Newsletter Sign-up
Close
Sign up for our Newsletter

Posted on July 20th, 2021 - Posted in HSE | Management | Oil and Gas | OSHA | Safety

Pipeline safety news

Earth digger at gas pipeline

With rig counts and drilling permits on the rise, pipeline construction and expansion isn’t far behind. According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS.gov), the mileage of natural gas pipelines has grown from 1,377,320 miles in 2000 to 1,645,101 miles in 2020, a 16% increase. Likewise, miles of oil pipelines have increased from 158,248 in 2001 to 224,928 in 2019, a 29.6% increase.

Map of US gas pipelines

There’s been some bad news 

In August of 2020, North Carolina experienced the largest gas leak in the state’s history: A leaking pipe sleeve in Huntersville caused 1.2 million gallons of gas to spill before two teenage boys discovered and reported the leak. And you’ve undoubtedly heard about the imperfect storm this month when lightning ignited a gas pipeline leak that caused a fire in the Gulf of Mexico. What’s more, a pipeline pumping station leak caused the fatalities of three technicians in Iran on July 6.

According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, there are four main causes of gas pipeline leaks:

  • Corrosion (external, internal, stress corrosive cracking, and selective seam corrosion): 24%
  • Equipment Fault: 23%
  • Excavation Damage: 17%
  • Material or Weld Failure: 10%

Here’s the good news

While the amount of pipeline mileage has consistently grown over the past 15+ years, the number of spill incidents affecting U.S. waterways has declined considerably.

Miles of Pipelines vs Waterways Incidents

Pipeline Mileage Spill Incidents Affecting US Waterways

Pipelines continue to be the most efficient and economical means of energy transportation by far. The oldest natural gas pipelines — many 60 years old or older — were constructed from cast and wrought iron which are more easily corroded. The Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 called for a survey monitoring the replacement progress of these iron pipelines. By end of 2020, 97% of all gas pipelines were made of more durable plastic or steel.

Don’t let the next news story in the pipeline be about your pipeline.

From construction to midstream transportation, Wellsite Report can help you manage your pipeline projects. Our real-time incident reporting includes a summary, location, and incident type. Photos can also be attached to provide more details. But we’re more than just reporting software. Use Wellsite to assign corrective actions and ensure incident resolution workflow and follow-up. As tasks are done, they can be marked “complete” in the app, so there’s never any question about the status of work.


 

“My WSR hasn’t updated, what’s up with that?”

Try clearing your browser’s cache. If you still don’t see all our awesome updates, contact us.

Release Notes

Posted on June 3rd, 2024
Posted in Management | Oil and Gas | Software Update

Release Notes – 2.7.3

Sync Wellsite Report to Google Drive   Access all your data effortlessly in a Google Drive folder of your preference, eliminating the need for manual exports. From core application data to forms and files, everything you need is readily available. Stay up-to-date with the latest insights and information, conveniently at your fingertips. Core application data […]

Posted on October 17th, 2023
Posted in Equipment | Management | Oil and Gas | Project Management

Mitigate the downsides of higher interest rates

First, the good news. Since the height of the pandemic in 2020, exploration and production companies (E&Ps) have reduced their net debt from a high of $316.74 billion to $178.66 billion at the end of 2022. According to CreditSights senior analyst Charles Johnston, most independent E&Ps refinanced and now pay less than the double-digit interest […]

Posted on August 11th, 2023
Posted in Management | Oil and Gas | Project Management | Reporting | Service Quality

Gain a competitive advantage over other service companies

Although oil and gas producers are trying to get more out of existing wells than from drilling new ones, 2023 is on pace to be a record year for domestic oil and gas production. In this period of reduced exploration but peak output, wireline service companies and fracking service companies could greatly benefit from using […]

Search Blog
 
Contact Us
 

Questions? Contact Us at
INFORMATION@DIGITOIL.COM

Sales/Billing: 1-877-626-7552 EXT 0
for Sales, 1 for Billing
Tech Support: 1-877-208-6153