Standing Rock, Dakota Pipeline Protests...Who's gonna participate?

[Bob]

After protesters attempted various Court actions to suppress/shut-down the pipeline, Federal U.S. District Judge James Boasberg has said the Tribe's case(s) to shut down the pipeline while yet another "environmental study" has been pushed through, in essence to stop the pipeline's flow, has "no merit".

"This decision will come as a blow to the Standing Rock Sioux, who have argued that an oil spill from the pipeline under Lake Oahe — from which the tribe draws its water — could have a detrimental effect on the tribal community.

"Today's decision is a disappointing continuation of a historic pattern: Other people get all the profits, and the tribes get all the risk and harm," said Jan Hasselman, an Earthjustice attorney representing the tribe in an ongoing federal lawsuit through which Standing Rock and three other tribes still hope to shut down the pipeline.

"Boasberg found that it is likely the Army Corps of Engineers will be able to justify previous decisions made while permitting the pipeline.

"The Corps must simply connect the dots," he said. "This, then, is not a case in which the agency must redo its analysis from the ground up."

"Boasberg also acknowledged that shutting down the pipeline would disrupt the energy industry, but said it wasn't a major factor in his decision.

"The $3.8 billion pipeline built by Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners has been operating since June 1, moving oil from North Dakota through South Dakota and Iowa to a distribution point in Illinois. From there it can be shipped to the Gulf Coast and potentially lucrative markets abroad. It has the capacity to move half of the oil produced daily in North Dakota, the nation's second-leading producer behind Texas.

Energy industry officials applauded Boasberg's ruling, with North Dakota Petroleum Council President Ron Ness calling the pipeline "a critical part of American energy infrastructure."

"The Justice Department declined comment on behalf of the Corps.

No appeals possible

"Hasselman said Boasberg's ruling isn't appealable.

"President Donald Trump had pushed for the pipeline's completion, and the Corps dropped a plan to conduct more environmental study after he took office.

"Boasberg ruled on June 14 that the Corps largely complied with environmental law, but he ordered the agency to reconsider certain areas of its analysis, and took arguments on whether to shut down the 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) pipeline while the work is done.

In June the Judge allowed the Tribes to present their case

"Boasberg in June said the Corps didn't adequately consider how an oil spill under the Lake Oahe reservoir on the Missouri River in the Dakotas might affect the Standing Rock Sioux. The tribe is among four that have challenged the pipeline in court over environmental fears that ETP says are unfounded.

"The judge said the Corps also didn't adequately study how the pipeline might disproportionately affect the tribal community — a concept known as environmental justice. That aims to ensure development projects aren't built in areas where minority populations might not have the resources to defend their rights.

"In its analysis of the Missouri River crossing, the Corps studied the mostly white demographics in a half-mile (0.8-kilometer) radius, which the agency maintains is standard.

The Argument - Corps should have gone an additional 288.7 FEET to include Standing Rock Reservation (pipeline does NOT go over ANY Standing Rock Reservation Land..)

"But if the agency had gone an additional 88 yards (80 meters) — about the length of a football field — the study would have included the Standing Rock Reservation.

"Boasberg in his ruling Wednesday said that issue was "a closer call" than the others, but that it still did not justify shutting down the pipeline.

"He noted that the tribe's water intake has been moved about 50 miles (80 kilometers) downstream since pipeline construction began, and said an alternative river crossing near Bismarck that had been studied and rejected would pass much closer to a drinking water intake that serve tens of thousands more people.

"Risks presented to this tenfold increase in population must, of course, be considered," the judge said.

"Corps attorneys said the agency expects to be able by next spring to substantiate its earlier determination that the pipeline poses no significant environmental threats.

"ETP maintained that a shutdown would cost it $90 million monthly and significantly disrupt the broader energy industry as well as state and local tax revenue. The North Dakota Pipeline Authority this week said that the Dakota Access pipeline boosted the state's tax revenues by about $19 million in its first three months of operation.

"Tribal attorneys argued that ETP had overstated the potential effects of a shutdown, and Boasberg acknowledged "some cause for skepticism" regarding ETP's predictions. Tribal attorneys also said a shutdown would create incentive for the Corps to take the review seriously."

And it goes on..

The tribes had proposed a fallback plan if Boasberg decided against a shutdown.

It includes increased public reporting of pipeline issues such as repairs, and implementation of a spill response plan — including equipment staging — at Lake Oahe.

Boasberg said he will hear arguments on the matter.

He scheduled a status conference for Oct. 18

source AP

[Rocky_Shorz]

Pipeline closed to repair 210,000 gallon leak in South Dakota...

[Cidersomerset]

Ep. 755 FADE to BLACK Jimmy Church w/ Daniel Sheehan : The New World Order : LIVE

Interview starts aprox 33 mins in and Daniel is speaking from Standing Rock
where he is preparing the defence of some of the native american protestors
and they discuss that and other topics. Interesting discussion

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=9cuvPpDH2hA

Published on 15 Nov 2017
Check out our LIVE show, Mon-Thursday 7pm PST at

[Cidersomerset]

Keystone Pipeline shut down after leak

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=OYTL8kJlMSA

Published on 17 Nov 2017
The pipeline leaked more than 200,000 gallons of oil in South Dakota.

[Bob]

Trans-Canada's asset map, includes pipelines, wind power, solar power and nuclear



Pipeline operations (video)
(about 5 minutes of video, click on video to play even if not showing the leadin image)

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=0WPnZv5TdYE

Statement on leak (apx 5000 barrels, or the size of a day's worth of production of two wells from a Bakken formation oil production site)

Amherst incident
Response underway

Latest update – 11:44 a.m. CST, November 17, 2017
We continue to make progress in our clean-up of oil on the Keystone Pipeline right-of-way.

Our crews are working around-the-clock with regulators on the site in Marshall County, South Dakota. There are currently over 75 people supporting our incident response, including specialists in environmental management, metallurgy, engineering, pipeline integrity and emergency response. They continue to affirm the incident is controlled and there is no threat to public safety.

We take this incident very seriously and are working with federal and state regulatory agencies. Members of PHMSA, South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other state agencies are on site and monitoring progress.

Crews and equipment were dispatched and the area is being managed to ensure safety and security for personnel and residents.
Frequent updates are being provided to the impacted landowners, community, regulators and other state and federal agencies to ensure they are aware of our progress.

More details:

Crews and equipment were dispatched and the area is being managed to ensure safety and security for personnel and residents. TransCanada workers and nationally recognized, industry leading experts (with proper safety equipment) began developing response plans. We continue to work methodically and around-the-clock on this process.

Members of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) are on site and monitoring progress. South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources and other state agencies are on site. A steady stream of information is being provided to the impacted landowners and regulators/agencies to ensure they are aware of our progress as information is confirmed.

Update - 2:28 p.m. CST, November 16, 2017
At approximately 6 a.m. CST (5 a.m. MST) today, we safely shut down the Keystone pipeline after we detected a pressure drop in our operating system resulting from an oil leak that is under investigation.

The estimated volume of the leak is approximately 5,000 barrels. The section of pipe along a right-of-way approximately 35 miles (56 kilometres) south of the Ludden pump station in Marshall County, South Dakota was completely isolated within 15 minutes and emergency response procedures were activated.

