An analysis of the pipeline failure that spilled 200,000 gallons of Athabasca dilbit in Mayflower, Arkansas concluded there was a manufacturing fault in the pipe.
Here's the thing. The pipe that failed was 70-years old. Who knows, maybe your great-grandfather had a hand in its construction? But this geriatric pipeline was just a fluke, right? No, not at all.
Citing an ongoing investigation, both Exxon and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) waited nearly a month after receiving the report before releasing the details to Arkansas newspaper Log Cabin Democrat Thursday.
Implications of the report are significant as it shows that pipelines "similarly manufactured, and in the same era as the ruptured line in Mayflower, are inferior and susceptible to failure," the Democrat reports.
A pipeline industry insider who declined to be named told Common Dreams that there are "tens of thousands of miles of pipeline in the ground and operating from the approximate vintage" as the Pegasus pipeline.
"The fact of the matter is, any pre-1970s pipeline was manufactured with old technologies," John Tynan, Watershed Protection Manager with Central Arkansas Water, told Common Dreams.
"The only way to eliminate their risk is to completely remove the pipelines and shut down the operation," he added.
What is a product as corrosive and toxic as Athabasca dilbit, that requires such high pressure to pump, doing in antiquated, "old technology" pipelines?
Is there a lesson in this for eastern Canada. The Energy East pipeline deal to carry Athabasca bitumen to New Brunswick for refining and export won't involve much new pipe.
"70 per cent of the pipeline is already in the ground in the form of TransCanada’s existing Alberta-to-Ontario natural gas pipeline that will be converted to accept oil."
So, let's get this straight. That million barrels a day flow of bitumen will cross Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario, in an old, natural gas pipeline. Hmm, what could go wrong?
Then again, if Enbridge is promising the Americans that Keystone XL will be a brand new, high-technology, state of the art pipeline constructed from scratch, why are Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario being stuck with a recycled, natural gas line of undetermined vintage? Could it be they're being put at risk to save a few bucks?
Mound, did you know that another pipeline is being built all the way from Alberta to Saint John, NB. I believe Irving will refine that crude oil and then ship it internationally.
ReplyDeleteThere is some controversy about it here as it could harm the environment, but it looks Western Canada does not know about it that much.
The proposed pipeline to St. John, N.B.already exists partly. Irving Oil will be shipping to India and China. THAT is in the news here in Alberta. Where the hell does the Maritimes get a break from expensive oil from the Middle East...that is the question. You people in the Maritimes better demand you get the correct information regarding that. Then again, N.B. and Harper are wearing the same glove.
ReplyDeleteI don't know about that, LD. Have you got a link to this second pipeline? The oil patch is usually accurate on this sort of thing. Apparently the Energy East initiative will have new pipe for the last stretch through Ontario, across Quebec and into New Brunswick.
ReplyDelete@ Anyong, I don't think anyone is talking cheap oil for the Maritimes.
Mound, here is one link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/08/02/nb-transcanada-pipeline-regulatory-future-1008.html
It is on the local T.V news almost everyday . There are two 'burning' issues around here -pipeline and gas fracking. People have been demonstrating in front of NB legislature with signs like, "We don't want your frucking frackiing." And sometimes 'r' ' is removed from frucking.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/07/31/nb-shale-protests-kent-swn.html
Yeah, LD, we're talking about the same pipeline. They're taking the old natural gas pipeline that runs into Ontario, adding an extension into New Brunswick, and using it to transport dilbit to NB. The extension is new, the rest of it is an old pipeline.
ReplyDeleteI heard today on the CeeBeeCee that PM Harper is fully supportive of this venture, so rest easy citizens.
ReplyDeleteMound, I am aware of the natural gas pipeline. In 1980's Alberta wanted to take it all the way to Nova Scotia. On behalf of NB government ( as a member of a committee on this issue) I met with an official of the gas company, in Montreal, who took me on a tour, by helicopter, from Montreal to Quebec City showing me the pipeline and emphasizing how safe it was especially when it crossed waterways such as St. Lawrence River.
ReplyDeleteThat plan fizzled out and the pipeline stopped at Quebec City as Nova Scotia and Newfoundland found their own natural gas which was then made available to NB and I believe it is also exported to U.S.
I did not know that it is the same pipeline being used for crude oil.
"Where the hell does the Maritimes get a break from expensive oil from the Middle East...Where did I mention cheap oil for the Maritimes?
ReplyDeleteNewfoundland and Labrador produces about 270,000 barrels of crude oil per day
ReplyDeleterepresenting 10 percent of Canada’s total crude oil production. There is currently no
natural gas production in the province. Onshore exploration continues on the West Coast of Newfoundland including fracking with much objection from the general public.
There are three producing offshore oil projects: Hibernia, Terra Nova and White Rose.
Gas from Nfld is not shipped to N.B. or any other Maritime province. All oil from Newfoundland is shipped to the US at reduced rates....all of it.
http://www.centreforenergy.com/Documents/AboutEnergy/ByTheNumbers/NL-bythenumbers.pdf
ReplyDeleteNewfoundland and
Labrador rank second in
conventional oil reserves
in Canada
The province ranks fourth
in both hydroelectricity
generation and crude oil
production
Per cent of Canada’s
electricity was generated
in Newfoundland in 2009
Per cent of Canada’s
hydroelectricity was
generated in
Newfoundland in 2009
There have been 17 oil
discoveries on the Grand
Banks, of which four are
currently producing
There are 27
wind turbines
in Newfoundland
Newfoundland and
Labrador derives 30 per cent
of its GDP from oil and
utilities industries
There are 55 megawatts
of installed wind power
capacity in Newfoundland
Per cent of Newfoundland’s
electricity was derived
from hydropower in 2009
There are 1,345 million
barrels of oil reserves under
development on
Newfoundland’s Grand Banks.
Executive Council
ReplyDeleteNatural Resources
Newfoundland & Labrador
The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister of Natural Resources, says that from an energy perspective, Newfoundland and Labrador has among the most promising potential in the country. "NRCan’s report indicates that Canada’s natural gas exports to the United States will fall by nearly two-thirds by 2020," said the minister. "However, I would point to the untapped natural gas resource potential in Newfoundland and Labrador. As the technology for getting compressed and liquefied natural gas to shore advances, our province is positioning itself to be a leader in natural gas development. This could substantially contribute to our country’s export capability to the U.S."
The minister added that industry is actively exploring transportation infrastructure and opportunities for natural gas, while the Provincial Government is finalizing a natural gas royalty regime. Strong natural gas prices, continued exploration, uncertainty of LNG imports to the U.S., and the province’s proximity to the U.S. market, all bode well for the development of the province’s natural gas reserves in the near future.
Quebec'ers are already questioning the extension of the pipe line into N.B. There are a few rivers it will need to cross including the St. Lawrence Seaway.
ReplyDeletethat is the dilbit will need to cross...
ReplyDeleteMound, I think you meant to type Mayflower, ARKANSAS in the first sentence.
ReplyDeleteYes, Koot, thanks. Such are the perils of never proofreading - a cardinal sin I commit pretty much always.
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ReplyDelete