The American Petroleum Institute (API) yesterday announced a new pipeline safety management system standard that was created with engagement and guidance from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and other key stakeholders.

API Midstream Director Robin Rorick said Recommended Practice 1173 shows what can be accomplished when industry, regulators and key stakeholders work together to achieve a common objective: protection of public health and the environment while meeting energy needs.

A "holistic framework"

API developed and published RP 1173 under its American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited process and is the American National Standard (ANS) on the subject of pipeline safety management systems. 

Rorick said the new standard “gives operators a holistic framework to identify and address safety concerns for a pipeline’s entire life cycle.”

Plan, do, check...

RP 1173 incorporates a “plan, do, check, and act” approach to pipeline activities that requires periodic reviews and applies changes or corrections to activities as needed.

API’s 625 members represent all facets of the oil and natural gas industry.