
[Federal Register: July 2, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 128)]
[Notices]               
[Page 38024-38025]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02jy08-140]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration

[Docket ID PHMSA-2008-0162]

 
Pipeline Safety: Dynamic Riser Inspection, Maintenance, and 
Monitoring Records on Offshore Floating Facilities.

AGENCY: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 
DOT.

ACTION: Notice; Issuance of Advisory Bulletin.

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SUMMARY: To remind owners and operators of the importance of retaining 
inspection, maintenance, and monitoring records for dynamic risers 
located on offshore floating facilities.

[[Page 38025]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Komiskey at 202-366-3169, or 
by e-mail to Elizabeth.Komiskey@dot.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background

    A recent natural gas leak from a steel catenary export riser in the 
Gulf of Mexico created significant and unexpected risk, as well as 
major supply disruption. Though a root cause analysis of this incident 
is not yet complete, visual inspection by divers has determined that 
the source of the leak was a flexible joint on the riser. PHMSA 
regularly monitors pipeline incidents and operator performance 
nationwide and responds as incident trends necessitate, through an 
array of regulatory measures including advisory bulletins.
    In 2004, another offshore riser flexible joint failure resulted in 
a small oil spill. Subsequent preemptive visual inspections performed 
on other steel catenary riser flexible joints in the Gulf of Mexico 
discovered damage to the elastomeric seal area near the rotating ball 
and drove the replacement of four flexible joints. The flexible joint 
riser failures described above have created potential safety risks on 
floating production facilities, and have impacted delivery of energy 
supplies from the Gulf of Mexico.
    The national consensus standard for dynamic risers, American 
Petroleum Institute Recommended Practice 2RD, is currently under 
revision. The revised version will directly address concerns raised in 
this Advisory Bulletin by including guidance for integrity management 
of dynamic risers. PHMSA will consider adopting the revised standard 
into its regulations for both natural gas and hazardous liquid 
pipelines.

Advisory Bulletin (ABD-08-06)

    To: Owners and operators of hazardous liquid and natural gas 
pipelines located on offshore floating facilities.
    Subject: Dynamic Riser Inspection, Maintenance, and Monitoring 
Records on Offshore Floating Facilities.
    Purpose: To remind owners and operators of the importance of 
retaining inspection, maintenance, and monitoring records for dynamic 
risers located on offshore floating facilities.
    PHMSA advises operators of hazardous liquid and natural gas 
pipelines with dynamic risers, such as steel catenary risers on 
offshore floating production facilities, to perform regular inspection 
and maintenance of these risers, monitor nearby environmental 
conditions, and maintain records of these activities. Failure of a 
dynamic riser could significantly impact safety, the environment, and 
delivery of an important source of natural gas and petroleum products 
used in the United States. PHMSA strongly urges operators to perform 
the above-listed actions and any other actions needed to ensure the 
safe and reliable operation of these systems.

    Issued in Washington, DC on June 25, 2008.
Jeffrey D. Wiese,
Associate Administrator for Pipeline Safety.
[FR Doc. E8-14953 Filed 7-1-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-60-P
