The extensive system of intrastate and interstate pipelines in North America is essential for moving raw materials, hazardous liquids, and water. Each year, the nation’s estimated 2.6 million miles of pipelines transport hundreds of billions of tons of liquid petroleum products and trillions of cubic feet of natural gas. It is essential to provide information on this transportation system as the pipeline network provides resources for energy, which powers the country’s everyday operations and means of subsistence. The definition, purpose, possible health and environmental effects, proposed developments, and people in charge of oil and gas pipeline are all briefly covered in this article.
What are the functions of pipelines and what are they?
In the United States, the pipeline network serves as a means of transportation for resources and goods. Water and sewage are two of the many goods that are transported via pipelines. However, the most frequently carried goods are those used for energy, such as liquid petroleum, biofuels, and natural gas. There are pipelines all across the nation, and they differ in terms of the products they carry, their dimensions, and the materials they are made of.
Most pipelines in the United States are buried underground, however some are constructed above ground. Most people are not aware of the presence of the extensive network of pipes since oil and gas pipelines are carefully hidden from the general public.
U.S. Pipeline System Extent
With 240,711 km (149,570 miles) of pipelines for petroleum products and 1,984,321 km (1,232,999 miles) for natural gas transportation, the US has more pipeline kilometers than any other nation. With 163,872 km (101,825 miles) of pipelines, Russia is the second-largest pipeline nation, followed by Canada with 100,000 km (62,137 miles).
Oil and Gas Pipelines: Types and Applications
Petroleum pipelines and natural gas pipelines are the two primary types of pipelines used to move energy goods.
Gathering systems, crude oil pipeline systems, and refined products pipeline systems are the three primary types of petroleum pipelines used in the transportation of crude oil or natural gas liquids. The natural gas liquid or crude oil is collected from the producing wells via the gathering pipeline systems. After that, it is sent to a refinery via the crude oil pipeline system. The refined products pipeline networks carry the petroleum to storage or distribution facilities after it has been converted into products like kerosene or gasoline.
Natural gas pipelines transmit natural gas to a number of destinations, including residences or straight to other export facilities, from stationary facilities like gas wells or import/export facilities. Three distinct kinds of pipes are also used in this process: distribution, transmission, and gathering systems. The natural gas gathering pipeline system collects the raw material from producing wells, just like the petroleum gathering systems do. Natural gas is then moved from plants to ports, refineries, and cities nationwide via extensive transmission pipeline connections. Finally, a network that delivers the product to residences and commercial establishments makes up the distribution systems. The two types of distribution systems are the service distribution lines, which are smaller lines that link major lines into residences and businesses, and the main distribution lines, which are bigger lines that transport goods near cities.
Hazards to Environmental Health and Safety
Pipeline breakdowns, deteriorating infrastructure, human mistake, and natural disasters may all lead to significant pipeline disasters, even though pipeline transmission of petroleum and natural gas is thought to be safer and less expensive than land transportation. As a result, it has been demonstrated that prior occurrences have a negative impact on both the environment and public safety.
A. Fragmentation of Forests and Land Use
To fulfill the pipe’s size requirements, a significant quantity of land and woodland must be removed before pipes can be buried underground. States like Pennsylvania, which have a rich ecology because of their woods, are particularly vulnerable to the loss of plant species’ habitats and the extinction of some animal species. The goal of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was to measure the amount of land disturbance caused by oil and gas operations, including the installation of pipelines, in Bradford and Washington counties, Pennsylvania. According to the USGS analysis, one of the main causes of the growing number of forest patches was pipeline development. Pipeline development was responsible for 235 of the 306 patches that increased in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Pipeline construction was responsible for half of the 1,000 patches that Washington County grew.
B. Stations for Compressors
The materials that travel through the pipeline are processed and transported in large part by compressor stations. Compressor stations, however, pose serious risks to human health and the environment. Compressor stations stay in the region to maintain the continuous flow of gas in pipes even after drilling and fracking are finished. Because this source of air pollution is fixed, it continuously releases a variety of pollutants into the environment, including formaldehyde, nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and greenhouse gases. It is well recognized that these contaminants can harm the brain system, the respiratory system, or cause lung disease. Compressor stations may produce noise levels of up to 100 dB in addition to pollutants. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prolonged exposure to noise levels of 85 dB or above can cause hearing damage.
C. Sedimentation and Erosion
Storms or heavy rains can cause considerable soil disturbance, which increases the likelihood of erosion and sedimentation. Pipelines buried underground may be discovered by erosion, and berms may be moved or eroded by rainfall exceeding 5 inches (13 cm), which may also disturb soil mounds intended for flood protection. Soil erosion makes subterranean pipes more susceptible to damage from trash, automobiles, or boats, as well as scouring or washouts.
D. The Eminent Domain
Eminent domain gives state or federal government agencies the authority to seize private property from persons or residents for public development and use. Private businesses have occasionally used their authority to take land for personal gain. After then, the landowners receive payment in return for their land. Landowners can, however, wind up spending more than they get. Owners are typically not paid the full worth of the land and are need to engage their own appraiser and attorney in order to obtain recompense. Additionally, the establishment of pipes on their property lowers property values, making it more challenging for them to sell their house in the future.
E. Leaks and Spills
If liquefied natural gas or crude oil spills or leaks into the ground, pipes carrying these substances that are poorly maintained and malfunctioning might be extremely dangerous for human health and the environment. More than 1,000 recognized human carcinogens, including benzene, may be found in crude oil. In addition to damaging surface and groundwater, the release of the potentially hazardous chemical or oil may seep into the soil and expose nearby residents to airborne pollutants. Chemical or oil spills can have long-lasting effects on the environment and the general people, in addition to being expensive to contain and clean up. In 2010, 33,000 gallons of crude oil gushed from a broken pipeline in Salt Lake City, Utah, exposing local inhabitants to toxic vapors that made them feel lethargic and sleepy. The TransCanada Keystone Pipeline was put into service in 2010, and in only the first year, 35 spills and leaks were reported. 17,000 gallons of oil escaped from the Keystone pipeline in South Dakota in April 2016. As pipeline infrastructure ages, this problem will only become worse because older pipes are more likely to leak than newer ones.
It has also been demonstrated that methane, a significant component of natural gas, leaks from natural gas pipes at far higher amounts than previously thought. In addition to contributing to climate change, methane exposes nearby people to dangerously high quantities of methane in the air they breathe and increases their risk of gas explosions.
F. Detonations
Natural gas leaks from malfunctioning pipes also frequently result in explosions. Because of the hydrocarbon’s volatility, gas leaks have the potential to blow up, in contrast to oil or liquid spills, which typically spread and seep into the ground. For instance, a recent pipeline explosion in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, resulted in the evacuation of dozens of homes and the serious burn injuries of a man. In San Bruno, California, another pipeline explosion left 58 people injured, 6 people missing, and 8 people dead. Additionally, 70 dwellings were damaged and 38 homes were destroyed. This explosion revealed poor construction, inspection procedures, and a disorganized system of record keeping for the tens of thousands of kilometers of gas pipes.
