the use of gis and gps in pipeline permitting and regulatory compliance

The Use of GIS and GPS in Pipeline Permitting and Regulatory Compliance

W. L. Gardner, Jr., MIS

Geospatial Scientist

GIS Data Maps

Lufkin, TX

Introduction

This presentation cannot cover all aspects of pipeline regulations

It is designed to provide an overview of major components and provide insight into how the data should be acquired

For complete information, consult with either the state or federal agency that oversees that portion you are interested in.

Introduction

For every gas well drilled, a pipeline has to be laid to get the product to market Texas has approximately 270,000 miles of pipeline

These lines will have to pass through both urban and rural locations to get to market

Both state and federal agencies promulgate rules and regulations that pertain to the wells and their associated pipelines

Regulatory Agencies

In Texas, regulatory agencies relating to Pipelines fall under the following jurisdictions: Local: Railroad Commission of Texas

http://www.rrc.state.tx.us Federal: Department of Transportation, Pipeline

and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) http://phmsa.dot.gov/

Local Rule Promulgation

Pipeline rules at the local level can be found in 16 TAC §8 et seq.

The Texas Annotated Code (TAC) is a compilation of all state agency rules in Texas. There are 16 titles in the TAC. Each title represents a category and relating agencies are assigned to the appropriate title.

Federal Rule Promulgation Federal Regulations relating to Pipeline Saftey

fall under the Code of Federal Regulations 49 CFR §191-199

The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) is the codification of the general and permanent rules and regulations (sometimes called administrative law) published in the Federal Register by the executive departments and agencies

Are You Required to Permit

No pipeline or gathering system, whether a common carrier or not, shall be used to transport oil, gas, or geothermal resources from any tract of land within this state without a permit from the commission

The permit, if granted, shall be revocable at any time after hearing held after 10 days' notice, if the commission finds that the line is so unsafe, or so improperly equipped, or so managed, as likely to result in waste

16 TAC §3.70

Permitting At least 30 days prior to commencement of

construction of any installation totaling one mile or more of pipe an operator must file a PS-48 16 TAC §8.115

Any entity or organization operating within the state must file a P5 Organization Report prior to beginning any operations. This report must also be re-filed annually.

16 TAC §3.1

Permitting Once a pipeline is constructed but before

commencement of operations, a T-4 permit must be attained. This permit is renewed annually. This is the official RRC document to operate a pipeline in

Texas. If you are changing operators, you must also file a T-

4B All initial permits and changes of operators permits

MUST be accompanied with a map (USGS 7.5 min) denoting location

16 TAC §8.210(b)

Permitting RRC requires that operators provide maps of the

pipelines included under each permit. Pipeline maps, whether submitted digitally or in hard copy format, should include all active, inactive and abandoned lines that are not removed from the ground Eventually the Texas Pipeline Mapping System (TPMS) will

require all submissions to be digital Permits filed digitally:

FTP completed GIS information as individual files. email RRC same day with attached T-4 Permit and file

names

Permitting

Finally, a PS800A is filed especially if the operator has a Class Location of 2 or above in their assessment.

Gathering Lines

Gathering Lines used to be regulated under §192 when: the line was located within the limits of an

incorporated or unincorporated city town, or village the line was located in a designated residential or

commercial area such as a subdivision, business, shopping area, or community development

Gathering Lines Gathering lines subject to 192 are now

determined by Class location and Type Operators will evaluate lines using class

location definitions. (look for populated areas where there is risk to the public) Gathering lines in class 2, 3, and 4 areas will be

regulated. Class 1 lines are not regulated

Determination will depend upon whether the line is Type A or B

Is It Regulated and Type

Under the new guidelines: Determine if a pipeline is regulated based upon its

Class Determination §192.5 Determine if the line is considered a gathering line

or other type of pipeline §192.8(a)(1-4) Determine the type of regulation based upon

prescribed parameters §192.8(b)(1) Determine the safety and amount of compliance

requirements you have to follow §192.9

Determination of Class Location Unit 49 CFR §192.5

A “class location unit” is an onshore area that extends 220 yards (200 meters) on either side of the centerline of any continuous 1- mile (1.6 kilometers) length of pipeline.

