Liquefied Propane
Liquefied propane is a versatile energy form present in most unrefined natural gas and in crude petroleum. When extracted, it can have many industrial uses and be used for heating and lighting. It can be found naturally as both liquid and gas. One of the most common methods of transporting liquefied propane is in its liquid state via underground pipelines under high pressures. Should a pipeline become damaged and liquefied propane escape, you should be aware that:
- In both liquid and gaseous states, it is colorless and odorless unless an odorant has been added.
- Liquefied propane will burn when mixed with certain concentrations of oxygen or certain oxygen-containing substances and ignited.
- Physical contact with liquefied propane can result in freezing burns or frostbite. Inhaling the vapor can cause symptoms of oxygen deficiency, such as rapid respiration, lack of coordination, poor judgment, nausea and unconsciousness.
Natural Gasoline
Natural gasoline can be used for gasoline blending or as a petrochemical feedstock. Should a pipeline become damaged and natural gasoline escape, you should be aware that:
- At room temperature, natural gasoline is a clear colorless liquid, with a distinct hydrocarbon odor.
- Vapors will ignite under the right circumstances.
- Natural gasoline is a dangerous fire and explosion hazard when mixed with air.
- Vapors may migrate for considerable distances before reaching an ignition source at which time the fire would flash back to the source of the release.
- Natural gasoline flame produces a heavy, black, thick smoke; it can produce carbon monoxide when oxidized with a deficiency of oxygen.
- Inhaling natural gasoline vapor can cause symptoms of oxygen deficiency, such as rapid respiration, uncoordination, poor judgment, nausea and unconsciousness.
Butane and Isobutane
Normal butane and isobutane can serve various industrial uses. These two energy forms are present in most unrefined natural gas and in crude petroleum products. Normal butane is used for gasoline blending or as a feedstock to make plastic products. Isobutane is used as a propellant primarily in aerosol products, foam packaging, paints and synthetic rubber or as a petrochemical feedstock, serving as a key octane component of motor gasoline or in high octane-enhancing gasoline additives. Should butane or isobutane escape to the atmosphere, you should be aware that:
- At room temperature, both normal butane and isobutane are colorless gasses. They can be liquefied by lowering the temperature, increasing the pressure or both.
- Normal butane has a slightly disagreeable odor. Isobutane can have a sulfurous odor like "natural gas," but sweetened isobutane has a slightly pleasant odor.
- Both normal butane and isobutane are dangerous fire and explosion hazards when mixed with air. Vapors may migrate for considerable distances before reaching an ignition source at which time the fire would flash back to the source of the release.
- Both normal butane and isobutane burn with a luminous, smoky flame; and can produce carbon monoxide when oxidized with a deficiency of oxygen.
- Inhaling normal butane or isobutane vapor can cause symptoms of oxygen deficiency, such as rapid respiration, uncoordination, poor judgment, nausea and unconsciousness.
Basic Facts About Natural Gas
Natural gas is a versatile form of non-polluting fuel. The most common method for transporting it is under high pressure in underground pipelines. Should our pipelines become damaged and natural gas escapes, you should be aware that:
- It is colorless and generally odorless, unless it contains a naturally occurring odor or has an odorant added.
- It is lighter than air and will rise and dissipate rapidly.
- Natural gas is neither toxic nor poisonous, but it can cause suffocation in a confined space because of its ability to displace oxygen in
the blood.
- Natural gas will burn when mixed with air and ignited. Escaping gas can be ignited from open flames, sparks from electrical switches and motors, mechanical equipment, moving rocks, etc.
Components of Natural Gas (percentages are approximate and will vary)
- Methane 96.0 percent
- Nitrogen < 0.3 percent
- Ethane < 1.5 percent
- Other hydrocarbons, each less than 0.1 percent to 1.4 percent
- Propane < 0.3 percent
Liquids Pipelines
Americans consume more than 700 million gallons of petroleum products each day in the form of gasoline, diesel fuel, heating oil, natural gas and propane.
Much of the petroleum products you use are transported through underground pipeline systems. Each day, millions of gallons of oil and petroleum products are quietly delivered with minimal impact on the environment.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) says that pipelines are the safest means of oil and petroleum transportation.
To help make them even safer, DOT has issued regulations related to integrity management for operators of hazardous liquid pipelines. Some Dominion Energy pipelines carry these various commodities, such as natural gasoline, isobutane, normal butane and propane.
This website provides information on Dominion Energy Transmission’s compliance with DOT regulations and the safe operation of these pipelines.
Natural Gas Pipelines
Millions of Americans rely on clean, efficient natural gas to fuel homes and workplaces, never considering the vast network of pipelines that criss-cross the country transporting this abundant source of clean energy from the wellhead to the burner tip.
The companies that build and operate interstate natural gas pipelines have created the safest mode of transportation today — safer than highway, rail, airborne and waterborne transport. And the interstate natural gas pipeline industry is spending millions of dollars each year on research and new technologies to make their systems increasingly safer.
In December 2002, President George W. Bush signed into law the Pipeline Safety Bill H.R. 3609, the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002. One of the provisions of the act required the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations defining integrity management programs prescribing the standards for conducting a risk analysis and adoption, and implementation of an integrity management program for natural gas pipelines.
