SECTION 3.71. Pipeline Tariffs

Every person owning, operating, or managing any pipeline, or any part of any pipeline, for the gathering, receiving, loading, transporting, storing, or delivering of crude petroleum as a common carrier shall be subject to and governed by the following provisions. Common carriers specified in this section shall be referred to as "pipelines," and the owners or shippers of crude petroleum by pipelines shall be referred to as "shippers."

(1) All marketable oil to be received for transportation. By the term "marketable oil" is meant any crude petroleum adapted for refining or fuel purposes, properly settled and containing not more than 2.0% of basic sediment, water, or other impurities above a point six inches below the pipeline connection with the tank. Pipelines shall receive for transportation all such "marketable oil" tendered; but no pipeline shall be required to receive for shipment from any one person an amount exceeding 3,000 barrels of petroleum in any one day; and, if the oil tendered for transportation differs materially in character from that usually produced in the field and being transported therefrom by the pipeline, then it shall be transported under such terms as the shipper and the owner of the pipeline may agree or the commission may require.

(2) Basic sediment, how determined--temperature. In determining the amount of sediment, water, or other impurities, a pipeline is authorized to make a test of the oil offered for transportation from an average sample from each such tank, by the use of centrifugal machine, or by the use of any other appliance agreed upon by the pipeline and the shipper. The same method of ascertaining the amount of the sediment, water, or other impurities shall be used in the delivery as in the receipt of oil. A pipeline shall not be required to receive for transportation, nor shall consignee be required to accept as a delivery, any oil of a higher temperature than 90 degrees Fahrenheit, except that during the summer oil shall be received at any atmospheric temperature, and may be delivered at like temperature. Consignee shall have the same right to test the oil upon delivery at destination that the pipeline has to test before receiving from the shipper.

(3) "Barrel" defined. For the purpose of these sections, a "barrel" of crude petroleum is declared to be 42 gallons of 231 cubic inches per gallon at 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

(4) Oil involved in litigation, etc.--indemnity against loss. When any oil offered for transportation is involved in litigation, or the ownership is in dispute, or when the oil appears to be encumbered by lien or charge of any kind, the pipeline may require of shippers an indemnity bond to protect it against all loss.

(5) Storage. Each pipeline shall provide, without additional charge, sufficient storage, such as is incident and necessary to the transportation of oil, including storage at destination or so near thereto as to be available for prompt delivery to destination point, for five days from the date of order of delivery at destination.

(6) Identity of oil, maintenance of oil. A pipeline may deliver to consignee either the identical oil received for transportation, subject to such consequences of mixing with other oil as are incident to the usual pipeline transportation, or it may make delivery from its common stock at destination; provided, if this last be done, the delivery shall be of substantially like kind and market value.

(7) Minimum quantity to be received. A pipeline shall not be required to receive less than one tank car-load of oil when oil is offered for loading into tank cars at destination of the pipeline. When oil is offered for transportation for other than tank car delivery, a pipeline shall not be required to receive less than 500 barrels.

(8) Gathering charges. Tariffs to be filed by a pipeline shall specify separately the charges for gathering of the oil, for transportation, and for delivery.

(9) Measuring, testing, and deductions (reference Special Order Number 20-63,098 effective June 18, 1973).

(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, all crude oil tendered to a pipeline shall be gauged and tested by a representative of the pipeline prior to its receipt by the pipeline. The shipper may be present or represented at the gauging or testing. Quantities shall be computed from correctly compiled tank tables showing 100% of the full capacity of the tanks.

(B) As an alternative to the method of measurement provided in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, crude oil and condensate may be measured and tested, before transfer of custody to the initial transporter, by:

(i) lease automatic custody transfer (LACT) equipment, provided such equipment is installed and operated in accordance with the latest revision of American Petroleum Institute (API) Manual of Petroleum Measurement Standards, Chapter 6.1, or;

(ii) any device or method, approved by the commission or its delegate, which yields accurate measurements of crude oil or condensate.

(C) Adjustments to the quantities determined by the methods described in subparagraphs (A) or (B) of this paragraph shall be made for temperature from the nearest whole number degree to the basis of 60 degrees Fahrenheit and to the nearest 5/10 API degree gravity in accordance with the volume correction Tables 5A and 6A contained in API Standard 2540, American Society for Testing Materials 01250, Institute of Petroleum 200, first edition, August 1980. A pipeline may deduct the basic sediment, water, and other impurities as shown by the centrifugal or other test agreed upon by the shipper and pipeline; and 1.0% for evaporation and loss during transportation. The net balance shall be the quantity deliverable by the pipeline. In allowing the deductions, it is not the intention of the commission to affect any tax or royalty obligations imposed by the laws of Texas on any producer or shipper of crude oil.

(D) A transfer of custody of crude between transporters is subject to measurement as agreed upon by the transporters.

(10) Delivery and demurrage. Each pipeline shall transport oil with reasonable diligence, considering the quality of the oil, the distance of transportation, and other material elements, but at any time after receipt of a consignment of oil, upon 24 hours' notice to the consignee, may offer oil for delivery from its common stock at the point of destination, conformable to paragraph (6) of this section, at a rate not exceeding 10,000 barrels per day of 24 hours. Computation of time of storage (as provided for in paragraph (5) of this section) shall begin at the expiration of such notice. At the expiration of the time allowed in paragraph (5) of this section for storage at destination, a pipeline may assess a demurrage charge on oil offered for delivery and remaining undelivered, at a rate for the first 10 days of $.001 per barrel; and thereafter at a rate of $.0075 per barrel, for each day of 24 hours or fractional part thereof.

