[ROCKMAN]

Outcast - Here's how we handle such situations in Texas:

The purpose of the One-Call Board of Texas (OCB) is to establish and operate a “one-call” excavation safety and underground facility damage prevention notification system designed to provide excavators with the capability of making only “one-call” prior to excavation, whereby all utility companies with underground lines in the area receive notice of the planned excavation.

The utility operator is then given the opportunity to physically locate and mark the approximate location of its underground lines to help the excavator avoid accidental damage. The excavator does not have to make multiple calls or attempt to determine what facilities may be present and identify unknown utility operators. All operators of underground facilities are classified as Class A Facility Operators and are required to register with the OCB and enroll their facilities with the Notification Center of their choice.

The Texas Notification System consists of two separate Notification Centers. Each Notification Center is responsible for receiving information about a planned excavation and sending that information to its member utility companies and the other Notification Centers.

[vox_mundi]

Gasoline Pipeline Blast Could Raise Pump Prices in Southeast

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') fatal explosion has shut down a pipeline supplying gasoline to millions of people across the Southeast — the second accident and shutdown in two months — raising the specter of another round of gas shortages and price increases.

It happened when a dirt-moving track hoe struck the pipeline, ignited gasoline and sparked a blast Monday, killing one worker and injuring five others, Colonial Pipeline said. Flames and thick black smoke continued to soar on Tuesday, and firefighters built an earthen berm to contain the burning fuel.

[litesong]

What? There must have been hundreds of explosions in your list!!!

[ROCKMAN]

And speaking of potential nightmares caused by anti-oil sands activists shouting in oil pipelines here's an example of what happens when an experienced hand does so:

1975 A Mid-Valley Pipeline crude oil pipeline at Lima, Ohio ruptured after a valve was accidentally closed against a pumping pipeline on January 17. The spraying crude oil ignited, killing a Terminal Operator.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GHung', 'T')hen, again, it could be something as simple as a crappy or distracted equipment operator who zigged when he/she should have zagged, or even a busted hydraulic hose.

[ROCKMAN]

FYI: The overwhelmingly majority of such accidents the Rockman has seen first hand were the result of human error. And often in direct violation of company policies. Very difficult to keep human nature out of the process. As I pointed out about the BP blow in 4 decades I've never worked for company that followed the dangerous procedure used by BP. OTOH had the drill crew been monitoring the well following STANDARD oil field practices the well might have taken a kick but they could have very likely prevented the deaths and oil spill.

[Revi]

They said on the news that a contractor was trying to fix a spill that was reported in September. I guess it filled up the two ponds below the spill, so there was a lot of gasoline around. Any spark could have ignited it.

[ROCKMAN]

Revi - Very odd if correct: not smart to have any engine running near loose gasoline/diesel. It takes very little vapor in the air to cause a big boom. Example: 25 years ago I had a crew sand blasting the inside of a drained oil storage tank offshore. No oil in the tank but the steel wall had absorbed some hydrocarbon molecules over the year. Had ventilators running to vent fumes. They broke for midnight supper and turned the ventilator AND work lights off. Came back in a hour, turned the lights back on and BOOM!. Blew the steel bottom out of the tank. No pollution since it was empty. Fortunately it happened before anyone got back into the tank. Death would have been instantaneous.

Most folks have no idea how little hydrocarbon vapor in the air it takes to make a powerful bomb.

[litesong]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ROCKMAN', 'V')ery difficult to keep human nature out of the process.

[Revi]

Here's the situation today. The headline says they might get it back in service by Saturday, but the article doesn't mention a timeline. Here's what they said:

"The fire is still burning, and Colonial expects to be able to get into the site in the next day or two—and from there, determine how long a repair will take."

http://fortune.com/2016/11/02/colonial- ... explosion/

[kublikhan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Outcast_Searcher', 'T')his whole thing seems kind of bizarre to me.

In '12, I had a bunch of work done on my house for improvements and problems. So multiple trenches had to be dug.

In each case, the water, electric, and gas companies came out and indicated where the lines were. It wasn't to the inch, but it was quite close. The closer my description for where we were going to dig, the more accurate and complete were the markings.

