About The PHMSA Gas Mega Rule
The Gas Mega Rule stated purpose is “To increase the level of safety associated with the transportation of gas”.
PHMSA’s Gas Mega Rule officially came into effect on July 1st, 2020, in which gas transmission operators should assess final rule readiness and begin preparing for the potential impact on in-place integrity management programs and operating practices. This required operators to address the following key activities:
- Expand Integrity Management requirements beyond High Consequence Areas (HCAs) to Moderate Consequence Areas (MCAs)
- Require pipeline operators to verify records to establish Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP)
- Require testing of untested pipe to confirm MAOP
Effective and efficient application of resources via optimal business decision-making and process management will be critical to ensuring compliance and achieving desired increases in safety and reliability performance within the limited cost structure of the pipeline industry.
Dynamic Risk has put together an assortment of resources for pipeline operators to better understand the PHMSA Gas Mega Rule and its impacts on the pipeline industry.
Operationalization of PHMSA’s Gas Mega Rule
Part 1 Primary Requirements: Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) Reconfirmation and Material Verification, and Assessments Outside High Consequence Areas (HCAs):
- Complete MAOP Reconfirmation of 50% of affected pipeline mileage by July 2028
- Complete MAOP Reconfirmation of 100% of affected pipeline mileage by July 2035
- Complete integrity assessment of non-HCA Class 3 and 4 Locations, and Piggable Moderate Consequence Areas (MCAs) by July 2034
- Material verification as required to support all activities
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The Impacts of PHMSA’s Gas Mega Rule Part 2 for Gas Transmission Operators
Part 2 of the PHMSA Gas Mega Rule, also known as “RIN 2”, comprises additional changes to pipeline safety regulations for onshore gas transmission. The RIN-2 rule has increased regulatory requirements in 49 CFR 192 for operations and maintenance and integrity management, and pipeline operators will need to operationalize the requirements into systems, processes and procedures to ensure compliance.
While all the changes to requirements need to be considered, four of these changes will have major impact on pipeline operators: Data Integration; Risk Assessment; Engineering Critical Assessment for Dents; and Management of Change.
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Engineering Critical Assessments (ECA) for MAOP Reconfirmation
The U.S. Pipeline regulatory structure continues to experience significant changes that will facilitate gaining the next level of safety and reliability performance. With the release of Part 1 of the Gas Mega Rule in October of 2019 (effective July 1, 2020), in lieu of replacement or re-testing pipelines, operators have the option of applying Engineering Critical Assessments (ECAs) and advanced fitness-for-service solutions for validating and reconfirming maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP). The requirements for the ECA are outlined in §192.632. Reconfirmation of MAOP (MAOP-R) has the potential for billions of dollars of effort/impact if the industry must rely on replacements, pressure reductions, and pressure tests for compliance. ECAs provide an effective performance-based pathway forward to obtain the greatest yield from resources in terms of increasing pipeline safety and reliability and providing maximum return on investment.
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Webinars, Presentations & Whitepapers:
Webinar & Whitepaper: About The PHMSA Gas Mega Rule
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) finalized a rule for gas transmission pipelines which has been in development for over eight years. This highly anticipated rule, referred to by many as the “Gas Mega Rule,” is considered to be the most significant change to the existing gas pipeline regulations since 1970.
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Are you Ready? Key Insights of PHMSA’s Gas Mega Rule for Transmission Pipelines
and the impacts on Operations and Maintenance
The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) released the first of three phases of the “Gas Mega Rule” in October of 2019. The impacts of this ruling will significantly affect certain pipeline operation and maintenance activities that operators use to ensure the safety and reliability of their pipeline assets. Transmission pipeline operators have been working diligently towards additional or modified procedures.
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Partner’s Conference 2021 Presentation
Ben Mittelstadt – Director, Technical Services
PHMSA’s Gas Mega Rule outlines new regulatory changes in the US that have added requirements for pipeline operators to complete and document activities such as MAOP reconfirmation, Material Testing and Verification and integrity assessments in locations where they have not previously been required. In this presentation, Ben explores how efficient and effective processes are necessary to implement and address these requirements, how access to data underpins them all, and how novel approaches through data sharing and data science support the development of industry leading solutions.
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PHMSA Gas Mega Rule Industry Blogs
Pipeline industry subject matter experts at Dynamic Risk have curated a list of important blog topics on the PHMSA Gas Mega Rule to help operators better understand the impacts to the industry and how to best manage their pipeline assets moving forward.
- The PHMSA Gas Mega Rule in Practice
- U.S. Regulations: The PHMSA Gas Mega Rule
- Important Information On The PHMSA 192 Ruling
- What You Need To Consider Complying With The PHMSA Mega Rule
- Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) Reconfirmation