The safety of the public and environment are our top priorities and we will continue to provide updates as they become available.

More details:

Crews, including TransCanada specialists from emergency management, engineering, environmental management and safety as well as contracted, nationally recognized experts, are assessing the situation. TransCanada is providing State and Federal regulators, including the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the National Response Center (NRC), with accurate and confirmed information on an ongoing basis.

TransCanada appreciates the collaborative support of local officials, emergency response personnel and commissioners in Marshall County, as well as the landowner who has given permission to access land for assessment, identification and clean-up activities.

We have been keeping our shippers and customers up to date and have communicated that the pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta to Cushing, Oklahoma and to Wood River/Patoka, Illinois is expected to remain shut down as we respond to this incident. This does not affect the Marketlink pipeline system, which uses the facilities of the southern leg of the Keystone system from Cushing to the Gulf Coast.

[Bob]

Despite numerous Tribes and Environmentalists protests, Nebraska's Public Service Commission group approved allowing TransCanada's XL pipeline to go through.

Strangely, a "break" had happened (see above posts) a few days before today's vote (the Amherst Incident). One can for example review "EARTHFIRST" free download manuals to see what has been posted about what the group feels is their way to "stop" pipelines. TransCanada and authorities are looking to see if it was simply an accident or something different. It is the timing which appears to be raising speculation.

The Public Utilities Commission approved the "Alternate Route" for the pipeline (see above, in yellow), which apparently has not been adequately vetted. Even TransCanada itself says, the alternative route is not an ideal route.

In its post-hearing brief, TransCanada told the panel its "preferred route was the product of literally years of study, analysis and refinement by Keystone, federal agencies and Nebraska agencies," and that no alternate route, even one paralleling the Keystone mainline as the approved path does, was truly comparable.

reference: industry news, Bloomberg news, AP

[Bob]

Consequences catch up with a 'legal' protester who entered oil company property to 'legally' attempt to shut down a pipeline.

This is an interesting case which shows how the 'justice system' views a particular defense of one being brought up on charges.

Judge says you have NO DEFENSE attempting to use "imminent danger" justification, and won't let his Court be turned into a forum to talk about "climate change". Saying the Court is going after the defendant's voluntary actions (to break the law)..

District Judge Daniel Boucher (boo-SHAY) has indicated that he won't allow the trial to be used as a vehicle for political protest. Boucher said in an April order that testimony on climate change would be irrelevant to the charges faced by Higgins.

"The energy policy of the United States is not on trial, nor will this court allow Higgins to attempt to put it on trial," Boucher wrote in the order. "Mr. Higgins is on trial for his voluntary acts."

In a parallel case in Minnesota, two activists last month convinced a state judge to let them present evidence in their upcoming trial that the imminence of climate change justifies extreme action. That's a legal tactic known as a "necessity defense."

"The important thing about a jury trial is a chance to argue about the climate emergency," said Higgins, a former information technology worker for the Oregon state government. "We chose tar sands oil and consider it along with coal to be the dirtiest carbon emitters. They're the ones we should reduce.

Higgins faces up to 10 years in prison and a $50,000 fine if convicted of criminal mischief. The trespassing charge, a misdemeanor, carries a maximum penalty of six months in county jail and a $500 fine.

A second man, Reed Ingalls, is awaiting trial on charges that he aided and abetted Higgins by filming his actions and uploading the footage to Higgins' social media account.

The protesters called pipeline company officials ahead of time to warn them about their actions, and workers shut down four of the targeted sites before protesters reached the valves. The pipeline targeted in Washington state wasn't operating at the time of the attempted shutdown.

Spectra Energy is now owned by Enbridge, Inc. Spokesman Michael Barnes said the Calgary, Alberta-based company would not have comment on the case until the trial is underway. It has previously condemned the protests as "dangerous and reckless."

The trial will be happening in Billings Montana.

Leonard Higgins, 65, of Portland is charged with trespassing and felony criminal mischief for breaking into a fenced site near Big Sandy, Montana, to turn off a valve on a Spectra Energy pipeline in October 2016. Activists simultaneously targeted other lines in Washington state, North Dakota and Minnesota. He goes on trial in Montana on Tuesday in the latest criminal prosecution against activists who sought to call attention to climate change by shutting down oil pipelines carrying crude from Canada's oil sands region to the United States.

[Bob]

Update on the Higgins trial - GUILTY on all counts.

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/sto...ine/889732001/

FORT BENTON — Leonard Higgins, charged with tampering with an oil pipeline in Montana last year following a four-state climate change demonstration, was found guilty Wednesday by a Chouteau County jury of trespassing and criminal mischief.

The jury, which got the case at 11:15 a.m., returned an hour later with the verdict, which also included the conclusion that Higgins caused more than $1,500 in damage.

District Judge Daniel Boucher set sentencing for Jan. 2.

Following the verdict, Higgins, of Portland, said he was disappointed Boucher did not allow his defense team to present a so-called “necessity” defense in which he would have argued he committed a lesser harm because of an imminent greater harm, in this case climate change.

Had that climate change defense been allowed, Higgins said, the outcome may have been different.

“It was really frustrating not to be able to talk about climate in the courthouse,” Higgins said.

The charges stemmed from Higgins turning off an oil pipeline valve in 2016 located north of the Missouri River in Chouteau County 75 miles northeast of Great Falls as part of a coordinated, four-state effort to raise awareness about climate change.

His trial began Tuesday and the case was given to jurors for deliberation late Wednesday morning.

“This is not about climate change,” Chouteau County Attorney Steven Gannon told jurors during closing arguments.

More: How much oil pipeline damage did Montana protester cause? Attorneys disagree

During cross examination, Gannon also questioned the relevance of Higgins’ testimony about his Oregon childhood, work life, family, church involvement and how he got involved in the issue of climate change to the charges of trespassing and criminal mischief case in Montana.

His objections were sustained by Boucher.

Herman Watson IV, Higgins’ attorney, said the background was important to explain Higgins’ intent.

Higgins, 65, dressed in a sports coat and collared shirt, looked more like a college professor or grandpa than an "eco-terrorist," as one oil and gas group called him following the Oct. 11, 2016 incident.

When he testified Wednesday morning, he still managed to discuss climate change in between objections.

In our country we have a tradition of civil disobedience

"He described himself as a church-going family man whose roots are in agriculture and he recalled picking beans growing up in Oregon.

Later in life, he got sucked into pursuing the American Dream, he said.

He grew up in Corvallis, Ore., but now lives in Portland.

Then, after soul-searching following his mother’s death and retirement in 2010, he began to consider more serious issues, including climate change.

It is his responsibility to stand up and do what is right, he said.

“Sometimes what’s right isn’t necessarily what’s legal,” Higgins said. “It was a really hard conclusion to come to.”

He read a report by a climate scientist that spurred him to action.

“In short it explains both why we have global warning, what the science is behind that and what will happen to not so much me but my kids and grandkids if we don’t do something about it,” Higgins said.

He got involved with a group at his church that worked on climate change.