Each separate dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling unit building is counted as a separate building intended for human occupancy. Class Locations are sub-divided into 4 parts

Determination of Class Location Unit

A Class 1 location is: An offshore area; or Any class location unit that has 10 or fewer

buildings intended for human occupancy. A Class 2 location is any class location unit that

has more than 10 but fewer than 46 buildings intended for human occupancy.

Determination of Class Location Unit A Class 3 location is:

Any class location unit that has 46 or more buildings intended for human occupancy; or

An area where the pipeline lies within 100 yards (91 meters) of either a building or a small, well-defined outside area (such as a playground, recreation area, outdoor theater, or other place of public assembly) that is occupied by 20 or more persons on at least 5 days a week for 10 weeks in any 12-month period. (The days and weeks need not be consecutive.)

A Class 4 location is any class location unit where buildings with four or more stories above ground are prevalent.

Pipeline is onshoreOperates at <0 psig

Class 1 Determined From §192.5

Not Required

Offshore GatheringLine

Pipeline within inlets of the Gulf of Mexico

Class 2 Determined from §192.5

Class 3 & 4 Determined from

§192.5

TYPE AMust Comply with that portion of §192 that is

applicable to Transmission Lines but not §192.150 and Subpart O. Class 2 (onshore)

may use alternate method for Subpart N

Must only comply with §192.612

≥ 20 % SMYS (metallic pipe)…………………………..

> 125 psig (non-metallic pipe)

< 20 % SMYS (metallic pipe)………………………….

≤ 125 psig (non-metallic pipe)

≥ 20 % SMYS (metallic pipe)…………………………..

> 125 psig (non-metallic pipe)

< 20 % SMYS (metallic pipe)………………………….

≤ 125 psig (non-metallic pipe)

Page 1

Regulated vs. Non-Regulated Gathering Lines

TYPE AMust Comply with that portion of §192 that is applicable to Transmission Lines (including Subpart N) but not §192.150 and Subpart O.

TYPE BOnly comply with §192: §192.614, §192.616,

§192.619, §192.707, and Subpart I for metallic pipelines.

2(b)±150' x 1 mile

With > 10 but < 46 dwellings

2(c)±150' x 1000'

With 5 or moredwellings

2(a)Class 2

IAW §192.5





Not Required

Not Required

SAFTEY BUFFER

REQUIRED

OR

OR

NO

YES

YES

NO

YES

In Accordance WithMAOP: Maximum Allowable Operating PressureSMYS: Specified Minimum Yield Strength

Why Geospatial Aspect so Important GIS with GPS allows you to:

Accurately capture spatial aspect for correct spatial analysis

Develop accurate database. You’re there, you see it and you properly record it

Spatially centralize your information for long term storage, retrieval, modeling, and as an adjunct to maintenance and corrosion control aspects. PHMSA requires maps to support reports for all the

above

The Project

Encompasses a 5 phase approach Phase I is Initial Planning Phase II is Field Collection Phase III is Data Compilation Phase IV is Analysis Phase V is Products

Phase I: Initial Planning

Is the gathering phase Source data from client compiled from various records

BE SURE TO GET THE API NUMBER OF EACH WELL YOU WILL BE WORK AT

Meeting with client to determine quantity of data to be collected determined

Preliminary assessment visiting each well site Data dictionary altered or built according to clients

wishes.

Phase I: Initial Planning, Data Gathering

Attain from TNRIS, county CAD or agency and RRC all base type info on your area/county From CAD learn how to research or calculate for

Parcel-ID If possible, attain hard copy maps for reference

Develop Geodatabase and review for buildings, subdivisions, schools and parks in area Familiarity needed for class status and permitting. Heads up digitize those buildings you can easily see

Phase I: Initial Planning, Data Dictionary

The data dictionary creates the point, line and area features. Attributes and values associated with each feature

are described. Values can be set up as menu items, characters,

numbers, dates, etc. This allows you the ability to collect spatial

data as well as attribute data simultaneously.

