Section 5 in The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (Technical Standards and Specifications including Safety Standards for City or Local Natural Gas Distribution Networks) Regulations, 2008
5. Intent.
(a)It is intended to apply these regulations to all new and such aspects of already existing networks as design, fabrication, installation, testing at the time of construction and commissioning. However, if an entity has laid, built, constructed or expanded the CGD infrastructure based on some other standard or is not meeting the standards specified in these regulations, the entity needs to carry out a detailed technical audit of its infrastructure through a Board authorized or approved third party agency by the Board. The entity thereafter shall submit the recommendations made by the third party along-with its time-based mitigation plan and implementation schedule to the Board for authorization within six months from the date of notification of these regulations.(b)The continuation of operation of existing CGD network shall be allowed only if it meets the following requirements, namely:-(i)The CGD system downstream of city gate station shall have been tested initially at the time of commissioning in accordance with ASME B 31.8 Chapter IV (with minimum test pressure of 1.4 times of MAOP for steel network and 1.4 time MAOP or 50 PSI whichever is higher for PE network). The entity should have proper records of the same. Such test record shall have been valid for the current operation. Alternatively, if such a record is not available, the entity should produce in service test record of the CGD network having tested at a pressure of 1.1 time of MAOP as per ASME B 31.8;(ii)The CGD system has leak detection system in position and is operative. For pipeline network it shall be odorisation based and for enclosures such as CGS, above ground DPRS, it shall be gas leak detection based.(iii)The CGD system has in position necessary pressure relief valves; and(iv)There shall be protection of the system against third party damages both in respect to steel pipe, PE pipe and copper tubing.Provided that-(a)The entity shall submit self-certification in support of meeting the above requirements within a month of notification of these regulations and in addition the certification by the approved or authorised third party shall be made available to the Board within six months of notification;(b)Certifications referred to in para (a) shall be done both for operation and maintenance and infrastructure of the entity and shall be submitted to the Board with mitigation plan and implementation schedule;(c)The critical components of the system as identified by the Board for such existing networks shall be complied with these regulations within a period specified at Appendix-I and the authorized entity shall maintain the integrity of the existing system at all times; and(d)Provisions of these regulations related to operation and maintenance procedures shall also be applicable to all such existing installations.
