R 336.1641 Emission of volatile organic compounds from existing pneumatic controllers in the oil and natural gas industry located in the 2015 ozone nonattainment areas.

Rule 641. (1) As used in this rule: (a) “Bleed rate” means the rate in standard cubic feet per hour at which natural gas is continuously vented, or bleeds, from a pneumatic controller. (b) “Pneumatic controller” means an automated instrument used to maintain a process condition, such as liquid level, pressure, delta pressure and temperature. (2) A person shall not cause or allow the emission of any volatile organic compound associated with the oil and natural gas production and natural gas processing segments of the oil and natural gas industry, in excess of the limitations of this rule from the use of existing single continuous bleed natural gas-driven pneumatic controllers, when the controllers are both of the following: (a) Located inside the 2015 ozone nonattainment areas. (b) Utilized at a natural gas processing plant or with equipment located from either the wellhead to the natural gas processing plant or to the point of custody transfer to an oil pipeline. (3) Except as described in subrule (6) of this rule, the provisions of this rule do not apply to a pneumatic controller if there is a functional need for a bleed rate greater than the requirements as described in subrule (4) of this rule and it is properly tagged. A functional need includes, but is not limited to, response time, safety, and positive actuation. (4) Except as allowed in subrule (3) of this rule, a person subject to the requirements of this rule shall not allow either of the following: (a) Any continuous venting for any pneumatic controllers located at a natural gas processing plant. (b) A bleed rate greater than 6 standard cubic feet per hour from equipment from the wellhead to the natural gas processing plant or point of custody transfer to an oil pipeline. (5) Compliance with this rule must be determined by maintaining records as described in subrule (6) of this rule which includes, at a minimum, tagging all pneumatic controllers with an identifying number and the installation date, to allow traceability to the records for that controller. (6) A person operating a pneumatic controller shall obtain current information and maintain records for all requirements in sufficient detail to determine compliance. The records must be made available to the department upon request. This includes records and all other information needed to establish both of the following for each pneumatic controller, as applicable: (a) The bleed rates. (b) A description of its functional need if exempting the equipment from requirements in subrule (4) of this rule.