La. Admin. Code tit. 43 § XI-4921

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section XI-4921 - External Corrosion Control (Formerly section 1921)

A. Each operator shall, at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once each calendar year, conduct tests on each underground facility in its pipeline systems that is under cathodic protection to determine whether the protection is adequate.

B. Each operator shall maintain the test leads required for cathodic protection in such a condition that electrical measurements can be obtained to ensure adequate protection.

C. Each operator shall, at intervals not exceeding two and one-half months, but at least six times each calendar year, inspect each of its cathodic protection rectifiers.

D. Each operator shall, at intervals not exceeding five years, electrically inspect the bare pipe in its pipeline system that is not cathodically protected and must study leak records for that pipe to determine if additional protection is needed.

E. Whenever any buried pipe is exposed for any reason, the operator shall examine the pipe for evidence of external corrosion. If the operator finds that there is active corrosion, that the surface of the pipe is generally pitted, or that corrosion has caused a leak, it shall investigate further to determine the extent of the corrosion.

F. Any pipe that is found to be generally corroded so that the remaining wall thickness is less than the minimum thickness required by the pipe specification tolerances must either be replaced with coated pipe that meets the requirements of this regulation or, if the area is small, must be repaired. However, the operator need not replace generally corroded pipe if the operating pressure is reduced to be commensurate with the limits on operating pressure specified in this part, based on the actual remaining wall thickness.

G. If localized corrosion pitting is found to exist to a degree where leakage might result, the pipe must be replaced or repaired, or the operating pressure must be reduced commensurate with the strength of the pipe based on the actual remaining wall thickness in the pits.

H. Each operator shall clean, coat with material suitable for the prevention of atmospheric corrosion and maintain this protection for each component in its pipeline system that is exposed to the atmosphere.

La. Admin. Code tit. 43, § XI-4921

Promulgated by the Department of Natural Resources, Office of Conservation, LR 12:115 (February 1986), repromulgated LR 49320 (2/1/2023).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:4(C)(17) and R.S. 30:1104(A).