W. Va. Code R. § 45-21-29

Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024

Section 45-21-29 - Leaks from Natural Gas/Gasoline Processing Equipment

29.1. Applicability.

29.1.1. This section 29. applies to all equipment in volatile organic compound (VOC) service in any process unit at any natural gas/gasoline processing facility.

29.1.2. This section 29. does not apply to:

29.1.2.a. Any equipment in vacuum service;

29.1.2.b. Any equipment in heavy liquid service; or

29.1.2.c. Wet gas reciprocating compressors in plants that do not have a VOC control device, such as a flare or a continuously burning process heater or boiler.

29.1.3. The equipment inspection requirements in subsection 29.4. do not apply to:

29.1.3.a. Any natural gas/gasoline processing facility with a design field gas capacity of less than 2.8x10⁵ standard cubic meters (10x10⁶ standard cubic feet) per day that does not fractionate natural gas liquids;

29.1.3.b. Any pump with dual pump seals;

29.1.3.c. Any pressure relief valve that is connected to an operating flare header or vapor recovery device; or

29.1.3.d. Any compressor with a degassing vent that is routed to an operating VOC control device.

29.2. Definitions. -- As used in this section 29., all terms not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in section 2.

29.2.1. "Equipment" means each pump, compressor, pressure relief device, sampling connection system, open-ended valve or line, valve, and flange or other connector in VOC service or in wet gas service and any devices or systems required by this section 29.

29.2.2. "Field gas" means feedstock gas entering the natural gas processing plant.

29.2.3. "[In] gas/vapor service" means that the piece of equipment in VOC service contains process fluid that is in the gaseous state at operating conditions.

29.2.4. "[In] heavy liquid service" means that the piece of equipment in VOC service is not in gas/vapor service or in light liquid service.

29.2.5. "[In] light liquid service" means that the piece of equipment in VOC service contains a liquid that meets the following conditions:

(1) the vapor pressure of one or more of the components is greater than 0.3 kPa (0.09 in Hg) at 20EC (68°F) (standard reference texts or ASTM D2879 shall be used to determine the vapor pressures);

(2) the total concentration of the pure components having a vapor pressure greater than 0.3 kPa (0.09 in Hg) at 20EC (68°F) is equal to or greater than 20 percent by weight; and

(3) the fluid is a liquid at operating conditions.

29.2.6. "Liquids dripping" means any visible leakage from a seal including spraying, misting, clouding, and ice formation.

29.2.7. "Natural gas liquids" means the hydrocarbons, such as ethane, propane, butane, and pentane, that are extracted from field gas.

29.2.8. "Natural gas processing plant" (gas plant) means any processing site engaged in the extraction of natural gas liquids from field gas, fractionation of mixed natural gas liquids to natural gas products, or both.

29.2.9. "Nonfractionating plant" means any gas plant that does not fractionate mixed natural gas liquids into natural gas products.

29.2.10. "Process unit" means equipment assembled for the extraction of natural gas liquids from field gas, the fractionation of the liquids into natural gas products, or other operations associated with the processing of natural gas products. A process unit can operate independently if supplied with sufficient feed or raw materials and sufficient storage facilities for the products.

29.2.11. "Reciprocating compressor" means a piece of equipment that increases the pressure of a process gas by positive displacement, employing linear movement of the driveshaft.

29.2.12. "[In] vacuum service" means that the equipment in VOC service is operating at an internal pressure which is at least 5 kPa below ambient pressure.

29.2.13. "[In] VOC service" means that the piece of equipment contains or contacts a process fluid that is at least 10 percent VOC by weight. The provisions of subdivision 29.9.2. specify how to determine that a piece of equipment is not in VOC service.

29.2.14. "[In] wet gas service" means that a piece of equipment contains or contacts the field gas before the extraction step in the process.

29.3. Standards: General. -- The owner or operator of a natural gas/gasoline processing facility subject to this section 29. shall ensure that:

29.3.1. Any open-ended line or valve is sealed with a second valve, blind flange, cap, or plug except during operations requiring process fluid flow through the open-ended line or valve;

29.3.2. When a second value is used, each open-ended line or valve equipped with a second valve is operated in such a manner that the valve on the process fluid end is closed before the second valve is closed; and

29.3.3. When a double block-and-bleed system is used, the bleed valve or line is open only during operations that require venting of the line between the block valves and is closed at all other times.

29.4. Standards: Equipment inspection program. -- The owner or operator of a natural gas/gasoline processing facility subject to this subsection 29.4. shall conduct the equipment inspection program described in subdivisions 29.4.1. through 29.4.3. using the test methods specified in section 46.

