Managing the Mega Rule

For engineers tasked with managing multi-dimensional, data-rich, pipeline integrity management programmes and Mega Rule compliance initiatives, staying ahead of new regulations can be a daunting endeavour. Fortunately, there’s a new PMI tool in the final stages of validation testing that simplifies material verification and enables resourceful teams to collaborate more efficiently on their regulatory obligations.

Legislation – PHMSA and the Mega Rule

Integrity management of pipelines is a complex issue, and global legislations exist to guarantee their safe operation. In the US, the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), part of the Department of Transportation, sets the rules and regulations in this domain – with their most recent ‘Mega Rule’ legislation demonstrating just how critical pipeline integrity is at a national level. Such guidelines establish standards for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of pipelines. They might also provide guidelines for conducting integrity assessments and developing integrity management plans, as well as determining the roles and responsibilities of the various parties involved in the management of pipeline integrity.

In a move to enhance safety for onshore gas transmission pipelines, this new legislation broadens the scope of existing rules and regulations. Industry professionals well-versed in these measures will find that several additions have been included with an emphasis on ensuring maximum safety, such as additional material verification requirements and re-confirmation of maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP).

The Mega Rule ensures that pipelines are operating safely and remain in good condition by requiring operators to implement comprehensive integrity management programmes. These programmes assess potential risks, such as cracks or corrosion, and take corrective steps where needed, thereby ensuring optimal performance is maintained (as much as is feasibly possible) across all pipeline infrastructure.

Pipeline integrity management – methods and tools

Of course, the legislative frameworks are helpful, but the importance of pipeline integrity management is already well understood in an industry that has, historically, prioritised safety, and spent billions of dollars implementing these complex integrity management programmes …

To access the full version of this article and get a free trial subscription to World Pipelines, be sure to sign up here!

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/product-news/06042023/managing-the-mega-rule/