(11) Unpaid charges, lien for and sale to cover. A pipeline shall have a lien on all oil to cover charges for transportation, including demurrage, and it may withhold delivery of oil until the charges are paid. If the charges shall remain unpaid for more than five days after notice of readiness to deliver, the pipeline may sell the oil at public auction at the general office of the pipeline on any day not a legal holiday. The date for the sale shall be not less than 48 hours after publication of notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation published in the city where the general office of the pipeline is located. The notice shall give the time and place of the sale, and the quantity of the oil to be sold. From the proceeds of the sale, the pipeline may deduct all charges lawfully accruing, including demurrage, and all expenses of the sale. The net balance shall be paid to the person lawfully entitled thereto.

(12) Notice of claim. Notice of claims for loss, damage, or delay in connection with the shipment of oil must be made in writing to the pipeline within 91 days after the damage, loss, or delay occurred. If the claim is for failure to make delivery, the claim must be made within 91 days after a reasonable time for delivery has elapsed.

(13) Telephone-telegraph line--shipper to use. If a pipeline maintains a private telegraph or telephone line, a shipper may use it without extra charge, for messages incident to shipments. However, a pipeline shall not be held liable for failure to deliver any messages away from its office or for delay in transmission or for interruption of service.

(14) Contracts of transportation. When a consignment of oil is accepted, the pipeline shall give the shipper a run ticket, and shall give the shipper a statement that shows the amount of oil received for transportation, the points of origin and destination, corrections made for temperature, deductions made for impurities, and the rate for such transportation.

(15) Shipper's tanks, etc.--inspection. When a shipment of oil has been offered for transportation the pipeline shall have the right to go upon the premises where the oil is produced or stored, and have access to any and all tanks or storage receptacles for the purpose of making any examination, inspection, or test authorized by this section.

(16) Offers in excess of facilities. If oil is offered to any pipeline for transportation in excess of the amount that can be immediately transported, the transportation furnished by the pipeline shall be apportioned among all shippers in proportion to the amounts offered by each; but no offer for transportation shall be considered beyond the amount which the person requesting the shipment then has ready for shipment by the pipeline. The pipeline shall be considered as a shipper of oil produced or purchased by itself and held for shipment through its line, and its oil shall be entitled to participate in such apportionate.

(17) Interchange of tonnage. Pipelines shall provide the necessary connections and facilities for the exchange of tonnage at every locality reached by two or more pipelines, when the commission finds that a necessity exists for connection, and under such regulations as said commission may determine in each case.

(18) Receipt and delivery--necessary facilities for. Each pipeline shall install and maintain facilities for the receipt and delivery of marketable crude petroleum of shippers at any point on its line if the commission finds that a necessity exists therefor, and under regulations by the commission.

(19) Reports of loss from fires, lightning, and leakage.

(A) Each pipeline shall immediately notify the commission district office, electronically or by telephone, of each fire that occurs at any oil tank owned or controlled by the pipeline, or of any tank struck by lightning. Each pipeline shall in like manner report each break or leak in any of its tanks or pipelines from which more than five barrels escape. Each pipeline shall file the required information with the commission in accordance with the appropriate commission form within 30 days from the date of the spill or leak.

(B) No risk of fire, storm, flood, or act of God, and no risk resulting from riots, insurrection, rebellion, war, or act of the public enemy, or from quarantine or authority of law or any order, requisition or necessity of the government of the United States in time of war, shall be borne by a pipeline, nor shall any liability accrue to it from any damage thereby occasioned. If loss of any crude oil from any such causes occurs after the oil has been received for transportation, and before it has been delivered to the consignee, the shipper shall bear a loss in such proportion as the amount of his shipment is to all of the oil held in transportation by the pipeline at the time of such loss, and the shipper shall be entitled to have delivered only such portion of his shipment as may remain after a deduction of his due proportion of such loss, but in such event the shipper shall be required to pay charges only on the quantity of oil delivered. This section shall not apply if the loss occurs because of negligence of the pipeline.

(C) Common carrier pipelines shall mail (return receipt requested) or hand deliver to landowners (persons who have legal title to the property in question) and residents (persons whose mailing address is the property in question) of land upon which a spill or leak has occurred, all spill or leak reports required by the commission for that particular spill or leak within 30 days of filing the required reports with the commission. Registration with the commission by landowners and residents for the purpose of receiving spill or leak reports shall be required every five years, with renewal registration starting January 1, 1999. If a landowner or resident is not registered with the commission, the common carrier is not required to furnish such reports to the resident or landowner.

(20) Printing and posting. Each pipeline shall have paragraphs (1)-(19) of this section printed on its tariff sheets, and shall post the printed sections in a prominent place in its various offices for the inspection of the shipping public. Each pipeline shall post and publish only such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the commission as general rules or such special rules as may be adopted for any particular field.

(21) Immediately upon the publication of its tariffs, and each subsequent amendment thereof, each pipeline is requested to file one copy with the commission.

(22) Records.

(A) Each person operating crude oil gathering, transportation, or storage facilities in the state must maintain daily records of the quantities of all crude oil moved from each oil field in the state, and such records shall also show separately for each field to whom delivery is made, and the quantities so delivered.

(B) The information contained in the records thus required to be kept must be reported to the commission by the gatherers, transporters, and handlers at such times and in such manner as may be required by the commission.

Source Note: The provisions of this §3.71 adopted to be effective August 25, 2003, 28 TexReg 6816