And there were no exceptions. When I called after the first time, stated we were digging in the same area, and already knew where the lines were from the previous time -- it didn't matter. Even when I stated I was 100% confident no one had, for example, added gas or water lines while I wasn't paying attention, the rules were ironclad -- in each case of any digging -- all the utilities had to mark their lines -- no exceptions, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

[GHung]

Often these smaller contractors will avoid calling in order to not bring attention to the job because they don't want to pull permits. Quick-and-easy, in-and-out, avoids all the hassles,,, usually

[ROCKMAN]

Lite - "That's why strong unions..." Why do you assume that wasn't a union member that caused the explosion? Unlike a "right to work" state like Texas there are a lot of union members in Alabama...over 240,000 according to the Labor Dept. In fact the exploding tank accident I described above involved union members. The oil train that rolled into that Canadian town and killed dozens was manned by members of one of the oldest US unions.

I've worked with many union and non-union hands over the last 4 decades and thinking back I don't sense one group was more safety conscious then the other. And it might come as a shock to some but THE most safety minded company I've dealt with over the last 40 years was ExxonMobil. Not because they were saints but because it knew they had a big bullseye on its back when it came to lawsuits. It wasn't the XOM engineers who would bust your balls over saferty...it was its lawyers. Really. LOL.

[kublikhan]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ROCKMAN', 'A')nd it might come as a shock to some but THE most safety minded company I've dealt with over the last 40 years was ExxonMobil. Not because they were saints but because it knew they had a big bullseye on its back when it came to lawsuits. It wasn't the XOM engineers who would bust your balls over saferty...it was its lawyers. Really. LOL.

[ROCKMAN]

What k's video from the Daily Show discusses:

Serious refinery violations during the last three years:

BP - 760
ExxonMobil - One.

[hvacman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('GHung', 'O')ften these smaller contractors will avoid calling in order to not bring attention to the job because they don't want to pull permits. Quick-and-easy, in-and-out, avoids all the hassles,,, usually

[vox_mundi]

Colonial Delays Restart to Sunday as Pipe Segment Replaced

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '[')b]Colonial Pipeline Co. has delayed until Sunday the expected restart of the largest U.S. fuel pipeline, which was shut this week by an explosion and fire in Alabama.

Colonial aims to restore service on the main 1.3 million-barrel-a-day gasoline pipeline one day later than originally expected, it said in an online statement. The six-day outage means that nearly 330 million gallons of gasoline will be backed up at the pipeline’s Gulf Coast origin by the time the line restarts.

The blast took out service on one line of a system that brings gasoline, jet fuel and diesel more than 5,000 miles from refineries in Houston to storage facilities near New York City. Colonial Pipeline, which is owned by a group that includes subsidiaries of Koch Industries Inc. and Royal Dutch Shell Plc, supplies about half of the refined products used on the East Coast. This week’s events followed a spill in September that left the line out of service for 12 days.

The pipeline makes shipments of gasoline in five-day cycles to Southeastern states that are otherwise cut off from access to refineries that produce motor fuel. A batch of regular conventional gasoline left Monday from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, according to a Colonial shipping schedule.
Supplies to markets in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, the Carolinas and Virginia are at risk when this line goes down, said Andy Milton, senior vice president of supply and distribution at Mansfield Oil Co., a fuel supplier based in Gainesville, Georgia.

So far retail gasoline rises have only been significant in Georgia, where pump prices rose 6 cents since last Friday, according to Tamara Johnson, a spokeswoman for AAA, a motorist advocacy group.

[Newfie]

FWIW, (I think this is related) we are currently in Wilmington NC. according to the Dock Master who wears a my hats for the city, the entire region is starved for fuel due to the pipe break. They are keeping on through shipments via tanker to Wilmington, which is then trucked out as needed to serve the region.

There is an annual marathon whose route is partially used by the tanker trucks. Apparently the Gov. is considering some action to shut down the marathon so as to not interfere with the trucks.

[Newfie]

More news. Fairly long story.

http://gcaptain.com/what-happens-when-t ... -explodes/

[GoghGoner]

Looks like the pipeline is shut b/w Chattanooga and Nashville. Might save yourself a few dollars by getting gas before too long if you live in the region is serves.

COLONIAL PIPELINE SEARCHES FOR LEAK IN CHATTANOOGA AREA