California Code of Regulations › Title 14 - Natural Resources › Division 2 - Department of Conservation › Chapter 4 - Development, Regulation, and Conservation of Oil and Gas Resources › Subchapter 2 - Environmental Protection › Article 3 - Requirements › Section 1774.1 - Pipeline Inspection and Testing

Current through Register 2024 Notice Reg. No. 28, July 12, 2024
(a) Operators shall visually inspect all
					 aboveground pipelines for leaks and corrosion at least once a year.
(b) Operators shall inspect all active gas
					 pipelines in sensitive areas that are 10 or more years old for leaks or other
					 defects at least once a year, or at a frequency approved by the Supervisor and
					 listed in the operator's Pipeline Management Plan. The operator shall conduct
					 the inspection in accordance with applicable regulatory standards or, in the
					 absence thereof, an accepted industry standard that is specified by the
					 operator and listed in the Pipeline Management Plan.
(c) The Supervisor may order such tests or
					 inspections deemed necessary to establish the reliability of any pipeline
					 system. Repair, replacement, or cathodic protection may be required.
(d) Operators shall conduct pressure testing
					 in accordance with subdivision (f)(2) on any pipeline that has had a leak
					 resulting in the release of a fluid in a quantity that triggers reporting of
					 the release under any regulatory, statutory, or other legal requirement. The
					 pipeline shall not be returned to service unless the pressure testing has been
					 successfully completed. Test results shall be provided to the Division for
					 review within seven days following the test.
(e) Pipe clamps, wooden plugs or screw-in
					 plugs shall not be used for permanent repair of pipeline leaks.
(f) The operator shall perform periodic
					 mechanical integrity testing on all active environmentally sensitive pipelines
					 that are gathering lines, all urban pipelines over 4" in diameter, and all
					 active gas pipelines in sensitive areas. The mechanical integrity testing shall
					 be conducted every two years, or at an alternative frequency approved by the
					 Supervisor based on demonstrated wall thickness and remaining service life over
					 a period of at least two years. The testing frequencies shall be specified in
					 the operator's Pipeline Management Plan. Pipelines less than 10 years old are
					 exempt from the testing requirements of this subdivision. Subject to review and
					 approval by the Division, the operator shall identify effective mechanical
					 integrity testing methods based on pipeline type and use. The mechanical
					 integrity testing methodology for compliance with this subdivision shall be
					 specified in the operator's Pipeline Management Plan and shall include at least
					 one of the following:
(1) Nondestructive
					 testing using ultrasonic or other techniques approved by the Supervisor, to
					 determine wall thickness;
(2)
					 Pressure testing using:
(A) The guidelines
					 recommended by industry standards, such as the American Petroleum Institute,
					 American Society of Mechanical Engineers for oil or gas pipelines; or
(B) The method approved by the State Fire
					 Marshal, Pipeline Safety Division for liquid pipelines or US Department of
					 Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration for gas
					 pipelines;
(3) Internal
					 inspection devices such as a smart pig, as approved by the Supervisor;
					 or
(4) Any other method approved by
					 the Supervisor that ensures mechanical integrity so as to protect life, health,
					 property and natural resources.
Copies of mechanical integrity test results shall be
						maintained in a local office of the operator for ten years and made available
						to the Division, upon request. The operator shall assess all test results to
						determine continued safe operations and that risks identified in the Pipeline
						Management Plan are adequately addressed. The operator shall repair and retest
						or remove from service any pipeline that fails the mechanical integrity test.
						The operator shall promptly notify the Division in writing of any pipeline
						taken out of service due to a test failure.