Retiring Underground Pipe

[engrpiper]

Group,

I have been ask to come up with a spec for abandoning inplace old oil piping. Can any give me a head start?

Thanks!!

 

[BigInch]

You can pig it out, dry it, then fill with dry nitrogen.

BigInch-born in the trenches.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[dcasto]

You need to call in some pipeline cleaning people, you environmental group, and legal group. You need to verify ROW contracts, governmental permits, and the original line design data. With all this you will have to select a standard (not some published one, but your own based on the above data) to clean it to. If you leave 1 gallon of oil and it leaks out in a wet lands, you are toast. I've cleaned oil lines by batching sucessively lighter hydrocarbons to get the oil out. Starting with a kerosene, then natural gasoline, butane, then propane. The propane was allowed to vaporize, then nitrogen (or nitrogen followed by dry air). We even pumped cement like used in an oilwell, for short lines.

Now that said, can you find a buyer or other use for it?

 

[zdas04]

I've looked at this problem a couple of times and the answer really depends on [in order of importance]: (1) the regulators; (2) the ROW Contract; (3) company policy; (4) local management preferences; and finally (5) good engineering practice.

Some jurisdictions require physically removing the line. Other jurisdictions do not allow removing the line. Same with contracts. Company policies are typically silent. Managers are fickle. And finally, techniques like dcasto described are very good engineering practice. For gas lines, I've cut out above-ground valve settings and then covered both ends below grade with duct tape. Other lines had to be sealed and pressurized with nitrogen. My feeling is that cutting them off and doing nothing will speed their return to nature, but not by much.

David

 

[BigInch]

Actually the very best thing to do is clean them and pull fiber optic cables through them.

BigInch-born in the trenches.

http://virtualpipeline.spaces.msn.com

 

[engrpiper]

Thanks for the replies. Let me make sure I understand a terms, ROW is right of way? The lines in question are on our property and are not DOT.

What standards are there for abandoning inplace petroleum piping. The product is #2 fuel oil.

This effort is in response to the EPA SPCC regulations. We are putting all of our fuel oil lines above ground.

 

[GregLamberson]

ROW is right-of-way, correct. There are a few things that you will definately want to do. As BigInch pointed out, you need to pig the pipeline, suggest using compressed air to drive two pigs with a Nitrogen buffer to push out the product and clean each line. You will need to dispose of the product.

I would then suggest running a set of batching/cup pigs with corrosion inhibitor using compressed air through the pipeline. You can leave the pipeline filled with air at atmospheric pressure or as BigInch suggested, fill it with Nitrogen. I would then seal the ends of the pipeline with either concrete grout or welded end caps.


Greg Lamberson
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com

 

[GregLamberson]

MSandersEng

Had a couple of additional thoughts since my last post. You might check 49 CFR (US DOT's Code of Federal Regulations) Part 192.727.

FYI - the other basic options are 1) remove and dispose and 2) remove for re-use.

In my experience, the most cost effective option as well as the most enviornmentally acceptable is the option you have chosen - abandon in place.

Greg Lamberson
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com

 

[engrpiper]

What is the size limitations to pig a line? Can you pig a 2" or 4" line?

Could anyone recommend some pipe cleaning companies?

 

[GregLamberson]

I have pigged 2" before, not sure about smaller, but check with pig manufacturers for their smallest pigs.

http://www.pipepigs.com

http://www.tdwilliamson.com

http://www.ppsa-online.com

To name a few.

Greg Lamberson
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com