Pipeline Setbacks A Safety or an Illusion?

Pipeline Setbacks A Safety or an Illusion?

A Focus on Transmission PipelinesA Focus on Transmission Pipelines

Accufacts Inc. 2

Today’s FocusToday’s Focus

Clarify What is a Setback

Why A Setback Isn’t Really a Safety

Suggests Where to Go From Here

Clarify What is a Setback

Why A Setback Isn’t Really a Safety

Suggests Where to Go From Here

Accufacts Inc. 3

ROW Versus SetbacksROW Versus Setbacks

Accufacts Inc. 4

Setback’s Objective?Setback’s Objective? Mainly to Protect the Pipeline

From Some Third Party Activity A Proper ROW Program Can Do This Task

Must Go Beyond One-Call One Call Enforcement Actions (PIPES 2006)!!! Sterilized ROW is Usually Overkill

Not Really A Safety from Pipeline Failure Some Limited Protection From Leaks Not A Protection From Most Ruptures

Many Ruptures Have Very Large Impact Zones Setback Safety Mostly an Illusion

Site/Operate Transmission Pipelines & Surrounding Infrastructure Wisely

Mainly to Protect the Pipeline From Some Third Party Activity A Proper ROW Program Can Do This Task

Must Go Beyond One-Call One Call Enforcement Actions (PIPES 2006)!!! Sterilized ROW is Usually Overkill

Not Really A Safety from Pipeline Failure Some Limited Protection From Leaks Not A Protection From Most Ruptures

Many Ruptures Have Very Large Impact Zones Setback Safety Mostly an Illusion

Site/Operate Transmission Pipelines & Surrounding Infrastructure Wisely

Accufacts Inc. 5

One ROW ExtremeOne ROW Extreme Any Laws Being Violated? Any Laws Being Violated?

Accufacts Inc. 6

Pipeline ReleasesPipeline Releases All Carbon Based Fuels Can Be Made to Detonate

“Sensitivity” To Explosion/Fire Depends on - The Fuel/The Release Mechanism/The Environment All Releases Pass Through the “Flammability” Zone Somewhere

Mass Rate Release “Fingerprint” Key Leaks

Usually Limited Migration (Watch for Paths - e.g. gophers, frost) Distribution Systems and Setbacks Incompatible

Ruptures Larger Potential Impact Zones (PIZs)

Detonation Zone Hard to Accurately Estimate Thermal Radiation Flux Zone Easier to Estimate

Large Diameter Pipelines - A Whole Different Animal Siting / Encroachment Needs Special Consideration Time to Ignition Critical

All Carbon Based Fuels Can Be Made to Detonate “Sensitivity” To Explosion/Fire Depends on -

The Fuel/The Release Mechanism/The Environment All Releases Pass Through the “Flammability” Zone Somewhere

Mass Rate Release “Fingerprint” Key Leaks

Usually Limited Migration (Watch for Paths - e.g. gophers, frost) Distribution Systems and Setbacks Incompatible

Ruptures Larger Potential Impact Zones (PIZs)

Detonation Zone Hard to Accurately Estimate Thermal Radiation Flux Zone Easier to Estimate

Large Diameter Pipelines - A Whole Different Animal Siting / Encroachment Needs Special Consideration Time to Ignition Critical

Accufacts Inc. 7

Rupture Failure Boundary ConditionsRupture Failure Boundary Conditions

Blast/Explosion Pressures Don’t Have to Be Very High to Destroy/Kill Open Fields

Pressures Dissipate Rapidly With Distance Blast Originating Within Structures Not Good

Thermal Radiation Usually Controls Size of PIZ from Pipeline Flux Level and Exposure Time is the Factor

How Hot is Hot? Running is Probably Not a Bona fide Safety

Blast/Explosion Pressures Don’t Have to Be Very High to Destroy/Kill Open Fields

Pressures Dissipate Rapidly With Distance Blast Originating Within Structures Not Good

Thermal Radiation Usually Controls Size of PIZ from Pipeline Flux Level and Exposure Time is the Factor

How Hot is Hot? Running is Probably Not a Bona fide Safety

Accufacts Inc. 8

Thermal Radiation and TimeThermal Radiation and Time

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Thermal Flux (KW/m2)

Time in seconds

Wood DwellingSpontaneous IgnitionUnsheltered 100%

Mortality

Unsheltered 50%Mortality

Unsheltered 1%Mortality

UnshelteredBurn Threshold

Accufacts Inc. 9

Near a Pipeline ROWNear a Pipeline ROW Place “Appropriate” Structures Toward the ROW

Not Talking Bunkers! Avoid Walling or Congestion Effect! Shadowing Buys Important Time for Unsheltered

Avoid Large Unsheltered Gatherings Sites Sensitive to Blast or High Thermal Flux Radiation

Want Easy Exit Away from a Pipeline Best Path - Screened to Avoid Thermal Exposure

Avoid Excessive Tree Removal Trees Good Blast / Thermal Shields Over Reaction to “Killer Tree Syndrome”

Place “Appropriate” Structures Toward the ROW Not Talking Bunkers! Avoid Walling or Congestion Effect! Shadowing Buys Important Time for Unsheltered

Avoid Large Unsheltered Gatherings Sites Sensitive to Blast or High Thermal Flux Radiation

Want Easy Exit Away from a Pipeline Best Path - Screened to Avoid Thermal Exposure

Avoid Excessive Tree Removal Trees Good Blast / Thermal Shields Over Reaction to “Killer Tree Syndrome”

Accufacts Inc. 10

Killer Tree SyndromeKiller Tree Syndrome Trees Over Pipelines Vs

Trees in/near ROW Is it Really a Coating Issue?

Abnormal Loading Lightening Strike in Some

Areas Avoid Abuse of Easement

Privileges Cost Reduction Appears to Be

Driving Extreme Tree Removal

Trees Over Pipelines Vs Trees in/near ROW

Is it Really a Coating Issue? Abnormal Loading Lightening Strike in Some

Areas Avoid Abuse of Easement

Privileges Cost Reduction Appears to Be

Driving Extreme Tree Removal

Accufacts Inc. 11

Thoughts Going ForwardThoughts Going Forward On ROW

Develop a More Informed Standard ROW Width Construction Usually Sets the Minimum Width

Varies for Larger Pipelines ROW with Multiple Pipelines

Activities Permitted on ROW Sterilized ROWs Unwarranted

Off ROW Develop Recommended Guidelines The Reality - Can’t Be Retroactive!

Extreme Positions on Either Side Unwarranted Setbacks Not the Answer

On ROW Develop a More Informed Standard ROW Width

Construction Usually Sets the Minimum Width Varies for Larger Pipelines ROW with Multiple Pipelines

Activities Permitted on ROW Sterilized ROWs Unwarranted

Off ROW Develop Recommended Guidelines The Reality - Can’t Be Retroactive!

Extreme Positions on Either Side Unwarranted Setbacks Not the Answer