{"operation":"document","citation":"ERG 2024, Pipeline Transportation Emergencies","title":"Pipeline Transportation Emergencies","source_type":"guidance","agency":"U.S. DOT / Transport Canada / SICT","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"2024-04-04","effective_on":null,"summary":"Official ERG2024 pipeline transportation emergencies guidance, pages 24-29.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-pipeline-transportation.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-pipeline-transportation.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-erg-2024-pipeline-transportation","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/2024-04/ERG2024-Eng-Web-a.pdf#page=24","body":"PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION\nIn North America, hazardous materials/dangerous goods are commonly transported through\nmillions of miles of pipelines and related structures. Products transported include natural gas,\nnatural gas liquids, crude oil, gasoline, diesel fuel, anhydrous ammonia, carbon dioxide, jet\nfuel, and other commodities. Although most pipelines are buried, often there are above‑ground\nstructures and markers indicating the presence of pipelines. First responders should be\naware of the pipelines in their jurisdictions, the products they transport, and the operators\nresponsible for those pipelines. Proactive relationships can be beneficial in the safe and\neffective management of pipeline emergencies.\nTypes of Pipelines\nNatural Gas Pipelines\nNatural Gas Transmission Pipelines\nLarge-diameter, steel pipelines transport flammable natural gas (toxic and non-toxic) at\nvery high pressures ranging from 200 to 1,500 psi*. Natural gas in transmission pipelines is\nodorless — generally not odorized with mercaptan (the “rotten egg” smell); however, natural\ngas containing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) will have a distinct “rotten egg” odor.\nNatural Gas Distribution Pipelines\nNatural gas is delivered directly to customers via distribution pipelines. These pipelines are\ntypically smaller-diameter, lower-pressure pipelines constructed of steel, plastic, or cast iron.\nNatural gas in distribution pipelines is odorized with mercaptan (the “rotten egg” smell).\nNatural Gas-Gathering and Natural Gas Well Production Pipelines\nNatural gas-gathering/well production pipelines collect “raw” natural gas from wellheads and\ntransport the product to gas-processing and/or gas-treating plants. These gathering pipelines\ncarry natural gas mixed with some quantity of natural gas liquids, water, and, in some areas,\ncontaminants such as toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Natural gas in these pipelines is not\nodorized with mercaptan (the “rotten egg” smell); however, natural gas that contains hydrogen\nsulfide (H2S) will have a distinct “rotten egg” odor.\nHazardous Liquid and Highly Volatile Liquid Pipelines\nHazardous Liquid Pipelines\nCrude oil, refined petroleum products (e.g. gasoline, kerosene, jet fuel or diesel) and hazardous\nliquids (e.g. anhydrous ammonia or ethanol) are often transported by pipelines.\nMany liquid petroleum pipelines transport different types of liquid petroleum in the same\npipeline. To do so, the pipeline operator sends different products in “batches.” For example,\nan operator could send gasoline for several hours, and then switch to jet fuels, before\nswitching to diesel fuel.\n* Data from http://naturalgas.org/naturalgas/transport/\nPage 22\n\nHighly Volatile Liquid (HVL) Pipelines\nHVL pipelines transport hazardous liquids which will form a vapor cloud when released to\nthe atmosphere and which have a vapor pressure exceeding 276 KPa (40 psia) at 37.8°C\n(100°F). An example of an HVL is liquid propane.\nPipeline Markers\nSince pipelines are usually buried underground, pipeline markers are used to indicate their\npresence in an area along the pipeline route. Of the three types of pipelines typically buried\nunderground — distribution, gathering, and transmission — only transmission pipelines are\nmarked with the following above-ground markers used to indicate their route.\nMarkers warn that a transmission pipeline is located in the area, identify the product\ntransported in the line, and provide the name and telephone number of the pipeline operator\nto call. Markers and warning signs are located at frequent intervals along natural gas and\nliquid transmission pipeline rights-of-way, and are located at prominent points such as where\npipelines intersect streets, highways, railways, or waterways.\nPipeline markers only indicate the presence of a pipeline—they do not indicate the exact\nlocation of the pipeline. Pipeline locations within a right-of-way may vary along its length and\nthere may be multiple pipelines located in the same right-of-way.\nNOTE:\n•\n•\n•\nMarkers for pipelines transporting materials containing dangerous levels of hydrogen\nsulfide (H2S) may have markers that say: “Sour” or “Poison.”\nNatural gas distribution pipelines are not marked with above-ground signs.\nGathering/production pipelines are often not marked with above-ground signs.\nPage 23\n\nPipeline Structures (Above Ground)\nNatural Gas Transmission Pipelines: Compressor stations, valves, metering stations.\nNatural Gas Distribution Pipelines: Regulator stations, customer meters and\nregulators, valve box covers.\nNatural Gas Gathering/Well\nProduction Pipelines:\nPetroleum and Hazardous\nLiquids Pipelines:\nCompressor stations, valves, metering stations,\nwellheads, piping, manifolds.\nStorage tanks, valves, pump stations,\nloading racks.\nIndications of Pipeline Leaks and Ruptures\nPipeline releases can range from relatively minor leaks to catastrophic ruptures. It is important\nto remember that gases and liquids behave differently once they are released from a pipeline.