Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999

i Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 S.R. No. 4/1999 TABLE OF PROVISIONS Regulation Page PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1 1. Objective 1 2. Authorising provisions 1 3. Commencement 1 4. Definitions 1 PART 2—GAS QUALITY 4 5. Quality of gas 4 6. Odour 4 7. Exemption from compliance with standards 5 8. Measurement of gas quality 5 __________________ SCHEDULES 7 SCHEDULE 1—Standard for natural gas conveyed in a transmission pipeline 7 SCHEDULE 2—Standard for natural gas conveyed in a distribution pipeline 8 SCHEDULE 3—Standard for tempered liquefied petroleum gas conveyed in a distribution pipeline 9 SCHEDULE 4—Specification for liquefied petroleum gas 10 ═══════════════ -- 1 of 11 -- 1 STATUTORY RULES 1999 S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety Act 1997 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 The Governor in Council makes the following Regulations: Dated: 19 January 1999 Responsible Minister: ALAN R. STOCKDALE Treasurer STACEY ROBERTSON Acting Clerk of the Executive Council PART 1—PRELIMINARY 1. Objective The objective of these Regulations is to set minimum safety standards for quality of gas. 2. Authorising provisions These Regulations are made under sections 33 and 118 of the Gas Safety Act 1997. 3. Commencement These Regulations come into operation on 1 February 1999. 4. Definitions In these Regulations— "Act" means the Gas Safety Act 1997; -- 2 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 2 "commercial butane" means a liquefied petroleum gas which consists of more than 90% butanes and butylenes; "commercial propane" means a liquefied petroleum gas which consists of more than 90% propane and propylene; "direct gravimetric measurement method" means a method which compares the mass of a given volume of gas with the mass of the same volume of air at the same pressure and temperature; "gravimetric mixture" means a mixture in which the mass of each component of the mixture has been measured; "heating value" means the heat, measured in megajoules per standard cubic metre, evolved in the combustion at a constant pressure of 101·325 kPa absolute of dry fuel gas in gaseous oxygen to form gaseous carbon dioxide and liquid water, the reactants and products all being at 15°C temperature and 101·325 kPa absolute pressure; "LP Gas" means commercial butane or commercial propane which is intended for use in an appliance; "relative density" of a gas means the mass in kilograms of a standard cubic metre of the gas divided by the mass in kilograms of a standard cubic metre of dry air; "standard cubic metre" means the quantity of dry gas at 15°C temperature and 101·325 kPa absolute pressure enclosed in one cubic metre; r. 4 -- 3 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 3 "TLP Gas" means tempered liquefied petroleum gas; "Wobbe Index" of a gas means the heating value of the gas divided by the square root of the relative density of the gas. _______________ r. 4 -- 4 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 4 PART 2—GAS QUALITY 5. Quality of gas (1) The prescribed standard of quality for natural gas conveyed in a transmission pipeline is set out in Schedule 1. (2) The prescribed standard of quality for natural gas conveyed in a distribution pipeline is set out in Schedule 2. (3) The prescribed standard of quality for TLP Gas conveyed in a distribution pipeline is set out in Schedule 3. (4) The prescribed standard of quality for the supply or sale of natural gas supplied to a customer through a distribution pipeline is set out in Schedule 2. (5) The prescribed standard of quality for the supply or sale of TLP Gas supplied to a customer through a distribution pipeline is set out in Schedule 3. (6) The prescribed standard of quality for LP Gas supplied or sold to a customer for use in an appliance (other than LP Gas used or intended to be used for automotive purposes) is set out in Schedule 4. 