North Dakota Industrial Commission to employ additional pipeline inspectors

The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Division, will dedicate three new positions to the inspection of oil and gas gathering pipelines. In July 2014, the state well count reached 15 000, resulting in the need for three additional regulatory staff. The new inspector positions will be stationed in the division’s district filed offices in Minot, Dickinson and Williston. The division currently has 32 full-time staff members dedicated to field inspection.

“In the past year enough new gathering lines were laid in the ground to stretch from Seattle, Washington to Orlando, Florida,” said Division Director Lynn Helms. “Best estimates indicate industry will continue to lay more than 2000 miles of gathering infrastructure a year. Filling these positions will be a valuable resource in continued regulatory oversight.”

In April 2014, new rules regulating the installation of gathering lines took effect. In part, these rules require pipelines to be installed in a manner that does not interfere with agriculture, and backfilled in a manner that provides firm support without damaging the pipeline. Companies must submit an affidavit certifying they have installed pipelines in compliance with the rules and submit geographical information as to the location of that pipeline.

Adapted from press release by Rosalie Starling

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/04092014/north-dakota-industrial-commission-to-employ-additional-pipeline-inspectors-782/