| (a) Odorization of gas.
(1) Each gas company shall continuously odorize gas
by the use of a malodorant agent as set forth in this section unless
the gas contains a natural malodor or is odorized prior to delivery
by a supplier.
(2) Unless required by 49 CFR Part 192.625(B) or by
this section, odorization is not required for:
(A) gas in underground or other storage;
(B) gas used or sold primarily for use in natural gasoline
extraction plants, recycling plants, chemical plants, carbon black
plants, industrial plants, or irrigation pumps; or
(C) gas used in lease and field operation or development
or in repressuring wells.
(3) Gas shall be odorized by the user if:
(A) the gas is delivered for use primarily in one of
the activities or facilities listed in paragraph (2) of this subsection
and is also used in one of those activities for space heating, refrigeration,
water heating, cooking, and other domestic uses; or
(B) the gas is used for furnishing heat or air conditioning
for office or living quarters.
(4) In the case of lease users, the supplier shall
ensure that the gas will be odorized before being used by the consumer.
(b) Odorization equipment. Gas companies shall use
commercially available odorization equipment in any installation made
on or after February 4, 2009. Shop-made or other odorization equipment
previously approved by the Commission and in use as of February 4,
2009, may continue to be used in its current service, but may not
be re-installed in a different location. Each operator shall be required
to maintain a list of odorization equipment used in its particular
operations, including the location of the odorization equipment, the
brand name, model number, and the date last serviced. The list shall
be available for review during safety evaluations by the Division.
(c) Malodorants. Gas companies shall use commercially
available malodorants which shall meet the following criteria.
(1) The malodorant when blended with gas in the amount
specified for adequate odorization of the gas shall not be deleterious
to humans or to the materials present in a gas system and shall not
be soluble in water to a greater extent than 2 1/2 parts by weight
of malodorant to 100 parts by weight of water.
(2) The products of combustion from the malodorant
shall be nontoxic to humans breathing air containing the products
of combustion and the products of combustion shall not be corrosive
or harmful to the materials to which such products of combustion would
ordinarily come in contact.
(3) The malodorant agent to be introduced in the gas,
or the natural malodor of the gas, or the combination of the malodorant
and the natural malodor of the gas shall have a distinctive malodor
so that when gas is present in air at a concentration of one-fifth
of the lower explosive limit, the malodor is readily detectable by
an individual with a normal sense of smell.
(4) The level of natural malodor or the injection rate
of approved malodorant shall be sufficient to achieve the requirement
of paragraph (3) of this subsection.
(d) Malodorant tests and reports.
(1) Malodorant injection report. Each gas company shall
record as frequently as necessary to maintain adequate odorization
but not less than once each quarter the following malodorant information
for all odorization equipment, except farm tap odorizers. The required
information shall be recorded and retained in the company's files:
(A) odorizer location;
(B) brand name and model of odorizer;
(C) name of malodorant, concentrate, or dilute;
(D) quantity of malodorant at beginning of month/quarter;
(E) amount added during month/quarter;
(F) quantity at end of month/quarter;
(G) MMcf of gas odorized during month/quarter; and
(H) injection rate per MMcf.
(2) Each natural gas operator shall check, test, and
service farm tap odorizers at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but
at least once each calendar year. Each gas company shall maintain
records to reflect the date of service and maintenance on file for
at least two years.
(e) Malodorant concentration tests and reports.
(1) Each gas company shall conduct the following concentration
tests on the gas supplied through its facilities and required to be
odorized. Test points shall be distant from odorizing equipment, so
as to be representative of the odorized gas in the system. Tests shall
be performed at intervals not exceeding 15 months, but at least once
each calendar year or at such other times as the Division may reasonably
require. The results of these tests shall be recorded and retained
in each company's files for at least two years. Malodorant concentration
test results shall include the following:
(A) odorizer name and location;
(B) malodorant concentration meter make, model, and
serial number;
(C) date test performed, test time, odorizer tested,
and distance from odorizer;
(D) test results indicating percent gas in air when
malodor is readily detectable; and
(E) signature of person performing the test.
(2) Wick-type farm tap odorizers shall be exempt from
the odorization equipment reporting requirements of paragraph (1)(B)
of this subsection.
(3) Gas companies that obtain gas into which malodorant
previously has been injected or gas which is considered to have a
natural malodor and therefore do not odorize the gas themselves shall
be required to conduct quarterly malodorant concentration tests and
retain records for a period of two years.
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| Source Note: The provisions of this §8.215 adopted to be effective November 24, 2004, 29 TexReg 10733; amended to be effective February 4, 2009, 34 TexReg 582; amended to be effective October 6, 2014, 39 TexReg 7916 |
