AOPL Releases New Pipeline Safety Statistics & Strategies

Feb. 12, 2015

This month the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) released their 2015 annual report on liquid pipeline safety in the United States, its reported numbers now entering a debate that has been making headlines in recent months. At the heart of the debate is this question: how safe are our pipelines?

Recent Pipeline Leaks Gain Attention

In the U.S., two major pipeline leaks in January 2015 have shone a spotlight on pipeline safety concerns, a topic that is already near the forefront of public consciousness as the Keystone XL oil pipeline continues to dominate the news.

The North Dakota pipeline spill on January 6 leaked approximately 3 million gallons of brine, which is a salty and toxic byproduct of oil and natural gas production. The spill polluted two creeks and saltwater contamination reached the Missouri River; the full environmental impact is still unknown.

Eleven days later, a Montana oil pipeline burst on January 17, releasing over 30,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River. Like the previous Yellowstone River spill of 2011, this pipeline was supposed to be safely buried several feet underneath the river, but the powerful current had in fact substantially exposed the pipeline over time, leaving it at the mercy of fast-moving debris.

Read the full story on the Intelex Blog here!