If the new Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) proposed regulations become law, the term moderate consequence area (MCA) will take on a whole new meaning. Integrity management requirements already in place for high consequence areas (HCA) will extend to MCAs, adding over 40,000 miles to the HCAs already under scrutiny. Corrosion measurement requirements will also increase according to Pipeline & Gas Journal, expanding from inspection to gas contaminant monitoring. Direct inspection is also on the way out, allowed only where inline inspection or pressure testing are not feasible. The PHMSA claims the cost-benefit ratio of the new regulations exceeds 5-to-1, but industry experts remain skeptical.
Editor's Note: This news brief was brought to you by the Oil & Gas Technology eNewsletter. Subscribe today to have content like this delivered to your inbox.
|
Comments rated to be "almost" Good Answers: