You may be familiar with the acronym PSEP without really knowing what those four letters stand for.
PSEP stands for Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan. This is an implementation plan established in 2014 by Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) to promote the continued safety of gas transmission pipelines.
The basic goal of the plan is testing and replacing all Southern California natural gas transmission pipelines that have not been pressure-tested.
PSEP Tests and Objectives
PSEP tests are conducted for the most part applying a method called hydrostatic pressure testing. This technique consists in using water to subject a pipeline to pressures that are much greater than the usual operating levels.
Above all, PSEP has four main objectives, as follows:
- Enhance public safety
- Comply with the directives of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)
- Minimize customers impacts
- Maximize cost-effectiveness
PSEP identifies pipeline sections that have not been pressure-tested and slates them for testing or replacement. SoCalGas goes to great lengths to notify neighbors and the public before those activities take place.
Pipe Replacement and Valve Upgrade/Replacement
As part of the PSEP, sometimes it’s necessary to replace gas pipelines to complete infrastructure improvements or to meet increasing demand. This type of project is usually a substantial undertaking where workers install the new pipeline segment beside the existing structure so as not to interrupt the flow of natural gas through the original pipeline.
The plan also includes provisions to replace or retrofit hundreds of mainline valves. The new technology available will allow technicians to open these valves from a central location or automatically shut them off in the event of a large pressure drop.
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Darnell Technical Services is an engineering design firm with extensive experience in PSEP projects.
Our headquarters are located in Santa Ana, California, and we have an office in Las Vegas, Nevada. Contact us today by telephone (714-285-0082 (CA), 702-945-2899 (NV)) or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to learn more about all the technical instruments and materials we put at your disposal.
