Sunday, September 18, 2016

The pipeline leak is causing difficult circumstances.

September 18, 2016
By Pam Wright

Officials are warning residents (click here) in the Southeast about possible gas shortages in the coming days after a gasoline spill south of Birmingham forced the shutdown of a key pipeline that supplies fuel to millions along the East Coast.
More than 700 people are working around the clock to repair the pipe and restore supply, reports Al.com. The governors of six states have declared a state of emergency to allow truck drivers to work longer shifts to head off shortages at the pumps....
A friend from Georgia stated the most anyone can purchase at a gas station near her home is $15.00. She was grateful she didn't have a large vehicle. There is also a lot of gas gouging.

The Colonial pipeline has existed since the early 1960s. That means the pipeline is over fifty years old.
...U.S. Commerce Secretary Luther Hodges (click here) attended the ceremonial ground-breaking near Atlanta, the pipeline’s eventual headquarters, on June 20, 1962. Actual construction began on August 1, 1962. But in his remarks, Hodges stated, “This is the sort of action this country needs if it is to realize its full economic potential.”
On July 2, 1962, Colonial Pipeline Company solicited bids from contractors to build 15 segments of the pipeline’s mainline. Each segment averaged 100 miles and 200-300 workers. Work progressed at roughly one mile per day for each of the segments.
The first lengths of pipe were delivered by rail, barge and on specially constructed trailers to handle 80-foot double joints on the road. Colonial began filling the pipeline with product on the morning of September 16, 1963 in Houston. This “linefill” process was shut down that same afternoon for two days later when Hurricane Cindy struck the Gulf Coast....

Why isn't the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act demanding replacement of this infrastructure in a reason period of time? 

Not only that, but, with cross craton earthquakes occurring the integrity of the pipelines are at a lot of risk. 

The US Republican Congress causes more problems than it ever solves.


This is a 2012 study by Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA). These are the natural gas pipelines across the USA. There are pipelines at risk due to increased fracking and increased seismic activity that is no longer restricted to Oklahoma. Today, Oklahoma is the origin of radiating earthquakes. It will get worse. The injection wells are still full of unstable caustic and corrosive waste water. The quakes are on. Once the earthquakes start they don't stop, ie: Christchurch, New Zealand. It started with a large quake that rocked the city and no one was injured because the infrastructure was so well built. But, in the next quake there were fatalities and injuries. One the stability of a solid rock starts, it only continues because of the weight on that rock structure doesn't change while the rock itself is now compromised to support the weight above it.


Add to the gas pipelines (click here) the liquid petroleum pipelines.

It is very simple to solve the problems of the pipelines and the major spills that have become chronic now. 

Shut down a section of pipe, unearth the pipeline and lay new pipe in the same existing space. Reconnect the pipeline and continue the task over and over until all the pipelines are updated. Most are vary old, used past their ability to contain their product and ONLY given attention after there is grounds for a lawsuit.

The consumers of these products have to absorb the mismanagement of the pipelines, both in lost revenues and potentially loss of life.

INSULFOAM GEOFOAM: (click here)  InsulFoam GF provides structural and architectural void fill  applications that are lighter, easier to handle and faster than soil.  Hardscapes, landscapes, soil remediation and load reduction.


This is a foam called "Geofoam." It is used in many ways within construction. It is used in large amounts in Europe. It is also an insulator.

But, Geofoam can be created to ADD REDUNDANCY to any type of pipeline. In other words if a leak exists for whatever reason it does, the Geofoam is probably able to hold the leak and prevent an explosion (in the case of natural gas and now gasoline) because large quantities of the leaked substance is contained. The leaks can be detected by monitors at GAUGES that observe a fall in pressure within the pipeline.

The USA petroleum industry is allowed to dismiss the well being of human beings and their financial stability. These same human beings are the consumers of the product of the petroleum industry so one would think their lives and financial stability is important, but, alas the petroleum industry has so many consumers they never even think about the lethal outcome of even one of them.

The particulars about GEOfoam and it's relationship with the environment, air and water quality has to be investigated to know it is a solution to protect and strengthen THE NEW PIPELINES replacing the old ones in the USA.