[Federal Register: November 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 225)]
[Notices]
[Page 67704-67705]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22no06-150]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
[Docket No. PHMSA-2006-25803; Notice 1]
Pipeline Safety: Request for Waiver; Kinder Morgan Louisiana
Pipeline, L.L.C.
AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA);
DOT.
ACTION: Notice of Intent to Consider Waiver Requests.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline L.L.C. (KMLP) requests a
waiver to use a 0.80 design factor in the steel pipe design formula for
Class 1 locations on Leg 1 of its proposed natural gas interstate
Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline. The waiver will allow KMLP to design,
construct and operate Leg 1 of its pipeline at hoop stresses up to 80
percent of the specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) in Class 1
locations. KMLP seeks relief from the related capacity design
requirements for pressure relieving and pressure limiting stations on
the same segment of the proposed pipeline.
DATES: Persons interested in submitting comments regarding this waiver
request must do so by December 22, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments should reference Docket No. PHMSA-2006-25803 and
may be submitted in the following ways:
The DOT Web site: http://dms.dot.gov. To submit comments
on the DOT electronic docket site, click ``Comments/Submissions,''
click ``Continue,'' fill in the requested information, click
``Continue,''enter your comment, then click ``Submit.''
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Docket Management System: U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: DOT Docket Management System; Room PL-401
on the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW.,
Washington, DC between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except
Federal holidays.
E-Gov Web site: http://www.regulations.gov. This site
allows the public to enter comments on any Federal Register notice
issued by any agency.
Instructions for submitting comments: You should identify the
docket number (PHMSA-2006-25803) at the beginning of your comments. If
you submit your comments by mail, please submit two copies. If you wish
to receive confirmation that PHMSA received your comments, please
include a self-addressed stamped postcard. Internet users may submit
comments at http://www.regulations.gov, and may access all comments received by DOT at http://dms.dot.gov by performing a simple search for
the docket number.
Note: All comments will be posted without changes or edits to
http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information provided.
Privacy Act Statement: Anyone may search the electronic form of all
comments received for any of our dockets. You may review DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alan Mayberry by telephone at (202)
366-5124; by fax at (202) 366-4566; by mail at DOT, Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, Pipeline Safety Program, 400
Seventh Street, SW., Room 2103, Washington, DC 20590; or by e-mail at
alan.mayberry@dot.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Kinder Morgan Louisiana Pipeline L.L.C. (KMLP) requests a waiver of
compliance from certain regulatory requirements in 49 CFR 192.111 and
192.201 for Class 1 locations on Leg 1 only of its proposed natural gas
interstate pipeline. KMLP specifically requests a waiver to allow the
use of a 0.80 design factor in the steel pipe design formula in Sec.
192.105 in lieu of the design factor of 0.72 specified Sec. 192.111
for Class 1 locations. The waiver will allow KMLP to design, construct
and operate Leg 1 of its pipeline at hoop stresses up to 80 percent of
the specified minimum yield strength (SMYS) in Class 1 locations. KMLP
neither seeks a waiver from any other design factors, nor for any other
segments of its pipeline.
A waiver allowing an increase of the design factor from 0.72 to
0.80 in the steel pipe design formula in Sec. 192.105 requires a
modification in the required design capacities of pressure relieving
and limiting stations installed to protect the pipeline. Therefore,
KMLP also requests a waiver of Sec. 192.201(a)(2)(i), which prescribes
the design capacity requirements for pressure relieving and limiting
stations on pipelines with a maximum allowable operating pressure
(MAOP) of 60 pounds per square inch gauge (psig) or more. KMLP
specifically wants to design the pressure relieving and pressure
limiting stations on Leg 1 of its pipeline such that the maximum
pressure will not exceed the MAOP plus 4 percent or the pressure that
produces a hoop stress of 83 percent of SMYS, whichever is lower.
System Description
KMLP plans to construct and operate its pipeline to deliver
approximately 3,395,000 Dekatherms per day (Dth/d) of regasified
liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal
(currently under development) in Cameron Parish, Louisiana (LA), to
markets in the eastern half of the United States. The pipeline will
consist of two legs and two laterals. The pressure to operate the
pipeline will be supplied by the LNG terminal so the proposed project
does not include the construction of compressor stations.
