Pipeline Regulatory Compliance

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Integrity Management

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The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) Integrity Management (IM) rule provided for pipeline operators to assess, evaluate, repair and validate integrity assessment results for pipeline segments that, in the event of a leak or failure, could affect High Consequence Areas (population, areas unusually sensitive to environmental damage and commercially navigable waterways); all with strict assessment timeframes. The underlying goal of theIntegrity Management rule is to improve pipeline safety through:

 

• accelerating integrity assessments in High Consequence Areas,

• requiring accurate and comprehensive data validation and integration,

• providing guidelines for “critical defect” identification,

• mandating strict timelines for defect assessment and repair,

• requiring re-assessment within a reasonable time,

• improving integrity management systems within companies,

• requiring a risk-based integrity program,

• improving the government's oversight of integrity programs and plans,

• providing increased public assurance in pipeline safety

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KeyBenefits

 

• Your Integrity Management Plan will be updated per current regulations

• In Line Inspection (ILI) data will be validated through data verification and correlation

• Above Ground Marker data will be correlated for accuracy

• Data integration will be comprehensive

• Dig site selection and prioritization per IM rule

• Documentation will be clear and comprehensive

• Assessment schedules will be maintained

• Processes will ensure your program continually improves and provides for increased reliability and safety

• Allows clients time and energy to devote to higher priority business needs

• Gives clients peace of mind that their integrity program is being handled professionally

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Capabilities

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Accurate data integration is essential to understanding the true integrity of a pipeline system. Our specialized integrity professionals provide services including IM and ILI oversight, data validation and verification and integrity project management.

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PHMSA Operating Guides

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We will review and update an operator’s existing guides as required by regulation or assemble and write the required guides based on existing policies and procedures.  These services include:

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• Operations, Maintenance, and Emergencies

• Integrity Management

• Operator Qualification

• Public Awareness

• Block Valve Manuals

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Public Awareness

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Pipeline Operators must carry out continuing education programs to educate the public on use of the one call system, possible hazards with releases and how to recognize and react to a pipeline release. Of course, these efforts must be documented in a plan, evaluated, and updated on a regular basis.

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Operator Qualification

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The Pipeline Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) now regulates the qualification of pipeline personnel. PRCTL will provide the guidance necessary to develop and implement an effective Operator Qualification program utilizing accepted industry practices.   PRCTL will assist our clients in meeting the requirements for identifying covered tasks that impact the safety or integrity of pipelines, for qualifying individuals to perform those tasks, and for managing the qualifications of pipeline personnel.

Standard PHMSA Inspection Prep

 

 

The Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) is the federal safety authority for the nation's 2.3 million miles of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. The OPS has the mission to ensure the safe, reliable, and environmentally sound operation of the nation's pipeline transportation system. The rules governing pipeline safety set forth in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 49 Parts 190-199 outline specific requirements that an operator must meet. The OPS audits each operator to ensure the operator is in compliance. The ever-increasing number of regulations a pipeline operator must abide by requires more and more time and resources.  An operator must perform inspections on a regular basis, document the results and retain the records for a specified period of time. This leads to a massive amount of documentation to be filed and tracked according to retention periods.  PRCTL will team with an operator to ensure that they are ready for an OPS audit. PRCTL can assist the operator in updating and tracking the required documentation or assist with specific problem areas.

 

KeyBenefits

 

• Identify gaps in DOT files and implement plans to close

• Ensure you are ready for a PHMSA audit

• Organize documentation so it is readily accessible and have confidence that it is complete

• Provide clear and comprehensive documentation

• Clients can devote time and energy to higher priorities

 

Capabilities

 

We combine specialized knowledge and skills with field experience to provide an accurate assessment of a pipeline system's required files and operating guides. Our pipeline safety professionals provide services including technical writing to ensure the operators processes, procedures, and inspections meet the intent of the pipeline safety regulations.

Construction and Maintenance Field Supervision

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PRCTL believes that successful project implementation does not end until ALL required documentation is accurate, complete and submitted to our clients.  We feel that our inspection professionals are not only field supervisors, but a true representative of our clients.  Each field supervisor is trained in Root Cause Analysis as well as given client specific training on policies, procedures and expectations.  Our documentation is second to none as we provide a second level of internal approval before it is submitted to our client. Bottom line, we understand the importance of documentation when it comes to understanding a system integrity as well as making PHMSA inspections go smoothly.

 

KeyBenefits

 

• Safety is our #1priority

• Average of 20 years’ experience with a minimum of 10 years

• Specialize in integrity related projects

• Provide internal documentation reviews for completeness and accuracy

• Understand what is required for successful anomaly dig programs

• Provide RCA trained inspectors

• Give clients peace of mind that their project is being handled professionally 

 

Capabilities

 

Our specialized field supervisors provide professional inspection services for a wide range of projects including new construction, ILI runs, anomaly dig programs and rehabilitation projects.  Our inspection personnel include project supervisors, chief inspectors, utility inspectors and office managers.

Root Cause Analysis (RCA)

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Understanding why things go wrong while prospering through problems. Latent Cause Analysis (LCA) is a root cause analysis process used worldwide by Fortune 500 organizations and individuals desiring to improve in all phases of business and life. We lead failure investigations as the principal investigator (PI) and help our clients understand the contributing factors involved in why things go wrong, and how to address the right factors to avoid future problems. As PI, we will lead a team of investigators through gathering evidence, analyzing what was gathered and presenting the evidence to a group of stakeholders.  The team and stakeholders will develop and agree on contributing factors and ultimately identify what cultural factors, "what is it about the way we are as an organization", that contributed to the problem.