A new dawn for pipeline leaks
Published by Alfred Hamer,
Editorial Assistant
World Pipelines,
The pipeline industry faces a new dawn. Recent regulatory changes have pushed operators to reflect on the condition of their assets, ensuring they are compliant with the introduction of industry-wide mandates. To avoid disrupting operations and impacting the environment and local communities, operators need to be proactive in the fight against pipeline leaks. Far from being introduced as a stumbling block for operators, these new regulations are critical not only for protecting pipeline infrastructure but also to optimise future operations and overall efficiency.
Introduced on 1 October, 2024, by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), 49 CFR 195.134 requires all onshore hazardous liquid pipelines transporting single-phase liquids constructed before 1 October, 2019, to be equipped with effective leak detection systems. This mandate applies directly to each liquid pipeline transporting liquid in a single phase (that doesn’t feature gas in the liquid), ensuring that each pipeline is equipped with leak detection systems that meet PHMSA’s requirements under § 195.444.
The initial phase of this change began with pipelines constructed on or after 1 October, 2019, requiring compliance by 1 October, 2020. Now, with the window for the latest phase recently passing for older pipelines, operators must act to implement suitable pipeline integrity methods to mitigate potential disruptions due to non-compliance.
PHMSA reports that the average mile of natural gas distribution pipelines in the US is around 40 years old. As the new regulations affect pipelines constructed before 2019, a significant number of operators nationwide will need to make necessary adjustments to remain compliant.
Today, corrosion accounts for the majority of hazardous liquid incidents on pipelines installed before 1950. This leads to inevitable leaks that compromise pipeline reliability and transportation safety. This underscores the necessity of the new leak detection regulations and highlights the importance of implementing systems that can swiftly and accurately detect leaks, ensuring efficient resolution, and minimising costs and disruption.
The incident rate for onshore gas transmission pipelines doubled from the 1940s to the 2010s, leading to a US$7 billion loss for the industry. Alarmingly, nearly 33% of all reported gas leaks resulted in fires, and 13% led to explosions, posing serious safety risks. Between 2010 and 2021, gas leak incidents resulted in 122 fatalities and 603 injuries. A report by the US PIRG Education Fund, Environment America Research & Policy Center, and Frontier Group noted that over 2600 hazardous gas pipeline leaks in 2023 alone caused more than US$4 billion in damages, releasing 26.6 billion ft3 of methane or carbon dioxide. These figures highlight the significant impact of leaks on public safety and the environment.
Progress in addressing gas pipeline leaks in the US has been slow. A major gas leak is reported to the federal government on average every 40 hours, while smaller leaks often go undetected and unrepaired for years. Cross Country Pipeline Risk Assessments and Mitigation Strategies in 2019 found that within the US, the leak detection systems were effective less than 20% of the time. PHMSA only provides data on reported incidents, leaving many undetected leaks unaccounted for. Experts estimate that thousands of small leaks may go unnoticed annually across the extensive US pipeline network. The steady incidence of major pipeline leaks and safety issues over the past decade demonstrates an urgent need for revised industry standards and new safety-related rules. The environmental impact of these incidents is substantial, necessitating immediate action.
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Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/special-reports/16102024/a-new-dawn-for-pipeline-leaks/
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