In December 2003, the Office of Pipeline Safety issued a final rule requiring natural gas pipeline operators to develop integrity management programs for gas transmission pipelines located where a leak or rupture could do the most harm, that is, where it could impact high-consequence areas.
Dominion Energy fully complies with these requirements.
Integrity Management Program Strategy
Dominion Energy's management team cultivates a culture of integrity management in order to align itself with the spirit of the regulation.
Dominion Energy has created an Integrity Management Program (IMP) that it believes meets or exceeds the intent of the integrity management regulations. The IMP will be refined continually as it moves from its framework to a comprehensive program. Conformance to the processes required by Dominion Energy’s IMP is thoroughly documented and communicated throughout the organization.
Dominion Energy’s pipeline IMP for liquids pipelines as well as natural gas pipelines addresses all of the components required by the DOT including, but not limited, to the following components:
- High-Consequence Areas
- Threat Identification and Risk Assessment
- Baseline/Continuous Assessment Plans
- Remediation/Prevention
- Record-Keeping Provisions
- Performance and Quality Assurance
- Management of Change
- Communications
For more information on Integrity Management Programs, see the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Integrity Management Fact Sheet.
For more information specific to liquids pipelines, see the U.S. DOT’s Integrity Management Fact Sheet for Liquids.
Key Terms:
High-Consequence Areas (HCAs)
The integrity management regulation was designed to address areas of a pipeline that are located in high-consequence areas (HCAs).
Threat Identification and Risk Assessment
Dominion Energy has adopted a threat-based methodology for managing liquids pipeline risk.
Baseline/Continuous Assessment Plans
Segments with the highest potential for risk are given priority.
Remediation/Prevention
Remediation is the action taken by Dominion Energy to mitigate the danger of a potential integrity concern. Remediation includes pressure reduction and/or timely repair and preventive measures that halt a potential integrity problem so it does not proceed to failure.
All Dominion Energy liquids pipelines are equipped with low-pressure alarms and are monitored 24 hours a day by operators for abnormal operating conditions. In addition, leak detection is installed on Dominion Energy Transmission’s natural gasoline pipeline. Highly accurate flow meters are installed on the inlet and outlet of the pipeline, and leak-detection software is used to monitor the inlet/outlet flows on the pipeline for discrepancies in the flows.
Record-Keeping Provisions
The company maintains a complete history of all major integrity components within integrated databases.
Performance and Quality Assurance
The company’s Integrity Management Program is evaluated to ensure that the program effectively assesses integrity and protects high-consequence areas. A Quality Assurance Plan provides documented proof that the operator meets all requirements of its Integrity Management Plan.
Management of Change
Management of change procedures identify changes to pipeline systems and consider the impact of those changes on the integrity of the pipeline.
Communications
Dominion Energy has developed and implemented a communications plan to inform company personnel, jurisdictional authorities and the public about its integrity management efforts and the results of its integrity management activities.
Rights of Way Corridor
Rights of way corridors extending along the pipeline play an important role in ensuring the integrity and safety of Dominion Energy's pipeline network. The Right of Way (ROW) Agreement is a legal document through which a landowner grants the pipeline company permission to use a portion of his or her land to install, operate and maintain pipelines.
The ROW Agreement remains in effect even if the property is sold, and is binding to the new owners. The ROW Agreement gives the pipeline company the necessary permission to regularly maintain the rights of way along its pipeline systems to ensure pipeline safety.
To ensure pipeline integrity:
- Do not erect buildings or structures, or plant trees or other obstructions on the pipeline rights of way.
- Do not excavate, change the grade or impound water within the rights of way without the company’s permission.
- Do not move heavy equipment or logs across the rights of way, and avoid blasting within 1,000 feet of the pipeline without the company’s approval.
Although building on the rights of way is prohibited, under certain conditions roads, railroads, streets, cables and other utility lines may cross the pipeline. In these instances, Dominion Energy will work with the owner, developer or contractor to accommodate such construction. The owner and/or developer will be required to pay any costs necessary to ensure the pipeline meets all regulations. View the construction guidelines.
Dominion Energy asks that landowners familiarize themselves with the content of the ROW Agreement and abide by its content.
Safe Operation of Pipelines
To ensure the safe operation of its system, Dominion Energy employs highly trained, highly experienced employees to operate the system in accordance with federal, state and local government regulations. Our employees maintain a commitment and dedication to ensure we operate our facilities according to the highest safety standards.
Safe operation of the system is our primary consideration. We closely regulate the pressure at which our system operates to ensure that it is within limits established by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Doing so helps maintain the integrity of the pipeline and ensures the reliable, safe operation of the system.
The pipeline system is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by sophisticated computer and telecommunications equipment. If problems are detected, appropriate action can be taken immediately.
Pipeline operators make use of extensive safety systems and programs. These can include:
- Computer-assisted control centers capable of detecting and interpreting pressure or flow changes in a pipeline.
- Regular air patrols in low-flying aircraft by experienced pilots and observers.
- Periodic ground patrols for detailed inspection of the pipeline environment.
- Highly trained maintenance personnel located at strategic points along the pipeline.
- Continuous monitoring of the products flowing through the pipeline.
