Today’s natural gas gathering pipelines are constructed and maintained to ensure the safe transport of natural gas for decades to come. A combination of the use of quality materials, high construction standards, adherence to state and federal regulations and a century of pipeline technology merge to create confidence in the installation and operation of the natural gas pipeline system.
The epoxy-coated, high-grade steel pipe, which is used to build a gathering pipeline system, plays an important safety role. The protective coating and heavy-wall thickness of the pipe works to inhibit corrosion and minimize any possibilities of a leak. When installing pipelines, X-rays are taken on-site to ensure the integrity of the welds and hydrostatic testing after construction makes use of high water pressure to verify that the pipeline string has an airtight seal.
Pipelines are operated under specific federal and state regulations and industry standards intended to ensure the safety and health of the public and the environment. Gathering lines in populated and environmentally sensitive areas are regulated and controlled by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The West Virginia Public Service Commission is authorized to enforce federal safety regulations and to perform pipeline inspections as necessary to ensure compliance.
AMS designs pipelines to meet or exceed the standards required by the federal government, using a more stringent safety factor for pipe design specification in all new pipeline routes throughout the Marcellus Shale. The pressure at which the pipe operates is also an indicator of the safety measures taken when transporting natural gas. As required by law, pipelines are only allowed to operate at pressures significantly below the actual rated strength of the pipe.
Regulatory agencies employ trained and experienced inspectors, who periodically inspect or audit pipeline companies and their facilities for compliance with the regulations.
West Virginia Public Service Commission inspectors typically perform audits annually on pipelines which are in service. These inspections may, however, occur on an increased basis if deemed necessary. The auditor may look at documents, records or pipeline sites in the course of an audit, in addition to interviewing responsible personnel to evaluate pipeline safety.
The location of valve sites is another safety component built into the pipeline infrastructure. Valve sites are needed at specific intervals, as regulated by the federal or state government, so that the flow of gas may be shut off to a particular area of the pipeline. The ability to isolate part of the system allows for the use of inspection tools to clean and maintain the internal walls of the pipeline. In the unlikely event that a leak or other emergency occurs, valve sites allow for swift containment of the gas stream by shutting off affected sections of the pipeline.
Pipeline safety regulations require pipeline companies to have public awareness programs to educate the general public, emergency responders and excavators (those digging around pipelines). Topics may include the safety of pipelines, how to recognize a potential leak or problem, how to notify the company in case of a problem, how to recognize pipeline marking signs, etc. Outreach is accomplished through several means such as mailing out brochures, media advertising, participating in public meetings, the use of education consortia and a variety of other methods.