Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999

Version No. 002

Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999

S.R. No. 4/1999

Version incorporating amendments as at 22 August 2000

table of provisions

RegulationPage

part 1—preliminary

1.Objective

2.Authorising provisions

3.Commencement

4.Definitions

part 2—gas quality

5.Quality of gas

6.Odour

7.Exemption from compliance with standards

8.Measurement of gas quality

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SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1—Standard for natural gas conveyed in a transmission pipeline

SCHEDULE 2—Standard for natural gas conveyed in a distribution pipeline

SCHEDULE 3—Standard for tempered liquefied petroleum gas
conveyed in a distribution pipeline

SCHEDULE 4—Specification for liquefied petroleum gas

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ENDnotes

1. General Information

2. Table of Amendments

3. Explanatory Details

Version No. 002

Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999

S.R. No. 4/1999

Version incorporating amendments as at 22 August 2000

Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999

S.R. No. 4/1999

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 1February 1999.

4.Definitions

In these Regulations—

"Act" means the Gas Safety Act 1997;

"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;

Reg. 4 def. of "inert gas" inserted by No. 83/2000 reg.3.

"inert gas" means any substance which exists predominantly in a gaseous state at 15ºC temperature and 101325 kPa absolute pressure and which remains substantially unchanged during the combustion process of gaseous fuel;

r. 4

"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;

"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.

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Part 2—Gas Quality

5.Quality of gas

r. 5

(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.

7.Exemption from compliance with standards

r. 7

(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—

(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.

r. 8

(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.

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SCHEDULES

Sch. 1 substituted by No. 83/2000 reg.4.

SCHEDULE 1

Sch. 1

Reg. 5(1)

Standard for Natural Gas Conveyed in a Transmission Pipeline

Parameter / Specification limit
Maximum water (mg/m3) / 1120
Maximum water dew point at maximum pipeline operating pressure (oC) /
00
Maximum hydrocarbon dew point at 3500 kPa gauge pressure (oC) /
20
Maximum oxygen (mole %) / 02
Maximum total inert gas
(mole %) /
70
Maximum hydrogen sulphide (mg/m3) / 57
Minimum gas temperature (oC) / 20
Maximum gas temperature (oC) / 500

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Sch. 2 substituted by No. 83/2000 reg.4.

SCHEDULE 2

Sch. 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0
Maximum Wobbe Index (MJ/m3) / 520
Maximum oxygen (mole %) / 02
Maximum total inert gas (mole %) / 70
Maximum total sulphur (mg/m3) / 500
Maximum hydrogen sulphide (mg/m3) / 57

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SCHEDULE 3

Sch. 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.

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SCHEDULE 4

Sch. 4

Reg. 5(6)

Specification for Liquefied Petroleum Gas

(LPGas)

Property / Commercial propane / Commercial butane
Maximum vapour pressure, at 40°C (kPa gauge) /
1530 /
520
Maximum residue on evaporation (mg/100ml) /
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

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ENDnotes

Endnotes

1.General Information

The Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999, S.R.No.4/1999 were made on 19 January 1999 by the Governor in Council under sections 33 and 118 of the Gas Safety Act 1997, No.99/1997 and came into operation on 1February 1999: regulation 3.

The Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 will sunset 10 years after the day of making on 19 January 2009 (see section 5 of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1994).

2.Table of Amendments

This Version incorporates amendments made to the Gas Safety (Gas Quality) Regulations 1999 by statutory rules, subordinate instruments and Acts.

Endnotes

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Gas Safety (Gas Quality) (Amendment) Regulations 2000, No. 83/2000

Date of Making: / 22.8.00
Date of Commencement: / 22.8.00

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3.Explanatory Details

Endnotes

No entries at date of publication.