CO₂ Pipelines
California maintains some of the strongest pipeline safety requirements in the nation. These requirements will continue pertaining to CO2 pipelines. While federal rules require a hydrostatic pressure test before a pipeline begins operation, California takes this further by requiring that every pipeline undergo integrity testing at least once every five years.
These tests must be performed by an independent, Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), approved third party testing firm, and the results are submitted to OSFM for review. OSFM Pipeline Safety Engineers also conduct random on‑site inspections of testing activities to ensure all safety and compliance standards are met.
In some situations, OSFM may allow operators to use internal inspection tools, often called “smart pigs”, as an alternative to hydrostatic testing. When this option is approved, the inspection results are likewise submitted for OSFM review.
These measures help ensure that California’s pipelines continue to operate safely and reliably throughout their service life.