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Citation |
Wang H, Duncan IJ. J. Loss Prev. Process Ind. 2014; 30(1): 177-187. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
unavailable |
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Abstract |
The safety of pipelines that transport energy (particularly natural gas transmission pipelines) has become an important and controversial issue with the general public. This study provides strong evidence that the US transmission pipeline network is safer than many believe. Published estimates of risk of pipeline failure are typically in the range 1.210-4 to 6.110-4 per kmyr. Risk of pipeline failure differs significantly with diameter, with fatality rates of 4.610-6 per kmyr for larger pipelines and 2.410-6 per kmyr for smaller transmission pipelines. The average injury rate was 1.910-5 per kmyr for smaller pipelines, compared to 5.910-6 per kmyr for larger transmission pipelines. The failure rate for large diameter transmission pipelines is larger, the older the pipeline segment. The joint impact of pipeline diameter and wall thickness on failure rate reveals that increased wall thickness is effective in mitigating risks. Overall, natural gas transmission pipelines have significantly lower fatality rates than do truck or railway transport of hazardous materials. For larger transmission pipelines, the estimated rates for serious injuries (3.010-6 per kmyr) and fatalities (6.310-7 per kmyr) for the public, are at a level generally considered acceptable by most countries.© 2014 Elsevier. |