Flowlines & Excavation

From new domestic gas tap rules to specifying where isolation valves must be installed on a flowline, these latest regulations, combined with existing state oversight requirements, provide Colorado with the nation’s most stringent and comprehensive rules for oil and natural gas flowline and production piping systems.

​On the regulatory front, in 2018, the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) unanimously approved dozens of new regulations pertaining to flowlines and other types of production piping systems.  Those regulations increase transparency while also strengthening safety and reporting requirements.  They also further require operators to lock and mark any flowlines not in use or abandoned.  All lines must continue to undergo integrity testing under the same standards as active lines until abandonment.  Finally, operators are also now required to become Tier 1 participants in the 811 call-before-you-dig system.  

2018 COGCC Flowline Rules Summary

Oversight and 811

​In addition to these new regulations, bipartisan legislation (SB18-167) was signed into law in 2018 which greatly strengthened enforcement powers related to notification protocols and the excavation of underground facilities.  That legislation established an independent Safety Commission to oversee the implementation of this new authority, as well as the more rigorous obligations for legal excavation.  These additional requirements give local communities, builders, and property owners the information they need to feel confident in safely identifying the location and preserving the integrity of underground facilities, including oil and natural gas flowlines.  That transparency provides greater awareness of COGCC’s strict guidelines for flowline installation, design, registration, and management.

Pipelines: The Safest Way to Transport Oil and Gas

​According to data released by the National Transportation Safety Board, pipelines remain the safest way to transport oil and gas and its byproducts. Communities located near oil and gas developments routinely demand operators to do everything in their power to utilize pipelines because they also reduce truck traffic, visual impacts, and spills.

Additional Resources & Information

Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) | www.cogcc.state.co.us
Colorado Oil and Gas Regulatory Overview | www.coga.org/RegulatoryOverview
Colorado Utility Locator (811) | www.colorado811.org

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