\nGenerally, the following could be indications of a pipeline leak or rupture:\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nHissing, roaring, or explosive sound\nFlames appearing from the ground or water (perhaps very large flames)\nVapor cloud/fog/mist\nDirt/debris/water blowing out of the ground\nLiquids bubbling up from the ground or bubbling in water\nDistinctive, unusually strong odor of rotten eggs, mercaptan (an odorant in some\nnatural gas pipelines), skunk, or petroleum\n•\n•\n•\n•\nDiscolored/dead vegetation or discolored snow above a pipeline right-of-way\nOil slick or sheen on flowing/standing water\nAn area of frozen ground in the summer\nAn unusual area of melted snow in the winter\nPage 24\n\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nGeneral Considerations for Responding to a Pipeline Emergency\nSafety First! Your safety and the safety of the community you protect is top priority.\nRemember to approach a pipeline incident from upwind, uphill, and upstream while using\nair monitoring equipment to detect for the presence of explosive and/or toxic levels of\nhazardous materials/dangerous goods.\n– Always wear proper personal protective equipment. Be prepared for a flash fire. Use\n–\nshielding to protect first responders in the event of an explosion. Use respiratory\nprotection.\n– Never operate pipeline valves (except in coordination with the pipeline operator);\n–\nthis could make the incident worse and put you and others in danger.\n– Never attempt to extinguish a pipeline fire before supply is shut off; this could result\n–\nin the accumulation of a large flammable/explosive vapor cloud or liquid pool that\ncould make the incident worse and put you and others in danger.\n– Do not walk or drive into a vapor cloud in an attempt to identify the product(s)\n–\ninvolved.\n– Do not park over manholes or storm drains.\n–\n– Do not approach the scene with vehicles or mechanical equipment until the isolation\n–\nzones have been established (vehicles are a potential ignition source).\nSecure the site and determine a plan to evacuate or shelter-in-place. Work with other\nresponders to deny entry to an area.\nIdentify the product and the operator. If safe to do so, you may be able to identify the\nproduct based on its characteristics or other external clues. Look for pipeline markers\nindicating the product, operator of the pipeline, and their emergency contact information.\nPipelines transport many different types of products, including gases, liquids, and highly\nvolatile liquids that are in a liquid state inside the pipeline but in a gaseous state if\nreleased from the pipeline. The vapor density of gases determines if they rise or sink in\nair. Viscosity and specific gravity also are important characteristics of hazardous liquids\nto consider. Identification of the product also will help you determine the appropriate\ndistance for isolation of the affected area.\nNotify the pipeline operator using the emergency contact information on the pipeline\nmarker or other contact information you may have received from the pipeline operator.\nThe pipeline operator will be a resource to you in the response.\nEstablish a command post. Implement the Incident Command Structure, as needed,\nand be prepared to implement a Unified Command as additional stakeholders and\nresources arrive.\nPage 25\n\nOther Important Considerations\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nIf no flames are present, do not introduce ignition sources such as open flames, running\nvehicles, or electrical equipment (cell phones, pagers, two-way radios, lights, garage\ndoor openers, fans, door bells, etc.).\nAbandon any equipment used in or near the area of the pipeline release.\nIf there is no risk to your safety or the safety of others, move far enough away from any\nnoise coming from the pipeline to allow for normal conversation.\nPipelines often are close to other public utilities, railroads, and highways; these can be\nimpacted by pipeline releases or may be potential ignition sources.\nNatural gas can migrate underground from the source of a release to other areas via the\npath of least resistance (including through sewers, water lines, and geologic formations).\nConsiderations for Establishing Protective Action Distances\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\n•\nType of product\n– If you know the material involved, identify the three-digit guide number by looking\n–\nup the name in the alphabetical list (blue section). The relevant guide will provide\nan idea of the risks posed by the material.\nPressure and diameter of pipe (the pipeline operator can tell you this if you don’t\nalready know it)\nTiming of valve closure by the pipeline operator (quickly for automated valves; longer\nfor manually operated valves)\nDissipation time of the product in the pipeline once valves are closed\nAbility to conduct atmospheric monitoring and/or air sampling\nWeather (wind direction, etc.)\nLocal variables such as topography, population density, demographics, and fire\nsuppression methods available\nNearby building construction material/density\nNatural and man-made barriers (such as highways, railroads, rivers, etc.)\nPage 26\n\nU.S. Pipeline Resources\nU.S. Pipeline Locations: The National Pipeline Mapping System (NPMS)\nhttps://www.npms.phmsa.dot.gov indicates the general locations of hazardous liquids and\nnatural gas transmission pipelines found within the U.S. The pipelines depicted in the NPMS\nare within 500 feet of their actual locations. Emergency responders may apply for an NPMS\nweb viewer account that will allow access to more detailed information than is available to the\ngeneral public. The NPMS does not contain gathering/production or natural gas distribution\npipelines.\nU.S. Pipeline Emergency Response Training: Where appropriate, reference pipeline\nemergencies training materials produced by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety\nAdministration. Your state or jurisdiction also may provide training on how to handle the\nresponse to a pipeline incident.\nOther Resources:\nPipeline Association for Public Awareness\nhttps://www.pipelineawareness.org/\nU.S. DOT, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nhttps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/safety-awareness/pipeline/safety-awareness-overview\nPipeline Emergency Responders Initiative (PERI)\nhttps://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline/peri/pipeline-emergency-responders-initiative-peri\nCanadian Pipeline Resources\nFor more information about pipelines in Canada, please consult the Canada Energy\nRegulator website:\nhttps://www.cer-rec.gc.ca/en/index.html\nPage 27","truncated":false,"body_characters":11355}