Phase II: Field Collection

Requires you to take your office to the field Allows you to compare Survey Notes to your

developing “As Builds” Will require you to use equipment of higher

precision for accurate data capture such as map grade GPS as well as significant ancillary equipment

What is GPS?? GPS is a complex system of satellites and ground stations managed

by the Dept. of Defense. 24 satellites are in constant orbit and are available 24 hours a day, 7

days a week. Minimum of 2 are kept back to replace any one satellite that many

fail. 2 are in geosynchronous orbit with their respective coasts in the

United States. These are called Wide Angle Augmentation System or WAAS

Each satellite has an atomic clock in it for accurate time sequencing These satellites communicate with receivers to determine the

latitude and longitude of the receiver on Earth by computing the time difference for signals from different satellites to reach the receiver. This is called trilateration

GPS Accuracy (Map Grade Only)

Accuracy: From less than foot to less than 3 ft. depending on unit used

Can collect points, lines, and areas

Can build a database at same time spatial data is captured

GPS Accuracy (Map Grade Only)

Additional Field Equipment Line locators to give

you placement as well as depth Radiodetection RD 4000

ATV or some other 4WD vehicle

100 foot Tape Measurer Survey Flags Compass

Additional Field Equipment

Additional Field Equipment Laser Range Finders

allow you to do offsets of building corners and not trespass

Field Notebook Less but needed

Paint stripper Paint Leather gloves Wasp/hornet long distance

spray Multipurpose tool ie.

Leatherman Leak Detector

Phase II: Field Collection

Prior to leaving for the field, evaluate PDOP for ranges above 6 or your settings.

If leak detector available, trace from well head to production line to production units, and manifolds Periodic check along line Watch for signs of leaks such as dead grass,

bubbling in puddles and unusual hissing noises.

Phase II: Field Collection Sketch surface structures with measurements

and notes. Helps immensely for future reference when back in

the office Don’t flinch on the quantity of notes.

Using small brush and stripper, remove paint from tags and document in DB as data collected

Collect minimum 20 positions for each point and 1 position for each component of a line or polygon

Phase II: Field Collection, Pad Sites

Repaint ASAP to keep from POPS (Pissing Off the Production Supervisor)

At all locations where photo is taken, minimum of two (2) should be collected.

All collection should start at well head and end at manifold of transmission line or adjacent well

Phase II: Field Collection, Route

Along pipeline routes, if you can connect GPS to line locator to get X,Y & Z. If you cannot, take QA points along the line to

ensure capture of depth. Clamp Transmitter to pipeline or use steel wire

and grounding rod Will let you traverse up to 2.5 miles of line with

good signal

Phase II: Field Collection, Route

Flag your line with survey flags in event you have to retrace Comes in handy if you have to re-drive your route

on ATV to get line location again. Yellow flags commonly used to denote gas

Ancillary info such as gates and bridges can be done along the route This is called “Nesting”.

Phase II: Field Collection, Route Stay aware along route for buildings and residences not

seen in aerials. Use Laser Range Finder:

To capture building corners if you cannot trespass. Input 911 address in DB when possible Offset locations that will not let you collect at spot

Flag lines crossing yours and use locator to determine deeper line

Retrace this line 50-100 ft back either side of yours. Aberrant readings should be investigated as abandoned

line

Phase II: Field Collection WARNINGS

Data collection cannot be done near cyclone or chain link fence Wavelength from satellite is same as opening

DO NOT DO DATA COLLECTION IN THUNDERSTORM, ESPECIALLY IF USING HURRICANE OR ZEPHER ANTENNA

Do offsets when to close to buildings or structures.

Phase III: Data Compilation

All data collected in the field should be evaluated before processing (Pathfinder Office) Points should have a SD of < .5 Lines and Polys should have aberrant vertices

removed Post processing GeoXH files need to be

triangulated with base stations One sided processing will move your data

incorrectly

Phase III: Data Compilation

All exported shapefiles should be in exported in same coordinate system as Geodatabase

Shapefiles can be added using import tool Subsequent data can be added using the Data

Conversion Tool. Photos embedded by adding Raster Column in

DB. QA all data in DB with Notes

the use of gis and gps in pipeline permitting and regulatory compliance

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