 2008