Pipeline violations occur more often than we would like. Some blame vague wording when it comes to reporting threats. Some states have passed bills that increase fines in order to reduce careless behavior by pipeline companies. According to a North Dakota NBC affiliate, the state passed legislation that increased fines from “ten thousand dollars to 200-thousand [...] Continue Reading…
NPR made an analogy this week between the 60’s show, The Beverly Hillbillies, and today’s aging pipelines. Although the show was funny, when that happens in real life it is not so fun for the communities and families involved. The Gulf Coast, for example, is still suffering from the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill two [...] Continue Reading…
We are constantly reporting about pipeline ruptures that have caused millions in damages around the globe. Pipeline accidents are preventable. Companies can save themselves money by establishing a plan to prevent corrosion related ruptures by monitoring pipelines. It is estimated by the Pipeline and Gas Journal that almost 120,000 miles of pipelines are currently being [...] Continue Reading…
As a result of a broken pipeline owned by West Shore Pipe Line Co, there was an oil spill in Jackson, WI. Reports estimate about 55,000 gallons of oil leaked. Although the oil spill occurred two weeks ago, it has contaminated the soil in the area, and at least seven residential water wells. Washington County [...] Continue Reading…
Last week we learned that The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued one of its largest fines to date. After further investigation, the NTSB determined that the probable cause of the pipeline rupture was corrosion fatigue cracks. The cracks grew along with the corrosion resulted in substantial defects. As a result, the polyethylene tape coating [...] Continue Reading…
Yesterday the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued one of the largest fines against Enbridge Energy. This comes as a result of a crude oil spill back in 2010 that affected the Marshall, Michigan area and the Kalamazoo River. Enbridge Energy now has to pay a record $3.7 million [...] Continue Reading…
The federal report that was to detail the causes of the 2010 spill in Southern Michigan that leaked 800,000 gallons of oil from Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge Inc.’s pipeline that runs from Griffith, Indiana, to Sarnia, Ontario in Canada. This staggering amount of oil was spilled into the Kalamazoo River an hour drive east of Grand [...] Continue Reading…