6. Odour In addition to the relevant standards set out in regulation 5, gas must— (a) have an odour which is distinctive and unpleasant; and (b) have an odour level that is discernible at one-fifth of the lower explosive limit of the gas. r. 5 -- 5 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 5 7. Exemption from compliance with standards (1) The Office may exempt a gas company from compliance with a standard in regulation 5 or 6 in relation to a gas if the Office is satisfied that the conveyance, supply or use of the gas will be safe in the circumstances. (2) An exemption must be in writing and must specify the conditions to which the exemption is subject. (3) A gas company to whom an exemption is given under this regulation must comply with the conditions of the exemption. Penalty: 20 penalty units. 8. Measurement of gas quality (1) A gas distribution company must ensure that the gas conveyed or supplied by the gas distribution company is tested in accordance with this regulation. (2) The heating value of natural gas or TLP Gas conveyed in a pipeline must be determined by testing with— (a) an instrument which continuously records the heating value of the gas; or (b) an instrument of a class approved by the Office. (3) The accuracy of the instrument used for testing under sub-regulation (2) must be checked by calibration against nominally pure alkanes or gravimetric mixtures of nominally pure alkanes and other nominally pure fixed gases. (4) The relative density of natural gas or TLP Gas conveyed in a pipeline must be determined by testing with— r. 7 -- 6 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 6 (a) an instrument which continuously records the relative density of the gas; or (b) an instrument of a class approved by the Office. (5) The accuracy of the instrument used for testing under sub-regulation (4) must be checked by using— (a) a direct gravimetric measurement method; or (b) another measurement method approved by the Office. (6) The hydrogen sulphide content of natural gas conveyed in a pipeline must be continuously recorded by means of a hydrogen sulphide analyser of a class approved by the Office. (7) The accuracy of the hydrogen sulphide analyser used for testing under sub-regulation (6) must be checked by calibration against a gas of known hydrogen sulphide content. __________________ r. 8 -- 7 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 7 SCHEDULES SCHEDULE 1 Reg. 5(1) STANDARD FOR NATURAL GAS CONVEYED IN A TRANSMISSION PIPELINE Parameter Specification limit Maximum water (mg/m3 ) 112 Maximum oxygen (mole %) 0·2 Maximum hydrogen sulphide (mg/m3) 5·7 Minimum gas temperature ( oC) 2 Maximum gas temperature ( oC) 50 _______________ Sch. 1 -- 8 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 8 SCHEDULE 2 Reg. 5(2) and 5(4) STANDARD FOR NATURAL GAS CONVEYED IN A DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE Parameter Specification limit Minimum Wobbe Index (MJ/m3) 46 Maximum Wobbe Index (MJ/m3) 51 Maximum oxygen (mole %) 0·2 Maximum total sulphur (mg/m3 ) 46 Maximum hydrogen sulphide (mg/m3) 5·7 _______________ Sch. 2 -- 9 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 9 SCHEDULE 3 Reg. 5(3) and 5(5) STANDARD FOR TEMPERED LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS CONVEYED IN A DISTRIBUTION PIPELINE (TLP Gas) Parameter Specification limit Minimum Wobbe Index (MJ/m³) 22·5 Maximum Wobbe Index (MJ/m³) 24·5 The LP Gas forming part of TLP Gas must comply with the requirements of Schedule 4. _______________ Sch. 3 -- 10 of 11 -- S.R. No. 4/1999 Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 10 SCHEDULE 4 Reg. 5(6) SPECIFICATION FOR LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LP Gas) Property Commercial propane Commercial butane Maximum vapour pressure, at 40°C (kPa gauge) 1530 520 Maximum residue on evaporation (mg/100 ml) 2·0 2·0 Copper corrosivity Non-corrosive Non-corrosive Maximum volatile sulphur (mg/m3) 150 150 Moisture content (Dewpoint) (°C) < –25° Free water nil Toxicity Must contain no component which is toxic to humans when used for any rational purpose Must contain no component which is toxic to humans when used for any rational purpose Minimum Wobbe Index (MJ/m3) 74·1 84·0 Maximum Wobbe Index (MJ/m3) 77·5 88·0 ═══════════════ Sch. 4 -- 11 of 11 --