Natural Gas Transmission Pipelines: Risks and Remedies for Host Communities

Abstract

Transmission pipelines deliver natural gas to consumers around the world for the production of heat, electricity, and organic chemicals. In the United States, 2.56 million miles (4.12 million km) of pipelines carry natural gas to more than 75 million customers. With the benefits of pipelines come the risks to health and property posed by leaks and explosions. Proposals for new and recommissioned pipelines challenge host communities with uncertainty and difficult decisions about risk management. The appropriate community response depends on the risk level, the potential cost, and the prospect for compensation in the event of an incident. This article provides information on the risks and expected costs of pipeline leaks and explosions in the United States, including the incident rates, risk factors, and magnitude of harm. Although aggregated data on pipeline incidents are available, broadly inclusive data do not serve the needs of communities that must make critical decisions about hosting a pipeline for natural gas transmission. This article breaks down the data relevant to such communities and omits incidents that occurred offshore or as part of gas gathering or local distribution. The article then explains possible approaches to risk management relevant to communities, pipeline companies, and policymakers.

Environmental Exigencies and the Efficient Voter Rule

“…Myriad environmental policy decisions are well suited for voting solutions. Examples include a community's decision whether to welcome a natural gas pipeline to run through its soil (Anderson 2020). In 2020, California governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order banning electric cars by the year 2035 (Sommer and Neuman 2020).…”

Quantitative Analysis Regarding the Incidents to the Pipelines of Petroleum Products for an Efficient Use of the Specific Transportation Infrastructure

“…Oil spills are environmental disasters and their long-term impact is not just a concern for the environment and economy, but also for health and well-being of all living things [8]. Moreover, along with the benefits of pipelines come the risks to health and property generated by fires and explosions [9].…”

Analysis of the Effects of Failure of a Gas Pipeline Caused by a Mechanical Damage

“…Currently, natural gas is transported by an extensive network of pipelines distributed throughout the world [2]. This method of natural gas transportation is the most economical and reliable way to deliver large quantities of this medium to commercial and domestic customers [3].…”

“…The next two figures show the U.S. data on the number of incidents (Figure 4) and the number of casualties (killed and injured) in 2000-2019 (Figure 5) [3,5]. Energies 2021, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 21 The next two figures show the U.S. data on the number of incidents (Figure 4) and the number of casualties (killed and injured) in 2000-2019 (Figure 5) [3,5]. The next two figures show the U.S. data on the number of incidents (Figure 4) and the number of casualties (killed and injured) in 2000-2019 (Figure 5) [3,5].…”

“…Energies 2021, 14, x FOR PEER REVIEW 3 of 21 The next two figures show the U.S. data on the number of incidents (Figure 4) and the number of casualties (killed and injured) in 2000-2019 (Figure 5) [3,5]. The next two figures show the U.S. data on the number of incidents (Figure 4) and the number of casualties (killed and injured) in 2000-2019 (Figure 5) [3,5]. The next two figures show the U.S. data on the number of incidents (Figure 4) and the number of casualties (killed and injured) in 2000-2019 (Figure 5) [3,5].…”