# Risk-Based Leak Survey Program

- **operation:** document
- **citation:** 16 TAC § 8.206
- **title:** Risk-Based Leak Survey Program
- **source type:** regulation
- **agency:** Railroad Commission of Texas
- **status:** current
- **official:** true
- **published on:** Not available
- **effective on:** 2020-01-06
- **summary:** (a) This section applies to each operator of a gas distribution system that is subject to the requirements of 49 CFR Part 192. (b) Each operator shall have either a prescriptive or a risk- based program for leak surveys for its pipeline systems that complies with the requirements of this section. Su
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- **source url:** https://texas-sos.appianportalsgov.com/rules-and-meetings?chapter=8&interface=VIEW_TAC&part=1&title=16
**body:**

(a) This section applies to each operator of a gas
distribution system that is subject to the requirements of 49
CFR Part 192.
(b) Each operator shall have either a prescriptive or a risk-
based program for leak surveys for its pipeline systems that
complies with the requirements of this section. Such program
shall require a designation on a system by system basis or by
segments within each system whether the operator has
chosen to use the risk based leak survey program that
complies with the requirements of subsections (c) through (f)
of this section or the prescriptive leak survey program that
complies with the requirements of subsection (g) of this
section.
(c) Each operator shall create a risk model on which to
base its leak survey program to identify those systems or
segments within systems that pose the greatest hazard and
thus will be inspected for leaks more frequently. The risk
model shall identify risk factors and determine the degree of
hazard associated with those risk factors. The operator shall
establish the leak survey frequency based on the degree of
hazard for each system or segment within a system.
(d) Each operator shall periodically re-evaluate each
pipeline system or system segment and update its leak survey
inspection program to address any changes that may be
identified through the monitoring of the pipeline system in
accordance with the requirements imposed by 49 CFR
§192.613 (relating to Continuing Surveillance). Each
operator shall not less than every three years at intervals not
exceeding 39 months review its leak survey inspection
program. Each operator shall review its leak survey
inspection program within 30 days in the following
circumstances:
(1) to add a new system or segment being put into
operation; or
(2) if, for any system or segment, there has been a ten
percent increase in the number of leaks being upgraded or a
ten percent increase in the number of unrepaired leaks.
(e) Based on the particular circumstances and conditions,
an increased frequency beyond that required by 49 CFR
§192.723(b)(1) and (2), may be warranted. Surveys should
be conducted more frequently in those areas with the greatest
potential for leakage and where leakage could be expected to
create a hazard. Each operator should consider the following
factors in establishing an increased frequency of leakage
surveys:
(1) pipe location, which means proximity to buildings or
other structures and the type and use of the buildings and
proximity to areas of concentrations of people;
(2) composition and nature of the piping system, which
means the age of the pipe, materials, type of facilities,
operating pressures, leak history records, and other studies;
(3) the corrosion history of the pipeline, which means
known areas of significant corrosion or areas where
corrosive environments are known to exist, cased crossings
of roads, highways, railroads, or other similar locations
where there is susceptibility to unique corrosive conditions;
(4) environmental factors that affect gas migration, which
means conditions that could increase the potential for
leakage or cause leaking gas to migrate to an area where it
could create a hazard, such as extreme weather conditions or
events (significant amounts or extended periods of rainfall,
extended periods of drought, unusual or prolonged freezing

weather, hurricanes, etc.), particular soil conditions, unstable
soil or areas subject to earth movement, subsidence, or
extensive growth of tree roots around pipeline facilities that
can exert substantial longitudinal force on the pipe and
nearby joints; and
(5) any other condition known to the operator that has
significant potential to initiate a leak or to permit leaking gas
to migrate to an area where it could result in a hazard, which
could include construction activity near the pipeline, wall-to-
wall pavement, trenchless excavation activities (e.g., boring),
blasting, large earth-moving equipment, heavy traffic,
increase in operating pressure, and other similar activities or
conditions.
(f) The assignment of inspection priorities is based on the
degree of hazard associated with the risk factors assigned to
the pipeline system or segments within a system. The
determination of leak survey frequency is determined by
classifying each pipeline segment based on its degree of
hazard associated with each risk factor. Each operator shall
establish its own risk ranking for pipeline segments to
determine the frequency of leakage surveys. Based on a
ranking from high to low, each operator shall schedule leak
inspections for a given pipeline system or segment within a
system on a time interval necessary to address the risks. The
time interval may range from quarterly to every five years.
(g) Operators electing to use a prescriptive leak survey
program shall conduct leak surveys no less frequently than:
(1) Once each calendar year at intervals not exceeding 15
months for all systems within a business district;
(2) every five calendar years at intervals not exceeding
63 months for non-business district polyethylene systems or
segments within a system;
(3) every three calendar years at intervals not exceeding
39 months for all other non-business district cathodically
protected steel systems or segments within a system; and
(4) every two calendar years at intervals not exceeding
27 months for all other non-business district systems or
segments within a system.
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