US industry enhances best practices of gas storage facilities: API

The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently released a natural gas storage safety advisory modeled after industry’s best practices, the American Petroleum Institute (API) trade group announced this week.

“Safety is our industry’s core value and we are committed to zero incidents,” said Robin Rorick, midstream group director at the API. “PHMSA’s new safety advisory is in part guided by the best principles industry already has in place for natural gas storage facilities.

“We continue to lead when it comes to safety by constantly upping our safety standards to ensure that we protect the public and the environment. In fact, we collaborated with PHMSA to create new standards just last year,” Rorick added, referring to API’s Recommended Practices 1171 and 1170.

The standards address the proper storage of natural gas underground. Recommended Practice 1171 focuses on safe practices for designing, storing and operating natural gas in depleted oil and gas reservoirs. Recommended Practice 1170 specifically outlines how to safely design, store, and operate natural gas in salt caverns.

The two standards discuss proper construction methods, materials, and maintenance practices for ensuring safe operations.

“The RPs are the result of the best minds in industry working with regulators to ensure Americans continue to safely get the reliable fuels they need to run their daily lives," Rorick said. "The American people expect government and industry to work together towards common goals. It is these types of actions, not regulatory overreach, that serve the best interest of safety and economic growth."

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