B31.3 and Gathering Pipelines

[amicka]

Good Morning Forum,

Would any experts out there be able to explain to me if gas gathering lines (moving gas from wells to the gas processing plant) are included in the scope of B31.3 (maybe as "compressor interstage piping")?

Or would these be covered under B31.8 (gas gathering pipelines) along with the compressor...

Or both B31.3 and B31.8?

Thanks.

 

[ColonelSanders83]

In my opinion the gas gathering lines would generally fall under the B31.8 pipline code.

All of the recipricating pacakges I have analysed have the code split at the first connection to the building or the frist piece of connected equipment (such as the suction scrubber). Somtimes when coming out of the ground from the burried pipilines the code split will be at the change of material from the burried pipline (usally api pipline) to the riser (usually standard wall thicknesses of the appropriate material).

You probably need to check you jurisdictianal requirements as they will govern what is legaly required for compliance (more than likley B31.8).

Just my two cents worth.

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[rneill]

You really do need to consult the local regulations as to which code applies to which piping. That said, I don't believe that B31.3 would apply to the piping you describe but you would need to determine exactly where the break between B31.3 and B31.8 would be.

In my local (Alberta, Canada), the regulatory authority has provided sketches of different situations and shown where the spec breaks are to be in each of the cases.

 

[stanweld]

This has been a gray area in design and regulation. I have been involved with gathering lines designed to either Code.

 

[BigInch]

Its possible that gathering lines are not regulated at all and no code applies. This is the case in Texas, not sure about Colorado. If you want to apply a standard code in an unregulated or regulated gathering system, use B31.8, as B31.3 does not apply either to gathering systems, or pipelines. Run with B31.8 up to starting B31.3 at the scrubber, or compressor unit battery limit line. Draw the battery limit line to include at least those items plus the station ESD valves on suction and discharge and you should be fine. Generally you can call anything outside the station ESD valves a pipeline and use B31.8.

In south Texas, we officially did anything we thought was safe in the unregulated gathering system, but I "secretly" used B31.8 anyway. As a matter of note, this is not true for offshore gathering lines where everything is regulated territory under the USgov MMS, which is responsible for offshore gathering pipelines outside the 3 league limit in Texas, or 3 the mile limit in other states.

Now wait for zdas comments to confirm. He works in Colorado.

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