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.