Members of a church group decided elevate their efforts after community outreach had little influence on public policy.

“In our country we have a tradition of civil disobedience,” Higgins said. “Our founders left power in our hands as citizens.”

[Bob]

What damage did Higgins do?

How much oil pipeline damage did Montana protester cause? Attorneys disagree

Higgins cut a 10$ lock. By his own admission. The pipeline company was notified 15 minutes before, and successfully shut down the line prior to Higgins turning a valve (symbolically to shut down the line).

Attorneys for Higgins questioned the prosecution’s assertion that the damage exceeded $1,500.

“I’m going to go out on a limb and say that equals $938,” Watson said during his opening statement, after he added up the $838 in damage to the valve and $100 for four cut chains on a chalkboard.

Watson made a motion asking for a directed verdict from the judge to dismiss the charge of felony criminal mischief, arguing the state had not proved any overtime or travel costs outside the normal scope of work totaling more than $1,500.

“I believe we proved well in excess of $1,500,” said Gannon, the county attorney.

District Judge Daniel Boucher ruled that there was sufficient evidence for criminal mischief for the charge to be considered by the jury.

Testimony by the defense pointed this out - NO DAMAGE by turning a valve OFF (on a line which was already not flowing)..

The defense called Anthony Ingraffea, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Cornell University in New York, to talk about pipeline safety protocol.

If someone turned a valve on a modern pipeline, what would be the result? he was asked.

“In today’s day and age, inconsequential,” Ingraffea said.

Pipelines are automated and equipped with sensors that immediately recognize if there is a change in pressure, he said.

What about the pipeline company having to shut down the section of pipeline after being notified activists planned to turn off the valve?

“Turning off and turning on pipeline flow is not an unusual event,” Ingraffea said.

Note: It appears that Boucher was not originally elected by the People for his current position, but APPOINTED by the Montana Governor, when the previous district judge retired. see: https://ballotpedia.org/Dan_Boucher ( All wayback links appear to be going "dead" when trying to do more research, odd..? on how Boucher was installed. )

This was found tho -

http://helenair.com/news/governor-ap...cc4c002e0.html

Gov. Brian Schweitzer has selected Dan Boucher to serve the rest of the term of retiring District Judge David Rice of Havre.

Boucher is a regional deputy public defender in Havre and practices law as a sole practitioner. He has previously served as a part-time deputy Hill County attorney. Boucher is a Missoula native who received his law degree from the University of Montana.

Schweitzer said Wednesday that Boucher will begin his new appointment on Dec. 1. Rice’s retirement is effective Nov. 30. The 12th Judicial District covers Hill, Chouteau and Liberty counties.

Higgins’ lead defense attorney, Herman Watson IV of Bozeman, said his client intends to appeal the verdict to the Montana Supreme Court.

“That’s always been the plan, and we already have the appeal written,” Watson said.

Leonard Higgins turned off an emergency valve at a Spectra; the safety of himself, others and the pipeline was never an issue --- Kangaroo Court? What do you think? Trumped up charges? Who is District Judge Daniel Boucher?

[Bob]

Who put Boucher in power? The governor of Montana - some data located on searches:

According to Politico:

"Schweitzer had been hit with a series of damaging stories about his ties to 'secret money' and a nonprofit group run by former aides. But sources said the laundry list of opposition research went much deeper — and could have crippled a Schweitzer campaign for Senate. Moreover, there was fear that Schweitzer’s penchant for off-the-cuff remarks would hurt his ability to respond effectively to the barrage of GOP attacks."

Transparency
As reported in the Montana Policy Institute's Montana Pig Tales (2012), the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) gave Montana an "F" for online transparency, noting that the state lacked an "online checkbook" for citizens to use to track state spending. The Department of Administration (DOA) worked with Representative Tom Burnett (R) to draft House Bill 444, a bill to increase transparency which was passed by the legislature in 2011. However, the bill did not provide any funding, so Schweitzer vetoed it, saying the $400,000 cost would not be a good use of taxpayer money.[

references: Politico, "Brian Schweitzer move aids GOP in battle for Senate," July 13,2013 - http://www.politico.com/story/2013/0...014-94111.html

"Montana Policy Institute, Montana Pig Book, p. 11" - http://www.montanapolicy.org/wp-cont...GTALES_Web.pdf

Governor may be showing his bias FOR BIG ENERGY -

http://helenair.com/news/state-and-r...1a2f733e8.html

Former Gov. Brian Schweitzer was at Hastings in Helena Friday to sign copies of his new book about the coming energy revolution and the importance of creating an energy independent country.

An electronic version of the book, “Power Up. energy: How the Coming Revolution Will Empower You, Free Us All From Oil Wars and Make You a Buck or Two,” was released over a month ago on Amazon. Paper copies can be ordered at powerup.energy and will soon be available at Hastings stores around Montana.

Schweitzer discusses in the book a revolution that he says will rapidly change how America consumes and produces energy.

Just under one-third of the energy consumed in the United States is for transportation, Schweitzer said, and that’s the root of the country's problems.

The U.S. has a dependency on foreign oil that props up powerful Middle Eastern families and foreign dictators whose values oppose American ideals.

Could it be that putting Schweitzer's appoint is a highly biased and partial act? From a governor who appears to be known to be pro big oil? (his book as evidence more recent position and his eagerness to get Enbridge to put in their pipeline in his State..)

Schweitzer says he highly supports the Keystone pipeline - https://energyindependenceforstates....eystone-delay/

Is this more apparent bias? Is there a bias that Boucher might have?

Could he also be pro-big-energy? If one is ignoring the pipeline leaks, and explosions is that a "right" a way to be?

Schweitzer said a lack of knowledge on Keystone isn’t just at the Washington level. He related how a year ago Canada’s ambassador to the U.S., Gary Doer, invited a few governors to his office to talk about the project, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback.

“Neither one of those two governors had even heard of it before. He had to start from scratch. I’m going to tell you something about Rick Perry,” Schweitzer said with a laugh.

“He’s got good hair … every hair is just right. He’s got these big expensive cufflinks and his boots have got these silver tips, and, boy, he’s pretty, but he had never even heard of Keystone before. After we explained it to him, he said, well, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be for that.”

Perry dropped out of the GOP presidential primary battle in January. He used an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal earlier this month to slam Obama’s rejection of Keystone.

The pipeline is at the heart of a political battle in Washington as Republicans bash the president daily for rejecting a permit for TransCanada’s pipeline last month, calling it a missed chance to boost energy security and create jobs.

Environmentalists and some Democrats — the caucus is split on Keystone — bitterly oppose the project over greenhouse gas emissions from extracting and burning oil sands, and other factors.

Obama said the permit rejection wasn’t on the merits but rather because Republicans insisted on an “arbitrary” deadline to make a decision in payroll tax cut legislation late last year. The administration has invited TransCanada Corp. to reapply, which the company intends to do.

Schweitzer, for his part, says the pipeline that would traverse Montana will bring jobs to the state. It’s also envisioned as a way to carry oil from growing production in Montana and North Dakota to market.

He predicts in the story that the pipeline will ultimately be built.

Doesn't it seem that this governor has an agenda, and it is for big energy.. it seems?

