Informed Planning Near Pipelines
http://www.mrsc.org/Subjects/PubSafe/transpipes.aspx
Brought to you by a Community Technical Assistance
Grant from the U.S. Dept of Transportation
Informed Planning Near
Transmission Pipelines
Carl Weimer
Executive Director
Pipeline Safety Trust
&
Member
Whatcom County Council
Planning Near Transmission Pipelines
Most
pipelines
were put
in rural
areas
But now growth is encroaching on
many pipelines
This creates an increased risk that
communities should consider when planning
How much risk is there?
• The chance of a pipeline failing in any one
specific place is extremely small, so the risk
is very very small
• But if a pipeline does fail the consequences
can be catastrophic
Each pipeline has different risks, and
should be considered separately
Significant Pipeline Incidents
Washington State 1999 - 2009
Name
Date
County
Cause
Property
Damage
Gallons
Spilled
Gallons
Recovered
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
2/26/1999
SKAMANIA
BODY OF PIPE
$4,970,414
OLYMPIC PIPE LINE
6/10/1999
WHATCOM
OTHER
$55,917,160
229950
9828
OLYMPIC PIPE LINE
8/29/1999
KING
OTHER
$372,781
3360
1764
TIDEWATER, INC
7/21/2000
FRANKLIN
CORROSION
$974,400
37800
0
TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPE LINE
10/26/2000
WHATCOM
INCORRECT OPERATION
$389,760
27090
26376
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
4/16/2002
COWLITZ
BODY OF PIPE
$198,809
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
5/1/2003
PIERCE
BODY OF PIPE
$116,795
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
5/29/2003
SKAMANIA
JOINT
$208,127
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
12/13/2003
LEWIS
BODY OF PIPE
$138,082
OLYMPIC PIPE LINE
5/23/2004
KING
MATERIAL / WELD FAILURES
$693,827
1890
840
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
5/24/2006
LINCOLN
BODY OF PIPE
$159,216
EXXONMOBIL PIPELINE CO
11/3/2008
SPOKANE
INCORRECT OPERATION
$580,170
3570
588
NORTHWEST PIPELINE
1/8/2009
SNOHOMISH
OTHER
$128,035
Totals =
$64,847,576 303660
39396
The main pipelines through the state include:
• The Olympic Pipe Line
• William’s – Northwest Pipeline
• TransCanada's GTN System
• ConocoPhillips Pipe Line
• Chevron Pipe Line
• Kinder Morgan - Trans Mountain pipeline
In addition there are 11 smaller transmission pipelines operated
in the state that range in length from 1 to 36 miles
Trans Mountain Route
Crude oil pipeline
from Alberta to
Cherry Point and
Anacortes refineries.
16-20 inch diameter
7.5 million
gallons/day
Operated by Kinder Morgan
Consequences of spills from
crude oil pipelines
Potential large liability to local government,
businesses, property owners
Damage to property and expensive
clean up
Environmental damage and drinking
water contamination
Williams Northwest Pipeline is a 3900 mile bidirectional pipeline bringing about 1.8 billion cubic feet of
natural gas per day from Alberta and Colorado/Utah
The pipeline varies from 24-36 inches in diameter
TransCanada’s Gas Transmission Northwest
(GTN) system is 612 miles long in the United States with
309 miles in Washington State. It system typically
transports 2.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas each day
Consequences of natural gas
pipeline failures
Pipeline point
of failure
Explosions & Fires
Pressure Impacts
Olympic Pipeline
Liquid products pipeline
(jet fuel, gasoline, diesel)
from Whatcom/Skagit
refineries to SeaTac and
Portland.
Moves about 13 million
gallons/day
16 inch diameter
Operated by BP,
Majority Owner Enbridge
The Chevron Pipeline is 157 miles long in
Washington state and transports gasoline, diesel,
and jet fuel
Conoco Phillips “Yellowstone” Pipeline
is 129 miles long in Washington State and carries
gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel
Consequences of liquid product
pipeline failures
Explosions and Fires
Soil & Groundwater
Contamination
National Pipeline Mapping System
Way for the public
and local
government to
know about
pipelines near by
Pipeline GIS Layers are available:
http://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov/
or
WUTC at (360) 664-1219
Two ways to protect communities
• Protect the pipelines from
damage so they stay safe
• Protect people near pipelines in case
something happens
Consultation Zone
A local government
may determine the
appropriate width of the
consultation zone
based on its own
research and
discussions with
pipeline operators and
other local government
agencies.
Different types of development
near pipelines
Stormwater detention
pond with failing
slope
Expensive fix that
could have been
avoided with early
communication
Multiple layers of bad planning
Pipeline right-of-ways and green space
Early
Consultation
can be a
Win, Win,
Win
Allowing space for repairs
Small things can
make a big difference
The Bottom Line - Better planning can
help ensure safe fuel transport and
avoid tragedies
Please Join With
1155 North State Street, Suite 609
Bellingham, WA 98225
360-543-5686
carl@pstrust.org
http://www.pstrust.org