Many rivers to crossBut I can't seem to find my way over ~Jimmy Cliff Dear Readers: An unfortunate … [Read more...] about Another Spill into the Yellowstone – Are we learning anything?
Smart Pig Blog
NTSB’s recent study on systemic weaknesses in gas pipeline safety
News media recently reported that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) found continuing systemic weaknesses in gas pipeline safety. What does the NTSB have to say about where improvements are needed? The NTSB and the gas pipeline integrity management rules The NTSB is a congressionally-mandated transportation agency that operates independently to conduct objective accident … [Read more...] about NTSB’s recent study on systemic weaknesses in gas pipeline safety
New Natural Gas Pipelines and Proximity to Homes
We’ve had a couple inquires in the past few weeks from citizens who have property on or near which a new natural gas pipeline is being proposed. They have asked: 1) How close to homes can one of these pipelines be installed? and 2) What are the options to minimize the danger when developing pipelines in proximity to other structures if the pipeline were to rupture? The answer to the first … [Read more...] about New Natural Gas Pipelines and Proximity to Homes
Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Leaks & Repair Criteria
Smart Pig's Question of the Week - A Texas farmer recently contacted us to ask how long could an operator allow a leak from a natural gas transmission line to go without being repaired? He indicated that a leak - identifiable by the soil being sprayed up in the air above the line - had reportedly been visible in a neighboring field for some time, and there had been no apparent effort … [Read more...] about Natural Gas Transmission Pipeline Leaks & Repair Criteria
Natural Gas Components, Transmission Line Leaks and Karst Topography
Smart Pig's Question of the Week - We were recently contacted by a resident of Virginia who wanted to know whether natural gas transmission lines leak, and particularly about how the methane and other constituents of transported gas might behave if a leak occurred in an aquifer associated with karst topography. To best respond to his concerns, we've divided his questions up into smaller … [Read more...] about Natural Gas Components, Transmission Line Leaks and Karst Topography
New Smart Pig – Question of the Week Series
Hi all, Today we will be starting a new series on the Smart Pig Blog where we will answer the “Question of the Week.” These will be actual questions we receive from the public, local governments and the media, and will cover a whole range of pipeline subjects. To make this work we need to continue to receive good questions, so please feel free to send your questions to . As … [Read more...] about New Smart Pig – Question of the Week Series
Remembering San Bruno
Today, September 9th, is the 4th anniversary of the pipeline explosion in San Bruno, California that left 8 people dead, 66 injured, and the Crestmoor neighborhood in ruins. Our thoughts are with the residents and leaders of San Bruno as they remember those who were lost four years ago and continue their reconstruction, healing and advocacy for improvements in pipeline safety. In four years, … [Read more...] about Remembering San Bruno
What do you get for a million gallon spill, a billion dollar clean up, and four years?
The fourth anniversary of the Enbridge Line 6B rupture and spill into Talmadge Creek and the Kalamazoo River is today, July 25, although the source of the spill was not determined until July 26. We wanted to take a bit of a retrospective look at the spill and its aftermath to see what, if anything, has changed about pipeline safety, what has been learned, and what remains the same as ever. For … [Read more...] about What do you get for a million gallon spill, a billion dollar clean up, and four years?
Why the Bellingham story must continue to be told
It's the 15-year anniversary of the Bellingham pipeline tragedy, and I just want to think about something else. I don't want to talk about what happened. And I certainly don't want to have to try to make sense of it, or explain how something good has come from it. Three boys are still dead and for some reason the crying starts easier now than it did 15 years ago. Do we have to go through this all … [Read more...] about Why the Bellingham story must continue to be told