That power will free us from messy international politics and oil wars, Schweitzer argued.

It’s because of the energy upheaval that Schweitzer said he hopes public service commissioners, state legislators, congressional delegates, business experts and energy consumers read the book.

In “Power Up. energy” Schweitzer paints himself as foremost an earth scientist and reminds readers of his undergraduate degree in international agronomy and master’s in soil science.

He recounts lessons learned during his years working on irrigation projects in Libya and Saudi Arabia.

He said he did all the research in the book himself.

“I spent the last year pouring my heart and soul into this,” Schweitzer said.

Enbridge and Schweitzer strike a deal

"Thursday, November 1st 2007
Enbridge Announces Second Pipeline Expansion
(HELENA) - Governor Brian Schweitzer today said he is pleased with the announcement this week by Enbridge Energy Partners that the company will proceed with its second expansion of its North Dakota Pipeline System.

Governor Schweitzer met with Enbridge on Tuesday in Calgary and discussed the need for pipeline expansion with them. Montana is one of only two states in the nation to increase oil production in the last year.

The expansion, with an estimated cost of approximately $150 million, will add 40,000 bpd of capacity from the western end of the system to Minot, N.D. and 51,000 bpd of capacity from Minot to Clearbrook, Minn. This will markedly increase the capacity to ship oil from Northeast Montana to market. These improvements will increase total system capacity from 110,000 bpd to 161,000 bpd, with an in-service date of late 2009.

This new Enbridge expansion project is in addition to the 30,000 bpd expansion project that is under construction and targeted for completion by the end of 2007. Governor Schweitzer has earlier indicated his support for both of the expansion projects.

"We have responded to our customers' transport needs and modified our proposed expansion project,” observed Brian Johnson, Enbridge North Dakota region manager. “This approach, which still requires shipper support, is designed to benefit regional crude oil explorers, gatherers and producers, as well as refiners, by helping relieve a petroleum transportation bottleneck within the region including Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota.”

“The expansion of the Enbridge oil pipeline system is good news for Montana,” Schweitzer said. “Not only does this allow Montana producers access to Midwest refinery markets where they can receive maximum value for this valuable natural resource, but it means the State of Montana will recover more revenues from this production.

The Enbridge system gathers crude oil from production areas in eastern Montana and western North Dakota and transports that oil to Clearbrook, Minn., where the system interconnects with the Minnesota Pipeline and the Enbridge Partners Lakehead System. From the Lakehead System, shippers can access most of the major crude oil refinery markets along the Great Lakes and in the Midwest. "

[Bob]

The pipeline owner SPECTRA - have they had any leaks/explosions/problems/issues doing their pipeline energy transport in the past?

2015 Spills June 3: Little Rock, Arkansas
A Spectra Energy Corp. natural gas pipeline running beneath the Arkansas River ruptured, releasing four million cubic feet of gas—enough to fuel about 65 homes for a year. No injuries were reported, but a tugboat reported an explosion and sustained unspecified damages, and a two-mile stretch of the river was closed indefinitely.

Spectra Energy Responds to Pipeline Incident in Salem Township, PA. April 29, 2016.
Spectra Energy personnel are responding to an incident in Salem Township, Penn., on its Texas Eastern natural gas pipeline, the company announced today. The incident occurred at 8:13 a.m. ET
Spectra Energy says rapid corrosion, other factors led to Salem pipeline explosion - An interstate natural gas pipeline that exploded in Salem Township in April had lost about 30 percent of its steel wall to corrosion four years earlier, Spectra Energy officials said Tuesday. The blast that sent a fireball hundreds of feet into the air, scorched about 40 acres of farmland and severely burned a Salem man whose home was destroyed.

Responding to a question from Salem resident Angela Davis, Wooden said Spectra employees working under the supervision of representatives of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration made repairs at about one-third of those 400 sites.

“I personally want to apologize to everyone who's here. The impact that it has had on you and your families is completely unacceptable, and we want to prevent it from happening again here of anywhere else,” Drake told the crowd. (Andy Drake, vice president of operations for Spectra)

TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION LP (SPECTRA ENERGY CORP)
All Incidents(3)(4): 2006-2013
DATE SYSTEM CITY STATE COUNTY CAUSE SUB CAUSE FATALITIES INJURIES PROPERTY
DAMAGE (A) VALUE OF PRODUCT LOST (B)
06/04/13 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $522,432 $22,432
03/27/13 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $552,580 $52,580
11/03/12 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $647,212 $47,212
10/24/12 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $269,974 $29,974
09/06/12 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $673,200 $73,200
09/01/12 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $444,913 $19,005
08/13/12 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $642,498 $42,498
04/19/12 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $339,188 $39,188
04/13/12 GT MARIETTA PA YORK MAT’L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE PUMP/COMPRESSOR-RELATED EQUIPMENT 0 1 $251,170 $1,170
05/04/11 GT HALLETTSVILLE (15 MILES SOUTHE TX LAVACA MAT’L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE MANUFACTURING-RELATED 0 0 $219,929 $43,490
12/19/10 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $661,268 $161,268
10/12/10 GT TOMPKINSVILLE KY MONROE OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION 0 0 $131,004 $127,504
09/29/10 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $649,580 $49,580
09/16/10 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $302,400 $52,400
09/02/10 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $432,820 $32,820
06/20/10 GT OFFSHORE OCS CORROSION INTERNAL CORROSION 0 0 $861,268 $161,268
06/08/09 GT OFFSHORE LA ALL OTHER CAUSES MISCELLANEOUS CAUSE 0 0 $130,000 $1,000
10/01/08 GT CLINTON MS HINDS OTHER OUTSIDE FORCE DAMAGE VEHICLE NOT ENGAGED IN EXCAVATION 0 0 $120,010 $120,000
07/12/08 GT RED LION OH WARREN MAT’L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE MALFUNCTION OF CONTROL/RELIEF EQUIPMENT 0 0 $55,100 $5,050
09/30/06 GT OFFSHORE N/A MAT’L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE JOINT/FITTING/COMPONENT 0 0 $255,000 $5,000
04/09/06 GT DELMONT PA WESTMORELAND MAT’L/WELD/EQUIP FAILURE NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE 0 0 $402,700 $2,700
TOTALS 0 1 $8,564,246 $1,089,339

Canada’s National Energy Board fined Spectra Energy Transmission $88,000 on 22 January 2015 for numerous incidents of negligence, failing to comply with national and internal safety procedures, and the company failed to take reasonable care to ensure safety hazards had been properly identified. ref: http://spectrabusters.org/2015/07/15...eak-and-flare/

On 21 June 2013, the Fort Nelson Gas Processing Plant, owned and operated by Spectra Energy, experienced a failure in its natural gas gathering system during start-up after a scheduled maintenance operation. This failure resulted in a flare that exceeded the flare pit’s perimeter fence and damaged nearby equipment. It also resulted in an unintended grass fire. Spectra Energy emergency procedures were implemented to extinguish the fires and address the gathering system failure. Notification to the National Energy Board (NEB) occurred on 5 July 2013 only after the NEB became aware of the incident.

