Section 18.75.047. Requirements for flow lines at production facilities.

	(a)  The requirements of this section apply to each flow line associated with a production facility.  
	(b)  Unless the owner or operator must comply with a more stringent requirement set out in this section, the owner or operator shall ensure that the design and construction of each flow line placed in service after December 30, 2008 is consistent with one of the following standards:  
		(1) American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids, 2002 Edition (ASME B31.4-2002), adopted by reference;  
		(2) American Society of Mechanical Engineers, Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems, 2003 Edition (ASME B31.8-2003), adopted by reference;  
		(3) another equivalent and nationally recognized standard approved by the department.  
	(c)  No later than December 30, 2007, the owner or operator shall ensure that measures for controlling corrosion in flow lines are undertaken, including, at a minimum,  
		(1) a corrosion monitoring and control program consistent with Chapter VIII of Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids (ASME B31.4-2002), adopted by reference in (b)(1) of this section;  
		(2) unless amore stringent requirement is set out in this section, external corrosion control of buried or submerged flow lines consistent with NACE International's Standard Recommended Practice: Control of External Corrosion on Underground or Submerged Metallic Piping Systems, 2002 edition (NACE RP0169-2002), adopted by reference;  
		(3) external corrosion control of aboveground flow lines by the application of a protective coating, by the use of corrosion-resistant alloys, or by another method approved by the department, unless the operator demonstrates by test, investigation, or experience appropriate to the environment of the flow line segment, that the anticipated extent of corrosion will not affect the flow line's fitness for service; and  
		(4) a program designed to minimize internal corrosion, including, as appropriate, one or more of the following:  
			(A) removal of foreign material by scraping or pigging;  
			(B) treatment of residual water or dehydration;  
			(C) injection of inhibitors, biocides, or other chemical agents;  
			(D) removal of dissolved gases by thermal or mechanical means;  
			(E) gas blanketing;  
			(F) continuous internal coating or lining;  
			(G) another method approved by the department.  
	(d)  No later than December 30, 2007, the operator shall  
		(1) completely contain the entire circumference of the flow line and provide the interstitial space with a leak detection system approved by the department; or  
		(2) have in place a preventative maintenance program that ensures the continued operational reliability of any flow line system component affecting quality, safety, and pollution prevention; the owner or operator shall ensure that the program,  
			(A) for submerged flow lines, is consistent with Chapters VII through IX of Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids (ASME B3l.4-2002), adopted by reference in (b)(1) of this section;  
			(B) for buried flow lines, is consistent with Chapters VII and VIII of Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids (ASME B31.4-2002), adopted by reference in (b)(1) of this section;  
			(C) for aboveground flow lines, as appropriate, a program consistent with  
				(i) the requirements of the American Petroleum Institute's (API) Piping Inspection Code: Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of In-service Piping Systems, Second Edition, October 1998, Addendum 1, February 2000, Addendum 2, December 2001, and Addendum 3, August 2003 (API 570), adopted by reference excluding Section 8; and  
				(ii) Chapters VII and VIII of Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids ASME B3l.4-2002), adopted by reference in (b)(1) of this section; and  
			(D) for all flow lines, procedures to review proposed changes in operations to evaluate potential impacts on pipe integrity.  
	(e)  Line markers shall be installed no later than December 30, 2007 and maintained over each onshore flow line at each road crossing and at one-mile intervals along the remainder of the pipe to identify and, for buried pipe, properly locate each flow line.  
	(f)  On or after December 30, 2006, flow lines removed from service for more than one year and not maintained in accordance with (c) and (d) of this section must be free of accumulated oil and isolated from the system. The owner or operator shall notify the department when flow lines are removed from service and when the actions required by this subsection are completed. For purposes of this subsection, a flow line removed from service is free of accumulated oil if  
		(1) in the case of a piggable pipe, a cleaning pig is run through the pipe;  
		(2) in the case of a pipe that is not piggable but that can be drained entirely of its contents by gravity, the pipe is completely drained of oil; or  
		(3) in all other cases, air is blown through the pipe or another method is used to flush or evacuate standing oil accumulated in low spots.  
	(g)  Aboveground flow lines must be supported consistent with the requirements of Paragraph 421 of Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids (ASME B31.4-2002), adopted by reference in (b)(1) of this section.  
	(h)  The owner or operator shall verify compliance with the requirements of (c) and (d)(2) of this section by documentation, including  
		(1) for corrosion control measures under (c) of this section, documentation to validate the effectiveness of those measures, including  
			(A) dates and locations of inspections and tests;  
			(B) inspections and test data evaluation including analysis of  
				(i) weight loss coupons and electrical resistance probes; and  
				(ii) corrosion inspections;  
			(C) data and analysis of chemical optimization activities;  
			(D) analysis of corrosion trends that affect the fitness for service of the flow line; and  
			(E) a list and description of repair activities undertaken; and  
		(2) for a preventative maintenance program under (d)(2) of this section, documentation to validate the effectiveness of that program, including  
			(A) the procedures for program implementation under (d)(2) of this section;  
			(B) dates and locations of inspections and tests;  
			(C) inspections and test data evaluation including analysis, pipewall thickness measurements, and remaining life calculations; and  
			(D) internal audit procedures of the program, including descriptions of controls and corrections for identified defects.  
				(i)  In this section,  
		(1) "buried" means covered or in contact with soil;  
		(2) "defects"  
			(A) means an imperfection listed in Paragraph 451.6.2 of Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids (ASME B.31.4-2002), adopted by reference in (b)(1) of this section; and  
			(B) has the meaning given in Section 3.10 of Piping Inspection Code: Inspection, Repair, Alteration, and Rerating of In-service Piping Systems (API 570), adopted by reference in (d)(2) of this section;  
		(3) "removed from service" means not in regular use for the service intended and not included in a regular maintenance and inspection program in accordance with this section;  
		(4) "submerged" means located below the surface of waters of the state.  

Authorities

46.03.020;46.04.030;46.04.070

Notes

Reference

18 AAC 75.045
18 AAC 75.475
18 AAC 75.990

Authority

AS 46.03.020 AS 46.04.030 AS 46.04.070 Editor's note: The publications adopted by reference in 18 AAC 75.047 may be reviewed at the department's offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks or Juneau, or may be obtained directly from the appropriate publisher. The mailing address, telephone number, facsimile number, and website, if available, for each publisher are as follows: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), 22 Law Drive, P.O. Box 2300, Fairfield, New Jersey 07007-2300; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; website: http://www.asme.org/; NACE International, 1440 South Creek Drive, Houston, Texas 77084-4906; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; website: http://www.nace.org; American Petroleum Institute (API), 1220 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20005-4070; telephone [phone]; fax [phone]; website: http://www.api.org/.

History

Eff. 12/30/2006, Register 180

References

18.75.047