Improving Pipeline Spill Improving Pipeline Spill Prevention, Preparedness & Prevention, Preparedness &

Response - OffshoreResponse - Offshore

Theresa Bell, Minerals Management ServiceTheresa Bell, Minerals Management Service

Pacific States/British Columbia Pacific States/British Columbia Oil Spill Task ForceOil Spill Task Force April April 24, 200724, 2007

MMS, part of the U.S. Department of MMS, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, oversees 1.76 billion the Interior, oversees 1.76 billion

acres of the Outer Continental Shelf, acres of the Outer Continental Shelf, managing offshore energy and managing offshore energy and

minerals while protecting the human, minerals while protecting the human, marine, and marine, and

coastal environments.coastal environments.

Current Regulations Preventing Current Regulations Preventing Pipeline SpillsPipeline Spills

30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR PART 250--OIL AND GAS AND SULPHUR OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF– OPERATIONS IN THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF–

Subpart J--Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-WaySubpart J--Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Way

30 CFR Sec. 250.1000 General requirements.30 CFR Sec. 250.1000 General requirements. (a) Pipelines and associated valves, flanges, and (a) Pipelines and associated valves, flanges, and fittings shall be designed, installed, operated, fittings shall be designed, installed, operated, maintained, and abandoned to provide safe and maintained, and abandoned to provide safe and pollution-free transportation of fluids in a manner pollution-free transportation of fluids in a manner which does not unduly interfere with other uses in which does not unduly interfere with other uses in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Current Regulations (con’t.)Current Regulations (con’t.)30 CFR Sec. 250.1004 Safety equipment 30 CFR Sec. 250.1004 Safety equipment

requirements for DOI pipelines.requirements for DOI pipelines. - Incoming pipelines to a platform shall be - Incoming pipelines to a platform shall be equipped with a flow safety valve (FSV)equipped with a flow safety valve (FSV)- Incoming pipelines boarding to a production - Incoming pipelines boarding to a production platform shall be equipped with an automatic platform shall be equipped with an automatic shutdown valve (SDV) immediately upon boarding shutdown valve (SDV) immediately upon boarding the platform. The SDV shall be connected to the the platform. The SDV shall be connected to the automatic- and remote-emergency shut-in automatic- and remote-emergency shut-in systems. systems. - Departing pipelines…protected by high- and low-- Departing pipelines…protected by high- and low-pressure sensors (PSHL) to directly or indirectly pressure sensors (PSHL) to directly or indirectly shut in all production facilities. shut in all production facilities. - The Regional Supervisor may require that oil - The Regional Supervisor may require that oil pipelines be equipped with a metering system to pipelines be equipped with a metering system to provide a continuous volumetric comparison provide a continuous volumetric comparison

Current Regulations (con’t.)Current Regulations (con’t.)

30 CFR30 CFR Sec. 250.1005 Inspection Sec. 250.1005 Inspection requirements for DOI pipelines.requirements for DOI pipelines. Pipeline routes shall be inspected at time Pipeline routes shall be inspected at time intervals and methods prescribed by the Regional intervals and methods prescribed by the Regional Supervisor for indication of pipeline leakage. Supervisor for indication of pipeline leakage.

30 CFR Sec. 250.1016 Granting a pipeline 30 CFR Sec. 250.1016 Granting a pipeline right-of-way. (e)(1) …right-of-way. (e)(1) …The Regional Supervisor The Regional Supervisor may prescribe, as conditions to the right-of-way may prescribe, as conditions to the right-of-way grant, stipulations necessary to protect human, grant, stipulations necessary to protect human, marine, and coastal environments, life (including marine, and coastal environments, life (including aquatic life), property, and mineral resources aquatic life), property, and mineral resources located on or adjacent to the right-of-way. located on or adjacent to the right-of-way.

Overview of Inspection Overview of Inspection ProgramProgram• In 1990, the MMS Pacific OCS Region In 1990, the MMS Pacific OCS Region

pipeline inspection program was revised pipeline inspection program was revised to include:to include:-External and internal inspections every -External and internal inspections every other alternating year other alternating year - Cathodic Protection (CP) survey every - Cathodic Protection (CP) survey every yearyear- Remediation plan must be submitted - Remediation plan must be submitted for safety or fishing hazardfor safety or fishing hazard

Type of Pipeline Inspections and Type of Pipeline Inspections and ToolsTools

• External inspections External inspections conducted by remote conducted by remote operated vehicle or operated vehicle or side scan sonarside scan sonar

• Used to detect Used to detect potential external potential external problems including problems including spans, debris, coating spans, debris, coating damagedamage

Type of Pipeline Inspections Type of Pipeline Inspections and Toolsand Tools

• Internal inspections Internal inspections conducted by conducted by intelligent pigs, intelligent pigs, a.k.a. “smart” pigsa.k.a. “smart” pigs

• Used to detect wall Used to detect wall loss (corrosion) and loss (corrosion) and some dentssome dents

Current Regulations – Current Regulations – Preparedness and ResponsePreparedness and Response

30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)30 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

PART 254—OIL-SPILL RESPONSE PART 254—OIL-SPILL RESPONSE REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES LOCATED REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITIES LOCATED SEAWARD OF THE COAST LINESEAWARD OF THE COAST LINE

30 CFR Section 254.1(a) If you are the owner 30 CFR Section 254.1(a) If you are the owner or operator of an oil handling, storage, or or operator of an oil handling, storage, or transportation facility, and it is located transportation facility, and it is located seaward of the coast line, you must submit seaward of the coast line, you must submit a spill-response plan to MMS for approval. a spill-response plan to MMS for approval.

Current Regulations – Current Regulations – Preparedness and Response Preparedness and Response

(con’t.)(con’t.)30 CFR 254 Subpart B Oil-Spill 30 CFR 254 Subpart B Oil-Spill

Response Plans for Outer Continental Response Plans for Outer Continental Shelf Facilities Shelf Facilities

30 CFR 254 Subpart C Related 30 CFR 254 Subpart C Related Requirements for Outer Continental Requirements for Outer Continental Shelf FacilitiesShelf Facilities

Current Regulations – Current Regulations – Preparedness and Response Preparedness and Response

(con’t.)(con’t.)• MMS coordinates the review of the MMS coordinates the review of the

response plan with the U.S. Coast response plan with the U.S. Coast Guard and affected State agenciesGuard and affected State agencies

• MMS approves the planMMS approves the plan• Training of response personnelTraining of response personnel• Oil Spill ExercisesOil Spill Exercises• U.S. Coast Guard Federal On-Scene U.S. Coast Guard Federal On-Scene

CoordinatorCoordinator

Currently Re-Write Subpart J--Currently Re-Write Subpart J--Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-Pipelines and Pipeline Rights-of-WayWay Headings of InterestHeadings of Interest

-Pipeline Pressure Testing-Pipeline Pressure Testing-Pipeline Safety Equipment-Pipeline Safety Equipment-Pipeline Leak Detection-Pipeline Leak Detection-Pipeline Internal Corrosion Control -Pipeline Internal Corrosion Control and Flow Assuranceand Flow Assurance-Pipeline Operations and Maintenance-Pipeline Operations and Maintenance-Pipeline Surveying, Monitoring, and -Pipeline Surveying, Monitoring, and InspectionInspection

WebsitesWebsites

MMS WebsiteMMS Website

http://www.mms.govhttp://www.mms.gov

Regulations found atRegulations found at

http://www.gpoaccess.govhttp://www.gpoaccess.gov

http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/retrieve.htmlhtml

Search: title 30, section 250, subpart JSearch: title 30, section 250, subpart J