Spectra’s Durham Woods apartment fire, Edison, NJ, 1994 -

Source: https://youtube.com/watch?v=NyMbaZ9FVjA

Children running naked into the flaming night of a Spectra pipeline fireball, thousands evacuated, hundreds made homeless, some burnt or “felled by smoke”, one woman literally scared to death, all caused by corrosion in a dent Spectra knew about years before, and NTSB says it’s up to local governments to make pipeline companies prevent it happening again.

Robert D. McFadden wrote for NYTimes 25 March 1994, EXPLOSION IN EDISON: The Overview; New Jersey Pipeline Explosion Sets Off Panic, Chaos and Fear, A natural gas pipeline explosion that awestruck witnesses compared to a blinding, scorching nuclear blast turned a neighborhood in the central New Jersey town of Edison early yesterday into a war zone of flames, panic and chaos.


Lancaster, Kentucky - 700×500 feet incinerated, 5 dead, 3 burned: Texas Eastern Gas Pipeline 1985, ref: http://spectrabusters.org/2014/02/22...pipeline-1985/ Plus numerous houses and cars destroyed, all in one methane pipeline explosion in Beaumont, Kentucky in 1985. The same company, today known as Spectra Energy, had another explosion near Lancaster, Kentucky in 1986 that injured three people, two seriously, evacuated 77, and destroyed more buildings and cars, plus ripping 480 feet of pipe out of the ground.

Pollution - Spectra Energy's gas processing plant at Fort Nelson was the largest green house gas emitters in B.C: 1,291,792 tonnes CO2 in 2010 (KML file) (Environment Canada) -

WHO are they -
Spectra Energy Corp, headquartered in Houston, Texas, operated in three key areas of the natural gas industry: transmission and storage, distribution, and gathering and processing. Spectra was formed in late 2006 from the spin-off from Duke Energy. Spectra owned the Texas Eastern Pipeline (TETCo), a major natural gas pipeline which brings gas from the Gulf of Mexico coast in Texas to the New York City area, which was of the largest pipeline systems in the United States. Spectra also operated three oil pipelines. In February 2017, Spectra Energy merged into the Canadian company Enbridge.

Summary - for Spectra (more data can be found on Enbridge's track record)
Since 2006, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reports twenty-five separate incidents at Spectra's Texas Eastern Transmission Pipeline ranging from equipment failure to incorrect operations to pipe corrosion. Combined, those incidents caused $12,036,495 in property damage, and the US federal government fined Spectra a total of $403,100 over that period.[10] The most recent incident for that pipeline occurred on May 31, 2015 when a piece of the pipeline in the Arkansas River near Little Rock, Arkansas ruptured.[11] Similarly the US federal government has imposed $154,700 in penalties since 2007 at Spectra's Algonquin Gas Transmission Pipeline for a single incident from 2010.[12] An incident in 2010 from Spectra's Southeast Supply Header Pipeline did $561,563 in property damage, which led to it being fined a total of $201,300 by the US federal government.[13]

Spectra Energy may be considered the single largest private-sector source of greenhouse gases in British Columbia.[14] Since it co-owned DCP Midstream Partners with ConocoPhillips, Spectra Energy was reported in 2005 to emit 19,746 tons of nitrogen oxides and 9,286 tons of volatile organic compounds per year.[15] As of August 2015, Canada's National Energy Board has fined Spectra's subsidiary Westcoast Energy a total of $122,300 for violations.

references 10-13:
10. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (2015). "TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION LP, Main Operator Report". Department of Transportation. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
11. "Pipeline in Arkansas River ruptures, releases natural gas". Seattle Times. Seattle, WA. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
12. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (2015). "ALGONQUIN GAS TRANSMISSION CO, Main Operator Report". Department of Transportation. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
13. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (2015). "SOUTHEAST SUPPLY HEADER, LLC, Main Operator Report". Department of Transportation. Retrieved 26 August 2015.

Hmm... Spectra claims it has about 1/2 the incidents than the rest of the industry has.

Do you think that Higgins felt concerned about Spectra's potential imminent danger to the community considering Spectra's track records?

[Bob]

Enbridge who bought Spectra (the company who Higgins entered a valve shut-off area)..

Using data from Enbridge's own reports, the Polaris Institute calculated that 804 spills occurred on Enbridge pipelines between 1999 and 2010. These spills released approximately 161,475 barrels (25,672.5 m3) of crude oil into the environment.[21]

On July 4, 2002, an Enbridge pipeline ruptured in a marsh near the town of Cohasset, Minnesota, in Itasca County, spilling 6,000 barrels (950 m3) of crude oil. In an attempt to keep the oil from contaminating the Mississippi River, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources set a controlled burn that lasted for one day and created a smoke plume about 1-mile (1.6 km) high and 5 miles (8.0 km) long.[22]

In 2006 there were 67 reportable spills totaling 5,663 barrels (900.3 m3) on Enbridge's energy and transportation and distribution system; in 2007 there were 65 reportable spills totaling 13,777 barrels (2,190.4 m3) [23]

On March 18, 2006, approximately 613 barrels (97.5 m3) of crude oil were released when a pump failed at Enbridge's Willmar terminal in Saskatchewan.[24] According to Enbridge, roughly half the oil was recovered.

On November 28, 2007, two workers were killed when an uncontrollable blaze started at an Enbridge terminal/tank farm in Clearbrook, Minnesota. The fire forced Enbridge to shut down the operating pipelines in the area, temporarily halting roughly 1/5 of US imports and increasing the price by nearly $1 per barrel. The pipe had leaked two weeks before and a temporary repair had been put in place. As workers were removing the temporary repair, oil began leaking and the fumes ignited. As of 2013, local municipal water supplies in Clearbrook would be insufficient to put out another fire should one occur.

On January 1, 2007, an Enbridge pipeline that runs from Superior, Wisconsin to near Whitewater, Wisconsin cracked open and spilled ~50,000 US gallons (190 m3) of crude oil onto farmland and into a drainage ditch.[25] The same pipeline was struck by construction crews on February 2, 2007, in Rusk County, Wisconsin, spilling ~201,000 US gallons (760 m3) of crude, of which about 87,000 gallons were recovered. Some of the oil filled a hole more than 20 feet (6.1 m) deep and contaminated the local water table.[26][27]

In April 2007, roughly 6,227 barrels (990.0 m3) of crude oil spilled into a field downstream of an Enbridge pumping station near Glenavon, Saskatchewan.[24]

In 2009, Enbridge Energy Partners, a U.S. affiliate of Enbridge Inc., agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle a lawsuit brought against the company by the state of Wisconsin for 545 environmental violations.[28] In a news release from Wisconsin's Department of Justice, Attorney General J. B. Van Hollen said "...the incidents of violation were numerous and widespread, and resulted in impacts to the streams and wetlands throughout the various watersheds".[29] The violations were incurred while building portions of the company's Southern Access pipeline, a project to transport crude from the oil sands region in Alberta to Chicago.

