Kern River MAOP Petition
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Petition for Special Permit to Increase the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure of the Kern River Gas Transmission Company System August 20, 2007 Kern River Gas Transmission Company Petition for MAOP Special Permit TABLE OF CONTENTS SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION SUMMARY....................................................... 1 Scope of the Application............................................................................................ 1 Table 1 – Summary of Special Permit Conditions .......................................... 3 Design, Manufacturing and Construction............................................................... 4 Table 2 – Summary of Design, Manufacturing and Construction................. 4 Additional Integrity Activities Associated With This Petition .............................. 5 Table 3 – Additional Integrity Activities.......................................................... 5 Schedule...................................................................................................................... 5 BENEFITS OF THE MAOP SPECIAL PERMIT ........................................................ 6 Benefits to Landowners and the Environment ....................................................... 6 Benefits to Shippers and End Users......................................................................... 6 Benefits to PHMSA and the General Public ........................................................... 6 Benefits to Kern River............................................................................................... 6 OVERVIEW OF THE KERN RIVER GAS TRANSMISSION SYSTEM................. 7 Original Mainline – 1992........................................................................................... 7 2001 California Action Project................................................................................. 7 2002 Expansion .......................................................................................................... 7 2003 System Expansion ............................................................................................. 7 Figure 1 – Kern River System Map .................................................................. 9 Technical Analysis .......................................................................................................... 10 Analysis of Threats .................................................................................................. 10 Table 4 – Summary of Impacts of Threats at Higher Operating Stress Level and Mitigation Measures Throughout Life Cycle ......................................... 12 DESIGN BASIS............................................................................................................... 15 Table 5 – Kern River Design Basis ................................................................ 15 MANAGING STABLE THREATS .............................................................................. 16 Line Pipe................................................................................................................... 16 Compressor Station Evaluation.............................................................................. 18 Table 6 – Summary of Station Component Evaluation ................................ 19 Meter Station Evaluation........................................................................................ 20 Pipe Fittings, Valves and Flanges........................................................................... 20 SCADA and System Control................................................................................... 20 Table 7 – Example Unit and Station Control Scheme................................... 21 Figure 2 – Depiction of Control Scheme......................................................... 22 Welding..................................................................................................................... 22 Construction............................................................................................................. 22 Pressure Testing....................................................................................................... 23 Table 8 - Summary of Estimated Operating Pressure Times Applicable Hydrotest Factor to Original Hydrotest Pressure for Next Potential Expansion of the Kern River System.............................................................. 24 Equipment ................................................................................................................ 25 MANAGING TIME-DEPENDENT THREATS.......................................................... 26 Internal Corrosion Control..................................................................................... 26 Table 9 – Gas Quality Monitoring .................................................................. 26 i Kern River Gas Transmission Company Petition for MAOP Special Permit External Corrosion Control.................................................................................... 27 Figure 3 – Baseline ILI Anomalies Investigated in Confirmation Digs as Compared to Threshold Levels as Multiples of MAOP................................ 29 Table 10 – Summary High Resolution MFL Tool Runs and Findings........ 31 Figure 4 – Comparison of Depths Called on ILI Logs versus Depths As Found................................................................................................................. 32 Figure 5 – Comparison of Lengths Called on ILI Logs versus Lengths As Found................................................................................................................. 33 Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC) .......................................................................... 34 MANAGING TIME-INDEPENDENT THREATS ..................................................... 35 Mechanical Damage................................................................................................. 35 Weather and Outside Force.................................................................................... 35 Incorrect Operations ............................................................................................... 35 REFERENCED STANDARDS, SPECIFICATIONS AND PROCEDURES ........... 36 ii Kern River Gas Transmission Company Petition for MAOP Special Permit SPECIAL PERMIT APPLICATION SUMMARY Scope of the Application Kern River Gas Transmission Company (Kern River) has completed an evaluation of its existing pipeline system and pipeline appurtenances, including the associated compression, measurement and pressure regulation, and respectfully submits this petition to operate the system to a maximum allowable operating pressure (MAOP) of 1,333 pounds per square inch gauge (psig), representing 80% of the pipeline specified minimum yield strength (SMYS).1 Kern River has determined that the system can safely and reliably operate at this pressure. Under the provisions providing for special permits under 49 U.S.C. § 60118, Kern River requests relief from the following regulations: • 49 CFR § 192.111, Design factor (F) for steel pipe. • 49 CFR § 192.201, Required capacity of pressure relieving and limiting stations. • 49 CFR § 192.505, Strength test requirements for steel pipeline to operate at a hoop stress of 30% or more of SMYS. • 49 CFR § 192.619, Maximum allowable operating pressure: Steel or plastic pipelines. The Kern River system originates in Lincoln County, Wyo., where it receives Rocky Mountain gas, traversing through southwestern Wyoming, and into Utah where it receives additional gas, passing through Utah and Nevada, interconnecting with the Mojave Pipeline across the California border in San Bernardino County, Calif. The pipeline system downstream of the inlet to the Daggett compressor station is jointly owned by Kern River and Mojave Pipeline Company, an El Paso Corporation company, and is referred to as the Common Facilities. The Kern River wholly-owned and operated facilities comprise 1,380 miles of pipeline. The Common Facilities comprise 300 miles of pipeline. The wholly-owned and operated system is the portion of the assets for which this petition applies. Facilities on the pipeline system include: • Ten compressor stations, including 20 centrifugal and two reciprocating compressors, totaling 282,000 International Standards Organization (ISO) horsepower (hp) (62,000 ISO hp in original (1992) system, with 220,000 ISO hp added in three expansions from 2001 to 2003). • Forty-eight meter stations, including four that are bi-directional. • Six receipt laterals. • Seven delivery laterals. 1 Within this petition, there will be reference to operation at 80% SMYS. This means operation of Class 1 pipe at 80% SMYS, Class 2 pipe at 67% SMYS, Class 3 pipe at 56% SMYS, and compressor and meter stations at 56% SMYS. 1 Kern River Gas Transmission Company Petition for MAOP Special Permit This petition to operate under a special permit is for the facilities beginning at the discharge of the Muddy Creek and Painter compressor stations, and the Anschutz meter station to the mainline including the Anschutz compressor station in southwest Wyoming, to the outlet side of the Daggett meter station (which is the interconnection between Kern River and the Common Facilities), in San Bernardino County, Calif. Kern River is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company (a Berkshire Hathaway company), that was acquired on March 27, 2002. For the period January 1, 1996, through March 26, 2002, Kern River was an operating company within The