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.
Highlights
Natural gas pipelines extend through every state in North America to connect producers, distributors, and customers
12,316 total pipeline incidents reported in the introduction, only 15% were along onshore transmission pipelines, which shows the importance of breaking out this category of incidents
The results indicate that incidents along onshore natural gas transmission lines represent a small fraction—15%—of all pipeline incidents reported to the PHMSA between 2000 and 2019
Summary
Natural gas pipelines extend through every state in North America to connect producers, distributors, and customers. Expand, or repurpose pipelines often lead to contention over risks to host communities. Examples include recent debates over the Mountain Valley, Atlantic Coast, and Tennessee Gas pipelines. Some communities have enacted policies to deter natural gas pipelines [1], while others have welcomed them [2]. Decisions about pipeline construction and regulation are often made with scant information about the risks and costs for host communities. Prospective host communities can weigh the risks associated with natural gas transmission against the long-term benefits. This article provides information to assist communities and pipeline operators with the appropriate cost–benefit analysis, and offers possible remedies for the problems communities face regarding risk spreading and uncertainty
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