In January 2009, an Enbridge pipeline leaked about 4,000 barrels (640 m3) of oil southeast of Fort McMurray at the company's Cheecham Terminal tank farm. Most of the spilled oil was contained within berms but about 1% of the oil, about 40 barrels (6.4 m3), sprayed into the air and coated nearby snow and trees.[30]

On January 2, 2010, Enbridge's Line 2 ruptured near Neche, North Dakota, releasing about 3,784 barrels of crude oil, of which 2,237 barrels were recovered.[27][31]

In April 2010, an Enbridge pipeline ruptured spilling more than 9.5 barrels (1.51 m3) of oil in Virden, Manitoba. This oil leaked into the Boghill Creek, which eventually connects to the Assiniboine River.[32]

In the July 2010 Kalamazoo River oil spill, a leaking pipeline spilled more than 1,000,000 US gallons (3,800 m3) of oil sands crude oil into Talmadge Creek leading to the Kalamazoo River in southwest Michigan on July 26, near Marshall, Michigan.[33][34] A United States Environmental Protection Agency update of the Kalamazoo River spill concluded the pipeline rupture "caused the largest inland oil spill in Midwest history" and reported the cost of the cleanup at $36.7 million (US) as of November 14, 2011.[33] The cleanup is unfinished as of March 2013.[35] PHMSA raised concerns in a Corrective Action Order (CAO) about numerous anomalies that had been detected on this pipeline by internal line inspection tools, yet Enbridge had failed to check a number of those anomalies in the field.[36] The Michigan spill affected more than 31 miles (50 km) of waterways and wetlands and about 320 people reported symptoms from crude oil exposure.[37] The National Transportation Safety Board said at $800 million, it was the costliest onshore spill cleanup in U.S. history.[38] The NTSB found Enbridge knew of a defect in the pipeline five years before it burst.[39] In June 2013, a Kalamazoo man lodged himself into an Enbridge pipeline in Marshall, MI to protest Enbridge's lack of accountability for the 2010 spill and to encourage landowners along Enbridge's Line 6B expansion to offer increased resistance to construction in 2013.[40][41]

On September 9, 2010, a rupture on Enbridge's Line 6A pipeline near Romeoville, Illinois, released an estimate 7,500 barrels (1,190 m3) of oil into the surrounding area.[33][42]

Enbridge Pipelines (Athabasca) Inc., or Athabasca pipelines, subsidiary of Enbridge Inc., (TSX:ENB) (NYSE:ENB) reported a pipeline leak site, about 70 kilometres southeast of Fort McMurray, on June 22, 2013 of approximately 750 barrels of light synthetic crude oil from Line 37 near Enbridge’s Cheecham, Alberta, terminal. Line 37, constructed in 2006, a 17-kilometre-long, 12-inch diameter pipe links the Long Lake oilsands upgrader to the Cheetham terminal and is part of Enbridge’s Athabasca system.[43] Unusually heavy rainfall in the region, that caused the 2013 Alberta floods, may have caused "ground movement on the right-of way that may have impacted the pipeline."[44] Enbridge’s Athabasca (Line 19) shares a portion of right of way with Line 37 and Enbridge's Wood Buffalo/Waupisoo (Line 75/18) which also shares a portion of right of way with Line 37, a major part of the network that serves Alberta's oilsands,[43] were closed down as a precautionary measure. Operations between Hardisty and Cheecham were restored on June 23 when Enbridge’s Athabasca pipeline (Line 19) was restarted.[44][unreliable source?]

On July 1, 2013, WWMT in Michigan reported that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality had issued a citation against Enbridge for contamination of North Ore Creek by an Enbridge pipeline maintenance activity.[45]

On January 30, 2017, a road crew punctured the Seaway S-1 crude oil pipeline in Texas, which is jointly joined by Enterprise Products Partners and Enbridge Inc. through the joint venture Seaway Crude Pipeline Company. Two days later, it was unclear how much oil had spilled over the nearby Highway 121 northeast of Dallas. After the incident, supply concerns reportedly helped push "oil prices 2% higher in early trading to nearly $54 a barrel.

references - 21-46
21. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-11-19. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
22. National Transportation Safety Board Report Pipeline Accident Report from ntsb.gov Archived August 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
23. Enbridge Inc. 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Report Archived May 30, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
24. "Spills and Releases". Enbridge. 2007. Archived from the original on September 3, 2009.
25. Content, Thomas (January 4, 2007). "Oil group cleans spill in Clark County". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
26. Bergquist, Lee (2007-02-16). "Oil spill tainted water table". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2013-05-20. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
27. "PHMSA: Stakeholder Communications". Primis.phmsa.dot.gov. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
28. The Canadian Press: Enbridge Energy agrees to pay $1.1 million for Wisconsin environmental violations [dead link]
29. Enbridge Energy Settles Lawsuit Over Environmental Violations for $1.1 Million [permanent dead link]
30. "Enbridge still mopping up Anzac spill" from edmontonjournal.com [dead link]
31. "Correction Action Order: Neche, ND", PHMSA, January 19, 2010.
32. "CBC News: Oil Spill Into Manitoba Creek". Cbc.ca. 2010-04-07. Archived from the original on April 11, 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-12.
33. "EPA Response to Enbridge Spill in Michigan | US EPA". Epa.gov. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
34. EPA Raises Oil Spill Estimate In Michigan River Archived October 4, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
35. "Three Years Later, Kalamazoo Tar Sands Cleanup Continues". Sustainablebusiness.com. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
36. "Link" (PDF).
37. Enbridge proposes changes to Northern Gateway pipeline July 20, 2012 Canadian Press [dead link]
38. Enbridge to Spend Up to C$500 Million More on Northern Gateway Safety July 20, 2012, foxbusiness.com [dead link]
39. Michigan lawmaker wary of Enbridge plans July 19, 2012
40. AP Photo/EPA (2013-06-24). "Man climbs into pipeline in protest of Enbridge Inc. in Marshall". MLive.com. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
41. Ryan Felton (2013-06-24). "Man Skateboards Inside Pipeline To Protest 2010 Michigan Oil Spill". Detroit.jalopnik.com. Retrieved 2014-02-13.
42. "Enbridge US". Romeoville.enbridgeus.com. Retrieved 2012-07-23.
43. Canadian Press (25 June 2013). "Enbridge says spill from Line 37 near Fort McMurray, Alta., is being cleaned up". Edmonton Journal. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013.
44. "Line 37 Release". Enbridge Media Centre. 25 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
45. "deq-issues-violation-notice-enbridge". Archived from the original on 2013-07-03.
46. Molinski, Dan (January 31, 2017), Shutdown of Texas Pipeline Boosting Oil Prices, New York City: Wall Street Journal, retrieved February 1, 2017

Enbridge/Spectra - track records for incidents - Would Higgins feel concerned, and use the "imminent danger" defense and feel justified? Should a Judge throw out "imminent danger" defense in light of these company's track records for "safety/incidents/explosions/leaks/pollution" ?

[Bob]

Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) "Spectra Energy does not have the infrastructure in place to appropriately monitor gas leaks or potential safety hazards" - (that sure sounds like a statement made to the country, that Spectra poses as an "imminent danger" to the community.)