29.4.1. The owner or operator of a natural gas/gasoline processing facility subject to this section 29. shall conduct quarterly monitoring of each:

29.4.1.a. Compressor;

29.4.1.b. Pump in light liquid service;

29.4.1.c. Valve in light liquid service, except as provided in subsections 29.5. and 29.6.;

29.4.1.d. Valve in gas/vapor service, except as provided in subsections 29.5. and 29.6.; and

29.4.1.e. Pressure relief valve in gas/vapor service, except as provided in subsections 29.5. and 29.6.

29.4.2. The owner or operator of a natural gas/gasoline processing facility subject to this section 29. shall conduct a weekly visual inspection of each pump in light liquid service.

29.4.3. The owner or operator of a natural gas/gasoline processing facility subject to this section 29. shall monitor each pressure relief valve within 5 days after each overpressure relief to ensure that the valve has properly reseated and is not leaking, except;

29.4.3.a. Any pressure relief device that is located in a nonfractionating plant that is monitored only by non-plant personnel may be monitored after a pressure release the next time the monitoring personnel are on site, instead of within 5 days; and

29.4.3.b. No pressure relief device described in paragraph 29.4.3.a. shall be allowed to operate for more than 30 days after a pressure release without monitoring.

29.4.4. It shall be determined that a leak has been detected when:

29.4.4.a. An instrument reading of 10,000 parts per million (ppm) or greater is measured; or

29.4.4.b. There are indications of liquid dripping from the equipment.

29.4.5. When a leak is detected, the owner or operator shall affix a weatherproof, readily visible tag in a bright color such as red or yellow, bearing the equipment identification number and the date on which the leak was detected. This tag shall remain in place until the leaking equipment is repaired. An alternative leak identifier system may be used if the owner or operator demonstrates to the Secretary that the system is equally as effective. The requirements of this subdivision 29.4.5. apply to any leak detected by the equipment inspection program and to any leak from any equipment that is detected on the basis of sight, sound, or smell.

29.5. Standards: Alternative standards for valves--skip period leak detection and repair.

29.5.1. An owner or operator shall comply initially with the requirements for valves in gas/vapor service and valves in light liquid service, as described in subsection 29.4.

29.5.2. After two consecutive quarterly leak detection periods with the percent of valves leaking equal or less than 2.0, an owner or operator may skip one of the quarterly leak detection periods for the valves in gas/vapor and light liquid service.

29.5.3. After five consecutive quarterly leak detection periods with the percent of valves leaking equal to or less than 2.0, an owner or operator may begin to skip three of the quarterly leak detection periods for the valves in gas/vapor and light liquid service.

29.5.4. If the percent of valves leaking is greater than 2.0, the owner or operator shall comply with the requirements as described in subsection 29.4. but can again elect to use the requirements in subsection 29.5.

29.5.5. The percent of valves leaking shall be determined by dividing the sum of valves found leaking during current monitoring and valves for which repair has been delayed by the total number of valves subject to the requirements of this section 29.

29.5.6. An owner or operator shall keep a record of the percent of valves found leaking during each leak detection period.

29.6. Standards: Alternative standards for valves that are unsafe or difficult to monitor.

29.6.1. Any valve that is designated, as described in paragraph 29.6.1.a., as an unsafe-to-monitor valve is exempt from the requirements of subsection 29.4. if:

29.6.1.a. The owner or operator of the valve demonstrates that the valve is unsafe to monitor because monitoring personnel would be exposed to an immediate danger as a consequence of complying with subsection 29.4.; and

29.6.1.b. The owner or operator of the valve adheres to a written plan that requires monitoring of the valve as frequently as practicable during safe-to-monitor times.

29.6.2. Any valve that is designated, as described in paragraph 29.6.2.a., as a difficult-to-monitor valve is exempt from the requirements of subsection 29.4. if:

29.6.2.a. The owner or operator of the valve demonstrates that the valve cannot be monitored without elevating the monitoring personnel more than 2 meters (m) (6.6 feet (ft)) above a support surface; and,

29.6.2.b. The owner or operator of the valve follows a written plan that requires monitoring of the valve at least once per calendar year.

29.7. Standards: Equipment repair program. -- The owner or operator of a natural gas/gasoline processing facility shall:

29.7.1. Make a first attempt at repair for any leak not later than 5 calendar days after the leak is detected; and

29.7.2. Repair any leak as soon as practicable, but not later than 15 calendar days after it is detected except as provided in subsection 29.8.

29.8. Standards: Delay of repair.

29.8.1. Delay of repair of equipment for which a leak has been detected will be allowed if the repair is technically infeasible without a process unit shutdown. Repair of such equipment shall occur before the end of the next process unit shutdown.

29.8.2. Delay of repair of equipment will be allowed for equipment that is isolated from the process and that does not remain in VOC service.

29.8.3. Delay of repair beyond a process unit shutdown will be allowed for a valve, if valve assembly replacement is necessary during the process unit shutdown, valve assembly supplies have been depleted, and valve assembly supplies had been sufficiently stocked before the supplies were depleted. Delay of repair beyond the next process unit shutdown will not be allowed unless the next process unit shutdown occurs sooner than 6 months after the first process unit shutdown.

