Building and Maintaining Safe Pipelines

The Pacific Connector partners are committed to operating safe, state-of-the-art natural gas transportation facilities. From a project’s early feasibility studies, to building and maintaining the pipeline, Pacific Connector is dedicated to protecting the public, the environment and the land’s natural resources by operating in a safe and reliable manner.

Pipeline safety starts long before actual construction begins. The Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety imposes rigorous standards and inspection requirements for pipeline design, material specifications, construction standards, maintenance and testing requirements. These standards include:

• At steel rolling mills, where pipe is manufactured, pipeline representatives carefully inspect the pipe to ensure that it is of high quality and meets both federal and industry-wide standards.
• Coating systems and other corrosion control techniques are used to prevent corrosion of the pipeline and facilities.
• During construction, pipeline representatives inspect the fabrication and construction of the pipeline. All welds linking the joints of the pipeline must pass qualification tests and be x-rayed to ensure their integrity.
• Once in the ground, and before being placed into service, the pipeline is pressure-tested. Water will be used to test the pipeline in excess of its maximum allowable operating pressure, adhering to standards set by the Department Of Transportation.
• The pipeline will undergo periodic maintenance inspections, such as leak surveys and valve and safety device inspections.
• Pipeline markers are installed to alert the public to the pipeline's presence, identify pipeline rights of way and provide a telephone number to be used to contact pipeline personnel in an emergency.
• To help protect against third-party damage, regular inspections by motor vehicles, foot patrols and low-flying aircraft keep a watchful eye on pipeline routes and adjacent areas.
• In areas susceptible to land movement, strain gauges and other monitoring devices are used to detect land movement.
• The pipeline will be periodically inspected using an internal electronic inspection device, known as a "smart pig," to confirm the continuing integrity of the line.
• Pacific Connector representatives will routinely meet with local emergency response personnel to educate them on pipeline operations. They will also conduct emergency preparedness training and mock emergencies with local agencies.
• The Pacific Connector will participate in underground utility coordinating councils and local one-call programs. One-call centers provide a free service to anyone who calls to ask for the location of underground facilities before performing excavation activity.
• The entire pipeline system will be monitored 24 hours a day from a centrally located gas control center using sophisticated computer and telecommunications equipment. In addition to monitoring and managing the flow of gas, the control center answers toll-free calls and coordinates emergency response activities.

A Safe History

The United States has more then 300,000 miles of mainline onshore and offshore natural gas pipelines connected to a 1.5 million-mile network, including gas gathering, distribution and storage facilities serving approximately 150 million consumers. Natural gas flows 24 hours a day, 365 days a year through this vast underground system – a system that is safe and reliable.