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In the wake of the recent natural gas pipeline rupture in Providence, Rhode Island, Congressman Stephen F. Lynch (D-Boston) called on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to suspend the use of the West Roxbury Lateral pipeline and place the proposed Weymouth Compressor Station project on hold until the incident is fully investigated and public safety risks are mitigated. In a letter to FERC Acting Chairman Cheryl LaFleur, Congressman Lynch raised concerns that Spectra Energy does not have the infrastructure in place to appropriately monitor gas leaks or potential safety hazards.

“Following two gas leaks on Spectra pipelines in New England in a matter of months, I am increasingly concerned that the safety of local families is at risk." - Congressman Lynch

reference - official House site: https://lynch.house.gov/press-releas...-line-projects - Apr 5, 2017 Issues: Energy & Environment

With incidents occurring on Spectra Energy pipelines in Providence, RI and Weymouth, MA already in 2017, Congressman Lynch called for a comprehensive investigation of the Providence incident and urged FERC to place the Weymouth and West Roxbury projects on hold until all appropriate safety measures have been adopted.

[Bob]

From Post 404 above, discussed also in further posts - the UPDATE on the investigation, "what caused the leak" ?

Interesting observation, appears the builder shot itself in the foot (figuratively) as it seems, when that section was built, "weights" were installed, compressing the pipe in that section.. The use of such "weights" is done by industry when they feel that possibly ground-water may cause the pipe to "float" (oil floats on water concept), and wanted to keep the pipe weighted down, and fixed in position.

reference: AP and industry/Agency report (US Department of Transportation) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - REPORT

AMHERST, S.D. (AP) — A federal agency says a leak in TransCanada Corp.'s Keystone oil pipeline in South Dakota likely was caused by damage during construction in 2008.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration issued a corrective action report Tuesday on the estimated 210,000-gallon oil spill. The report says a weight installed on the pipeline nearly a decade ago may have damaged the pipeline and coating.

According to the report, weights are placed on the pipeline in areas "where water could potentially result in buoyancy concerns."

TransCanada spokesman Mark Cooper said the company has been working cooperatively with the federal agency and has begun "a safe, controlled and gradual startup" of the pipeline. Cooper says that process will continue over the next couple of days.

South Dakota officials don't believe the leak polluted any surface water bodies or drinking water systems. The company disclosed the buried pipeline leak on agricultural land in Marshall County on Nov. 16.

According to the investigation (cited within the Report), the line was operated at a higher than normal pressure (normal is 72% of the rated steel bursting pressure), at 80%. That section of the line is old.

The specific pipeline section that failed was installed in 2008 as part of Spread 2A.
The pipe is 30 inches in diameter and constructed of API 5L X-70 line pipe
manufactured by Berg Steel Pipe Corporation. The pipe has a double-submerged
arc welded (DSAW) seam and is coated with a fusion bond epoxy coating.

¯ PHMSA issued a special permit to TC for construction and operation of the Keystone
Pipeline on April 30, 2007, allowing the pipeline to be operated at a stress level of 80
percent ofthe steel pipe's specified minimum yield strength (SMYS), as opposed to the
normal operating pressure for hazardous liquid pipelines of 72 percent of SMYS

Because of the over-pressure, the special allowance was made provided that Trans-Canada would regularly inspect the pipe for any leaks or potential incidents. Trans-Canada said that it had just been running an "inspection-pig" through the pipe where the leak occurred, but did NOT find any potential incident, or leak.

The Director of the Agency said that operating of the damaged section without immediate remedial action and proper inspection will most likely be a dangerous situation, affecting the life and safety of the community. And then issued various inspection orders to Trans-Canada.

This reminds me of the issues of Spetra and EnBridge, how despite warnings/complaints filed by the Agencies, they managed to continue to have serious pipeline issues.

In this whole thread, we see that many People have expressed concerns about potential for damage, and in this thread towards this current segment, we have seen pipeline after pipeline disaster.. Welds failing, technical "oops" (engineering issues and mistakes), Agencies calling for action, and apparently the Operating Companies some-how managing to get approval to "resume operations".

What exactly is going on?

[Bob]

TransCanada responds to the order to inspect ALL of the Keystone (the statement by the Agency was a bit of an "or else" type of statement, with a clear warning that the situation left uncorrected poses a grave risk to the environment and community(s) ).

Energy Industry appears to be trying to play down the Agency's "fix it or else" warning.. more to come no doubt..

AMHERST, S.D. (AP) — TransCanada Corp. says it will run an inspection device through its Keystone oil pipeline to make sure there aren't segments of pipe with similar characteristics to a section that ruptured in South Dakota.

A company spokesman said Wednesday that it would run the pipeline inspection gauge through its system within a 120-day period ordered by a federal pipeline safety agency.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration this week issued a corrective order on the estimated 210,000-gallon oil spill. The report says a weight installed on the pipeline nearly a decade ago may have damaged the pipeline and coating.

The order says TransCanada must also submit a proposal to analyze available data on other weight locations for similarities with the leak location.

The company disclosed the leak Nov. 16.

Ref: AP and other industry news reports

Just a technical note. The pipeline industry uses WEIGHTS, to hold down pipes (the "sit on it philosophy" to keep it from moving).

The OFF SHORE drilling rig industry uses ANCHORS (with weights on ends of the anchor cables), and attaches those tie point strategically at points where welds won't break.

Who is using the correct securing structural methods? Seems that anchors would make more sense than putting extreme pressure on top of an already close to over-pressured pipe.. Like maybe don't over-pressure a pipe (to pump more liquid thru in a given amount of time and make more $$ faster).

Anchor method:



Weight method (weight style varies):


The specific type of WELDING used could be called into question, as it does have failure rates.

[Bob]

The DAPL Pipeline protesters - who is gonna participate? is the title and many participated, and many were arrested. A couple currently have now been in jail for their "violations"..

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The first people to be sent to jail for protesting the Dakota Access oil pipeline in North Dakota have appealed to the state's Supreme Court.

Sixty-four-year-old Mary Redway of Providence, Rhode Island, and 27-year-old Alexander Simon of Lamy, New Mexico, were convicted Oct. 19 of misdemeanor disorderly conduct.

Redway served four days in jail and Simon 12 days.

The Bismarck Tribune reports both are appealing their convictions, as is a third protester, 46-year-old Kevin Decker of St. Joseph, Missouri.

He also was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct. He was sentenced in February to a year of probation and $1,585 in fines and fees.

Protests against the pipeline resulted in 761 arrests from August 2016 to February 2017. Opponents worried about environmental harm, which the developer said were unfounded.

references: AP and local Bismark ND news

[Bob]

Pipeline explosion near Carlsbad New Mexico

Yesterday what appears to be a natural gas pipeline, burst.

Eddy County Emergency Manager Jennifer Armendariz says the pipeline that exploded early Wednesday morning is in a sparsely populated area about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Carlsbad believed to be used for natural gas.

Armendariz says four energy companies have operations in the area and that authorities are working to identify the pipeline involved so it can be shut down.

The explosion occurred near the junction of U.S. 285 and State Route 31 and closed both highways.

County officials initially advised nearby residents to evacuate but later advised those in a 2-mile (3-kilometer) radius of the junction to shelter in place while authorities work to stabilize the situation.

source - AP, and industry news services

Eddy County is home to New Mexico's largest energy production.