29.9. Test methods and procedures.

29.9.1. In conducting the tests required to comply with subsection 29.4., the owner or operator shall use the test methods specified in section 46.

29.9.2. The owner or operator shall test each piece of equipment unless it is demonstrated that a process unit is not in VOC service, i.e., that the VOC content would never be reasonably expected to exceed 10 percent by weight. For purposes of this demonstration, the following methods and procedures shall be used:

29.9.2.a. Procedures that conform to the general methods in ASTM E260, E168 and E169 shall be used to determine the percent VOC content in the process fluid that is contained in or contacts a piece of equipment;

29.9.2.b. Where the test methods in paragraph 29.9.2.a. also measure exempt compounds, these compounds may be excluded from the total quantity of organic compounds in determining the VOC content of the process fluid; and

29.9.2.c. Engineering judgment may be used to estimate the VOC content, if a piece of equipment had not been shown previously to be in VOC service. If the Secretary disagrees with the judgment, paragraphs 29.9.2.a. and 29.9.2.b. shall be used to resolve the disagreement.

29.9.3. The owner or operator shall demonstrate that a piece of equipment is in light liquid service by showing that all of the following conditions apply:

29.9.3.a. The vapor pressure of one or more of the components is greater than 0.3 kiloPascal (kPa) at 20EC (0.09 inches of Mercury [in Hg] at 68°F). Standard reference texts or ASTM D2879 shall be used to determine the vapor pressures;

29.9.3.b. The total concentration of the pure components having a vapor pressure greater than 0.3 kPa at 20EC (0.09 in Hg at 68°F) is equal to or greater than 20 percent by weight; and

29.9.3.c. The fluid is a liquid at operating conditions.

29.9.4. Samples used in conjunction with subdivisions 29.9.2. and 29.9.3. shall be representative of the process fluid that is contained in or contacts the equipment.

29.10. Recordkeeping requirements.

29.10.1. Each owner or operator subject to the provisions of this section 29. shall comply with the recordkeeping requirements of this section 29.

29.10.2. An owner or operator of more than one affected facility subject to the provisions of this section 29. may comply with the recordkeeping requirements for these facilities in one recordkeeping system if the system identifies each record by each facility.

29.10.3. When each leak is detected as specified in subsection 29.4., the following information shall be recorded in a log and shall be kept for 3 years in a readily accessible location:

29.10.3.a. The instrument and operator identification numbers and the equipment identification number;

29.10.3.b. The date the leak was detected and the dates of each attempt to repair the leak;

29.10.3.c. The repair methods employed in each attempt to repair the leak;

29.10.3.d. The notation "Above 10,000" if the maximum instrument reading measured by the methods specified in section 46. after each repair attempt is equal to or greater than 10,000 ppm;

29.10.3.e. The notation "Repair Delayed" and the reason for the delay if a leak is not repaired within 15 calendar days after discovery of the leak;

29.10.3.f. The signature of the owner or operator (or designate) whose decision it was that repair could not be effected without a process unit shutdown;

29.10.3.g. The expected date of successful repair of the leak if a leak is not repaired within 15 days;

29.10.3.h. The dates of process unit shutdowns that occur while the equipment is unrepaired; and

29.10.3.i. The date of successful repair of the leak.

29.10.4. A list of identification numbers of equipment in vacuum service shall be recorded in a log that is kept in a readily accessible location.

29.10.5. The following information pertaining to all valves subject to the requirements of subsection 29.6. shall be recorded in a log that is kept for 3 years in a readily accessible location:

29.10.5.a. A list of identification numbers for valves that are designated as unsafe to monitor, an explanation for each valve stating why the valve is unsafe to monitor, and the plan for monitoring each valve; and

29.10.5.b. A list of identification numbers for valves that are designated as difficult to monitor, an explanation for each valve stating why the valve is difficult to monitor, and the schedule for monitoring each valve.

29.10.6. The following information pertaining to all valves complying with subsection 29.5. shall be recorded in a log that is kept for 3 years in a readily accessible location:

29.10.6.a. A schedule of monitoring; and

29.10.6.b. The percent of valves found leaking during each monitoring period.

29.10.7. The following information shall be recorded in a log that is kept for 3 years in a readily accessible location for use in determining exemptions as provided in subsection 29.1.:

29.10.7.a. An analysis demonstrating the design capacity of the affected facility;

29.10.7.b. Information and data used to demonstrate that a piece of equipment is not in VOC service; and

29.10.7.c. Information and data used to demonstrate that a reciprocating compressor is in wet gas service.

29.11. Reporting. -- The owner or operator of any facility containing sources subject to this section 29. shall comply with the requirements in subsections 5.1. and 5.2.

W. Va. Code R. § 45-21-29