The PHMSA Pipes ACT 2020 ”Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety (PIPES Act) of 2020” is in effect. The PIPES Act identifies areas where additional oversight, research, or regulations are required for pipeline management. The act focuses on eliminating hazardous leaks and emissions reduction with requirements applicable to operators of all regulated pipeline facilities.
LINKS: EPA Website for Recommended Technologies
Highlights of The PIPES Act of 2020 – Sect. 114
Section 114 focuses on the utility and how they monitor and document their emissions, and the PHMSA audit that comes with it. There are self-implementing requirements for operators with respect to their inspection and maintenance plans. Section 114 will require utilities to explore alternative, cost effective options to rehabilitate their leak prone infrastructures.
A cast iron 20” natural gas main from 1861 being lined using Starline CIPL
Operators must update inspection and maintenance plans to address:
Eliminating hazardous leaks of natural gas
Minimizing releases of natural gas
Replacement or remediation plan of all leak prone pipe
Pilot Inspections Conducted in 3Q-2021 found:
Voluntary industry methane reduction efforts are in place with some Operators
Many Operators collect leak information, but fewer routinely analyze that data to identify leak-prone pipe and take remedial/replacement actions or modify their processes
Identification of leak-prone pipe does not seem to be a recognized need by all operators
PHMSA and state authorities must perform inspections in calendar year 2022. Enforcement actions will include when plans or procedures are inadequate and notices of probable violation—where operations are failing to comply with the regulations.
LEAK PRONE PIPE SOLUTIONS FOR NATURAL GAS & PRESSURE PIPELINEs
“The beauty of CIPL is that it not only addresses the leaks that our customers have identified, but eliminates the ones that have not been identified.””
TRENCHLESS TECHNOLOGY EXTENDS pipeline LIFE BY 100 YEARS
PPM is the North American licensee in the US for the Starline Cured-in-Place-Lining (CIPL) technology for rehabilitating pressure pipelines of all types. The cutting-edge technology is backed by years of research and testing data, and proven to extend the life of a pipeline by more than 100 years.
CIPL technology is ideal for mid-stream and upstream pipeline sector applications to eliminate inadvertent emission of un-odorized natural gas releases due to leaks and resultant GHG issues. Rehabilitating a cast-iron gas pipeline minimizes or eliminates greenhouse gas emissions while fixing leaks. Lining fixes all the leaks and they get a hundred year capitalization that are considered assets.
About PPM: Progressive Pipeline Management is a full service contractor and team of highly skilled infrastructure renewal specialists. The company has been improving the safety and longevity of pipeline infrastructure since it started in 2002. PPM’s primary expertise is trenchless technologies that restore aging, damaged or leaking underground infrastructure, including pipelines of all types and sizes.