Here is a picture of a very small field, showing production pads (the whitish squares). When there is a well drilled, a "pad" is created about 300 feet by 300 feet square around the to be drilled well. These "pads" serve as service areas, allowing for trucks to come and go to pick up the oil (if there is no pipeline), and to offer a relatively "mud free" place onto which the production and drilling company can work.

[Bob]

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. owns that pipeline - do they have a good history or have there been incidents?

An Enterprise Pipeline explodes in Platte County, previous explosions tied to same company November 2016

PLATTE COUNTY, Mo. - While investigators are trying to find a cause to Tuesday's pipeline explosion, the 41 Action News investigators have learned that this isn't the first explosion involving the same company.

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. is the operator of the pipeline. While its subsidiary, Mid-America Pipeline Company owns it, Enterprise is responsible for the integrity of the pipeline.

This summer two explosions rocked a BP gas plant that Enterprise Products Partners L.P. partially owns. No one was hurt in that incident.

However, the 41 Action News investigators learned at least two people have died in other explosions involving Enterprise.

In 2010, a contract worker died after striking an unmarked pipeline at one of the company's plants in Texas.

A jury found two entities belonging to Enterprise Products Partners L.P. negligent in the explosion. This year, The Oklahoma Supreme Court upheld the $30 million judgment.

In 2011, another contract worker was killed when a plant in Texas owned by the company burst into flames.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates pipelines.

Since 2006, more than $1.4 million in penalties was handed down to Enterprise Products Partners L.P.

No penalties were found for Mid-America Pipeline Company.

However, in 2012, both companies agreed to pay more than $1 million for violating the Clean Water Act after three gas spills occurred, one of which, took place in Kansas in 2010.

In regards to Tuesday's explosion, Rick Rainey, a spokesperson for Enterprise Products Partners L.P. told the 41 Action News investigators, "When you have an incident like this, it creates some concerns about pipelines. When you consider the large amounts of products that are transported on these pipelines everyday, they're the safest way to transport energy products. Without pipelines, more trucks and more trains would be traveling through cities."

So, are the pipeline protesters justified in saying there is IMMINENT DANGER from these fuels being transported from production area to refinery?

How can the pipeline companies unequivocally say that their transportation system isn't a hazard to the welfare and safety of the communities? Would the "Water Keepers" logic being that their water could be damaged actually be the 'proper' legal principle being used to say there is "Imminent danger" from the pipeline or train or truck transport of hydrocarbons?

reference source - http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/...o-same-company

Background on Enterprise pipeline - https://www.schmidtlaw.com/enterpris...osion-lawsuit/

Enterprise is the largest U.S. pipeline partnership and owns approximately 49,100 miles of pipelines and 190 million barrels of liquids storage.

The explosion happened near Pecan Plantation, Texas, which is is about 75 miles (121 kilometers) southwest of Dallas.

reference - https://www.law360.com/articles/1911...atal-explosion

(September 2, 2010, 5:23 PM EDT) -- Texas natural gas regulators have decided to fine Enterprise Products Partners LP at least $120,000 for safety violations related to a June 7 pipeline explosion that killed a utility worker.

The Texas Railroad Commission released a report on the incident Tuesday, finding that Enterprise failed to adequately mark a pipeline in Johnson County, Texas, that exploded when workers drilled into it with an auger truck as they were installing electrical poles. The closest marker to the accident site was nearly a quarter-mile away, obscured by brush.

reference - http://www.wtrf.com/archives/update-...tion/865220402

The cause of a gas line explosion in Brooke County remains under investigation.

Enterprise Products, L.P., released firefighters around 4:30 p.m. Jan. 26, but many were told to remain on standby for hours.

Authorities shut off power in the area of Arch Hill Road in Colliers, WV, with some residents receiving their power through a substation.

Follansbee Fire Chief Larry Rea said the weather helped the fire from becoming more of a problem.

Enterprise Products, L.P., said they are working with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to determine the cause of the explosion. The company said in a statement that they did notice a pressure drop earlier in the day prior to the explosion.

The gas line will not be in operation again until PHMSA gives their approval.

UPDATE 7:00 p.m.:
The Enterprise Products, L.P., who owns the line said the incident is under investigation.

UPDATE 4:45 p.m.:

Firefighters and emergency responders were placed on stand-by as they wait for a fire caused by a gas pipeline explosion to burn out in Brooke County.The gas pipeline, owned by The Enterprise Products, L.P. based in Houston, TX, erupted about 10:30 a.m. sending flames hundreds of feet into the air.

Residents living on both sides of the river said they could see the massive fireball.

The explosion caused Archer Hill Road in Colliers to be shut down for hours, with only first responders allowed near the fire.

A camera crew was able to see the fireball first hand thanks to a neighbor who drove them out on his ATV near the explosion site. They remained a safe distance, but even from there they said they could smell gaseous fumes, feel the heat and hear the roar of the flames .

Follansbee Fire Chief Larry Rea said the fire is contained, but all crews can do is standby until the fire burns itself out. Rea said they did manage to shut off three valves to the pipeline.

[Bob]

What's the history behind the pipeline explosions in the area?

According to the official Agency analysis of the fragments from the pipeline explosions (12 people were killed over 10 years ago in a similar explosion in a pipeline in that system), EXTREME CORROSION was present, which the PIG analyzer systems missed completely.. As observed with the Enterprise pipeline, the operators did not observe ANYTHING out-of-the-ordinary prior to the breach..

The analyzers which are supposed to go through the pipe periodically (once or twice per year) are supposed to check for deterioration, but there is no way at the speed that they travel to actually be able to do that.. As the industry has been saying, "nothing to see here, move along.." while the infrastructure continues to deteriorate... Somehow they manage to get the regulatory Agency to give them a PASS..

Are the Water Minders justified in being worried? Are citizens worried about IMMINENT DANGER? Are members of Congress worried that the industry somehow is able to keep skirting past proper inspection procedures (and repair before disaster?)

What do you think?

[Bob]

Are there pipeline protests in Scotland? Maybe should such be warranted?

Here is some news about the leak up by Aberdeen that just happened..

Ineos has shut its 575,000-b/d Forties crude oil pipeline system. Last week during a routine inspection, Ineos contractors discovered a hairline crack in an onshore portion of the Forties system at Red Moss near Netherley, roughly 10 miles southwest of Aberdeen.

A repair and oil-spill response team was mobilized Dec. 6, after a very small amount of oil seepage was reported. Measures to contain the seepage were put in place, no oil has been detected entering the environment, and the pipe has been continuously monitored.

Ineos set up a 300-m perimeter around the leak site and a small number of residents were placed in temporary accommodation as a precautionary measure. Pipeline pressure was reduced while a full assessment of the situation was made.

Despite the reduction in pressure, the crack extended to 155 mm from 106 mm, leading to a Dec. 11 controlled shutdown of the pipeline to allow for development of a suitable repair method.
Ineos earlier this quarter completed its purchase of the Forties system and associated facilities in the UK North Sea from BP PLC

reference: https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/fp/...pipeline-leak/