Linc Energy Blog

The latest natural gas explosion in Philadelphia sounds the alarm for immediate action in improving the safety of natural gas pipelines. Tuesday night's explosion resulted in the death of one Philadelphia Gas Works employee and has left five others wounded including a local fireman. Eyewitnesses saw a 50 foot fireball erupting into the air over a northeast Philly neighborhood resulting in the evacuation of nearby residents and businesses.

• Enhance pipeline safety
• PG&E spiked 11 lines to legal limits since 2003

In the wake of the San Bruno gas line explosion, two California senators filed legislation yesterday to increase the regulation of our nation’s pipelines.

Utility companies have been under pressure for years to increase their inspections and replacement of aging pipelines. The San Bruno explosion, resulting in seven fatalities (as of 9/22/10) and leveling nearly 40 homes (destroying over 50), has cranked up the heat even more.

In 2000, a gas pipeline exploded and killed 12 people near Carlsbad, New Mexico. In that explosion, the pipeline was also an aging one, dating back to 1950 and was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The cause of the rupture was determined to be from severe internal pipe corrosion.

Since the San Bruno explosion, reports have surfaced that aging pipelines are a threat to gas pipelines nationwide. The concern has been raised that more than 60% of this country’s transmission lines are over 40 years old and the life expectancy is around 50 years. The majority of these lines are made of steel which is prone to corrosion and many of the pipelines were installed before suburbs emerged, and now present the risk that they could leak or erupt … beneath now populated suburban neighborhoods.

In 2002, a law was passed by congress which required utilities to inspect pipelines that run through densely populated areas. While critics suggest that utility companies don’t want to spend money to inspect and repair aging pipelines, over 3000 problems were identified during the first five years of this legislation. This demonstrates that the regulation has identified and resolved precarious situations, but it also clearly reveals just how unstable our aging pipelines are.

Yesterday, Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer introduced new legislation which would increase regulation of our nation’s pipelines.

“The pipeline explosion in San Bruno was a tragedy that must never occur again in any American neighborhood,” Senator Feinstein stresses in a statement. “That’s why today we are introducing legislation specifically designed to improve pipeline safety – and to establish penalties for violators.

“The American people must be assured that the pipelines that crisscross the nation and run beneath their streets are safe. This legislation is a strong first step in that direction.”

The Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act of 2010 expands on Ray LaHood U.S. Transportation Secretary’s legislation which was proposed last week, and would^(1):
 

• Double the number of federal pipeline inspectors (there are currently 100 inspectors each responsible for inspecting over 2,000 miles)
• Require the use of electronic shut off valves to cut off gas in an emergency rather than manual valves which need to be located and manually turned off
• Order the internal inspection of pipelines by robotic devices, “smart pigs,” or other methods which are deemed equally successful
• Prohibit pipelines from working at high pressure if the line cannot be inspected using effective assessment methods
• Priority will be given to aged pipelines in seismic areas

The legislation, being authored by the two California senators is calling for an increase in penalties for violators of the federal safety regulations. It’s unclear when this legislation will be put to a vote, though we are sure to hear more in the weeks to come.
 

 To the left, utility safety worker inspects pipeline and valve wrapped with Trenton Wax Tape for cathodic protection.

 ⁽¹⁾ California Senators call for tougher pipeline standards