Four major segments comprise the KMLP pipeline project as follows:
Leg 1 is a 137-mile, 42-inch diameter, pipeline running
[[Page 67705]]
northeasterly from within the LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, LA, to an
interconnection with a Columbia Gulf Transmission Company pipeline in
Evangeline Parish, LA. Along this route, the pipeline connects to ten
or more interstate and intrastate transmission pipelines and has a peak
day capacity of approximately 2,130,000 Dth/d. This is the only leg of
the pipeline to which the waiver will apply.
Leg 2, is a 1-mile, 36-inch diameter pipeline, running
northerly from the LNG terminal to an interconnection with a Natural
Gas Pipeline Company of America (NGPL) pipeline, located approximately
0.41 miles north of the terminal. This leg is entirely within Cameron
Parish, LA.
The Florida Gas Transmission (FGT) lateral is 2.2-mile,
24-inch diameter, lateral pipeline extending from Leg 1 to an existing
compressor station owned by FGT in Acadia Parish, LA.
The Bi-Directional Tie-in line is an interconnection
between Leg 1 and Leg 2. The tie-in allows Leg 1 to receive gas from
NGPL when not receiving gas from the LNG terminal.
Pipeline Design, Specifications and Quality Control
KMLP's waiver petition describes various qualitative
characteristics of its proposed pipeline system and it believes the
proposed pipeline system meets and/or exceeds current PHMSA pipeline
safety regulations. KMLP plans to design and construct the pipeline
using steel pipe that conforms to Kinder Morgan's Material Standard
M8270. KMLP also states that the Class 1 location line pipe for its
proposed pipeline conforms to American Petroleum Institute's (API) 5L
Grade X80 and X70 longitudinal or helical seam submerged are welded
pipe. This specific pipe is externally coated with plan fusion bonded
epoxy (FBE) as specified in Kinder Morgan's Engineering Standard
(M8370).
In its waiver request, KMLP states all pipeline welds will undergo
nondestructive testing during construction. Crews will repair or remove
and replace any weld imperfections discovered during testing that do
not meet the pipeline safety regulations. To help and inspect the
pipeline, KMLP will install pig launchers and receivers designed to
allow the use of inline inspection (ILI) tools. KMLP will survey the
pipeline with a multi-channel geometry ILI ``smart'' tool capable of
detecting anomalies (including dents and buckles) before commissioning
the pipeline for nature gas service. KMLP will also conduct a
hydrostatic test of the pipeline to no less than 100 percent of SMYS
before the pipeline is placed into service.
Risk Analysis
KMLP stated it conducted a risk analysis for the pipeline project
using a proprietary risk assessment program to compare the risks
associated with using a 0.80 design criteria for a Class 1 location
pipeline with the risks associated with the 0.72 design criteria
required by Sec. 192.111. The analysis determined there was no
significant increase in the risk associated with using the 0.80 design
criteria for this pipeline design and location. The risk analysis
considered the following nine risk areas: (1) Stress corrosion
cracking, (2) manufacturing defects, (3) weather/outside factors, (4)
welding and fabrication defects, (5) equipment failure, (6) equipment
impact (third party damage), (7) external corrosion, (8) external
corrosion and (9) incorrect operation. For the first five of these risk
areas, the analysis showed zero or a negligible increase in the risk of
failure between 0.70 and 0.80 design factor pipelines.
Though KMLP's risk analysis did not show a significant risk
increase, it did find a slightly higher degree of risk in the areas of
external and internal corrosion when using a 0.80 design factor as
compared to a 0.72 design factor. KMLP attributes this to the thinner
pipe wall designed using a 0.80 design factor as compared to a pipe
wall using a 0.72 design factor. Additionally, the risk analysis shows
a slightly higher risk for incorrect operation because a pipe designed
with a 0.80 design factor operates a higher stress levels and with a
smaller margin between MAOP and SMYS. KMLP plans to employ several
control and prevention programs to mitigate these slightly higher
risks,
PHMSA will consider a KMLP's waiver request and whether its
proposal will yield an equivalent or greater degree of safety than
currently provided by the regulations. After considering any comments
received, PHMSA may grant a waiver to KMLP as proposed, with
modifications and conditions, or deny the request. If PHMSA grants a
waiver and subsequently determines the effects of the waiver are
inconsistent with pipeline safety, PHMSA reserves the right to revoke
the waiver at any time.
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 60118(c) and 49 CFR 1.53.
Issued in Washington, DC on November 16, 2006.
Theodore L. Willke,
Acting Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. 06-9355 Filed 11-17-06; 3:36 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-60-M