Dallas Pipeline Accident Lawyers

What are the types of oil and natural gas pipelines in and near Dallas?

Pipelines help provide heat, light, and fuel to homes and businesses across the country. The types of pipelines vary depending on what product is being transported, the stage of the delivery process, and the sector (upstream, midstream, or downstream). Common types of pipelines in the greater Dallas area include:

• Gathering pipelines. These pipelines deliver the “oil or gas product from the source to processing plants or storage tanks. These are commonly fed by ‘Flowlines’, each connected to individual wells in the ground.” The products include natural gas, crude oil, ethane, butane, and propane. The lengths of the pipes are comparatively short. Gathering pipelines are regulated – more so in heavily or moderately populated locations by agencies such as the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).
• Transmission pipelines. These pipelines transport crude, natural gas and NGLs, and refined products. They operate at high pressures, so they may fail due to seam failures, material failures, corrosion, and defective welding.
• Distribution pipelines. These pipelines deliver natural gas to our homes and businesses. Mains are the step between the transmission pipelines and the service lines that directly feed into our buildings.
• Flowlines. Flowlines connect to a single wellhead and move crude oil to a collection point via gathering lines. Flowlines are one of the biggest causes of emissions, because they can – and do – leak methane.
• Feeder pipelines. These pipelines move crude, natural gas, and NGLs into the transmission pipelines from the storage facility.

The materials that are transported in any of these pipelines can be volatile and combustible. They can cause explosions and fires which can last for hours. Workers must be trained to act quickly in the event of an emergency.

What are the causes of pipeline accidents?

According to PHMSA, the leading causes of pipeline accidents are:

Corrosion. There are different types of corrosion including:

• External corrosion, such as interactions with water, soil, and air. Remedies include coating the exterior surface of the pipeline and cathodic protection – a form of electrical protection.
• Internal corrosion due to “contaminants naturally contained within the transported commodity, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, other chemicals, or even water.”
• Stress corrosion, which results in pipeline cracks.

Excavation damage. Excavation damage is generally due to digging, grading, boring, or trenching. The damage may also be due to construction, road maintenance, and agricultural activities.

Material/weld failure. Newer pipelines have fewer impurities, but older pipes can fail – and there are a lot of older pipelines. The Wall Street Journal reports that “more than 60% of U.S. fuel pipelines were built before 1970, according to federal figures.”

Equipment failure. Pipeline workers in and near Dallas can be injured or killed due to defective pumps meters, tanks, compressors, valves, and other pipeline components and devices. While equipment failures normally don’t injure the public, they can result in the release of toxic gases or liquids.

Incorrect operation. Examples of improper operation include mistakes that may occur when directing the flow of fluid, draining or filling a vessel or tank, performing routine maintenance, or reacting to a condition on the pipeline. Workers who are improperly trained or supervised are more likely to make these types of errors.

Other causes of pipeline damage include damage to natural forces, faulty maintenance, improper installation of the pipeline, and failure to respond to and manage gas leaks.