Conoco-CS 860501What
You
Should
Know
~ ,P ( Petroleum
About
~,~ute
Petroleum
Pipeline
Safety
What Are Liquid Petroleum Pipelines?
Our country is crisscrossed with thousands of miles
of underground pipelines delivering petroleum and re-
lated products, such as gasoline, home heating oil, and
diesel fuel.
Pipelines are the safest, most economical system of
cross-country transportation for the oil and products so
vital to our way of life. Today pipelines carry almost
one-quarter of this nation's total freight, yet at a cost so
Iow that it is less expensive to send one gallon of
gasoline from Houston to New York than it is to mail a
first class letter. Furthermore, the federal government's
statistics show that pipelines have a record of safety
unequalled by any other transportation mode.
What Do Pipeline Companies Do To Ensure
The Safe Operation Of Their Pipelines?
A lot!
Before a pipeline is ever placed in operation, it is tested
to a higher pressure than would be encountered in actual
day-to-day use. Once it has been placed in operation,
controls and protective devices monitor line pressures
and limit them to pre-determined safe levels.
The pipeline is specially treated, where necessary, to
prevent corrosion. When appropriate, additional protec-
tive systems are installed to protect the pipe from the
effects of corrosive contents or surroundings.
Pipeline operators make use of extensive safety sys-
terns and programs. These can include:
· Computer-assisted control centers capable of de-
tecting and interpreting pressure or flow changes in a
pipeline;
· Regular air patrols in Iow-flying aircraft by experi-
enced pilots and observers;
· Periodic ground patrols for detailed inspection of the
pipeline environment;
· Highly trained maintenance personnel located at
strategic points along the pipeline; and,
· Continuous monitoring of the commodities flowing
through the pipeline.
_l~Low Do You Know Where A Pipeline
Is Located?
Since pipelines are buried underground, line markers
are used to show their approximate location at numerous
points along their routes. These markers list the commod-
ity transported, the name of the operator and a telephone
number where the operator's representative can be
reached at all times.
These other indicators are also evidence that a pipeline
is nearby:
Though helpful, markers and indicators are limited in
the information they provide. The~aced near pipe-
lines, but not necessarily on ~op of t_.hem, and a pipeline
ay noFfotiow a st~'~t hne between ad acent markers.
?h-~r-e f~¥~&~-a% not i~e relie~on to reveal the exact
position of thej~_lines they mark. Furthermore, they
~7o~ide no inform~ on the depth or numbe~f
pipelines.
-- S-6-pl-e%se remember that a backhoe, a bulldozer, a
hole auger or a pick--any of these, as well as other
digging or drilling equipment--are dangerous ways to
find pipelines. The best way is to place a collecl phone
call to the number on the pipeline marker. This will bring a
pipeline company representative to the site to locate the
pipeline(s) before digging begins.
What Does A Pipeline Leak Mean?
It can mean danger!
Despite the many built-in safety factors and the best
safety record in the transportation industry, pipeline leaks
can occur. Escaping petroleum or product may be
dangerous and warrants cautious, immediate action
when discovered.
~[o_w_C~n You Recognize A_
Pipeline Leak?
In the event of a liquid petroleum pipeline leak, sight,
sound and smell may be helpful in detecting it.
· Sight. Most liquid pipeline leaks can be detected
visually.~etroleum or product leak ma ay_~p~eear as
an accumulation of the material on the ground over the
p~p~ef~ Fne or ~n-~Cne to~st.
Certain products, when released from a pipeline, will
.va~r-'~-an~'-c~~e white'cioud 0rf~-
~ting--~; the pi~.line location. A spot of dead or
disco~re---d~(~'t'~r~ in ~-~-~-~r wise ~-r~een pip~
of way may ~n~i-cate a s~ leak.
~d'~-~it~ h a-~T~-n~d, flames in the vicinity
would be the most obvious~n of a~oipeline em_er~qen_cy:
~'~::~ou ndl A iiquid petroleum pipeline leak may be iden-
tifiecFtTy a-~ r 'n sgund, the loudness of which
would vary depending on the size of the leak.
· SmeLL. One of the first indications of a leak may be
the o-8~-r of the escaping liquid petroleum or products.
Most of the commodities carried in pipelines have a
characteristic odor. Therefore, any stra~ or unusual
o_~d.or in the area of pipelines ma~ir~di~ate a leak. --
What Should You Do If Yg_u
Encoun-t~-L~?
Your first concern should be for your personal safety
and the safety of those around you. You should...
· LEAVE THE LEAK AREA IMMEDIATELY.
· .AyoJd direcLc.ontact with the escaping liquids.
· Avoid creatin~park8 _or sources of heat which could
cause the liquids, or vapor arising fr~, to ignite and
burn. If_~ou find yourself in a suspected vCpor area, do not
~tch, start an engine or even switch on an e ectr~c
· Immediately notify the pipeline operator as soon as
you reach safety. Call collect. Give your name, a descrip-
tion of the leak and its location. If the pipeline operator is
not known: call_your local flee, ~shentf's d~
meQLer_tt~at_~&:)olice. Advise them of the location and
nature of the emergency.
Underground Pipelines Are the Safest Way
To Move Petroleum And Products And You
Can Help Keep It That Way.
A gouge, scrape, dent, crease or other damage to the
pipe or its coating may cause a leak or break. In fact, the
major cause of pipeline leaks is earth moving and con-
struction equipment and tools owned by parties other
than the pipeline company. Should you discover or cause
what seems to be even minor damage to a pipeline,
immediately notify the operator. If the operator is not
known, call your local fire, police, or sheriff's department,
or the state police.
If you are planning to engage in...
· Construction;
· Road construction or maintenance;
· The deep plowing of fields;
· Post-hole digging;
· Laying of water lines;
· Installation of drain tile;
· Ditch cutting or deepening;
· Ground clearing (especially blasting) or logging;
· Laying of telephone or power cables;
· Or any activity which you suspect could damage
pipelines...
let the pipeline operator know before you start. If you see
someone engaged in these activities near an under-
ground pipeline, let the pipeline operator know. In either
case, call collect.
American Petroleum Institute
2101 L Street, Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20037 _T~
I 1500-6/80 300M