Space Travel News  
OIL AND GAS
Plains gets new order for Refugio oil spill
by Daniel J. Graeber
Washington (UPI) Jun 17, 2016


disclaimer: image is for illustration purposes only

Plains All American must install a range of safety features on the oil pipelines that soiled a California beach before a restart, a U.S. regulator said.

In an 11-page order, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration found operating Line 901 and 903 in Santa Barbara, Calif., "would be hazardous to life, property, or the environment" without corrective actions taken by the company.

A rupture last year on the pipeline system resulted in the release of around 3,000 barrels of oil on Refugio State Beach and along the California coast. In May 2015, the PHMSA completed its investigation into the incident and identified external corrosion of pipeline walls as the direct cause of the failure. May of the indirect causes, the agency said, were preventable.

An amended corrective action order from the PHMSA contains five pages of steps the company must take in order to restart the system. Steps range from a "basic level" of leak detection in pipeline operator control rooms to the "appropriate" use of tools to assess corrosion.

The amendment "requires the operator to implement advanced leak detection capabilities, install additional safety valves and pressure sensors, develop a long-term plan for corrosion prevention, and update its facility response plan for both pipelines before they are allowed to restart," the PHMSA stated.

Plains issued no comment to the amended PHMSA order. After the initial order from May 19, the company said it would stand mute because investigations and pending litigation were ongoing.

The California and Santa Barbara county attorneys general filed criminal charges in May against Plains and one of its employees, 41-year-old James Buchanan, for the release. The penalties could amount to $2.8 million for Plains.

Plains said it was "deeply disappointed" with the decision to pursue criminal charges.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
All About Oil and Gas News at OilGasDaily.com






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
OIL AND GAS
Norway's oil production declines from April
Oslo, Norway (UPI) Jun 17, 2016
Crude oil production from Norway came in lower in May than for April, but was still up 2 percent year-on-year, government data released Friday show. The Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, the nation's energy regulator, said preliminary data indicate oil production averaged 1.55 million barrels per day. That's a decline of more than 5 percent from April, but 2 percent higher than May 2015. ... read more


OIL AND GAS
MUOS-5 satellite encapsulated for launch

Airbus Safran Launchers confirms the maturity of the Ariane 6 launcher

Russian Proton-M Rocket Puts US Intelsat DLA-2 Satellite Into Orbit

US Senate reaches compromise on Russian rocket engines

OIL AND GAS
Musk explains his 'cargo route' to Mars

Remarkably diverse flora in Utah, USA, trains scientists for future missions on Mars

NASA Mars Orbiters Reveal Seasonal Dust Storm Pattern

Study of Opportunity Wheel Scuff Continues

OIL AND GAS
US may approve private venture moon mission: report

Fifty Years of Moon Dust

Airbus Defence and Space to guide lunar lander to the Moon

A new, water-logged history of the Moon

OIL AND GAS
The Jagged Shores of Pluto's Highlands

Secrets Revealed from Pluto's "Twilight Zone"

Purdue team finds convection could produce Pluto's polygons

Pluto's Heart: Like a Cosmic 'Lava Lamp'

OIL AND GAS
New planet is largest discovered that orbits 2 suns

Cloudy Days on Exoplanets May Hide Atmospheric Water

Likely new planet may be in slow death spiral

On exoplanets, atmospheric water may be hiding behind clouds

OIL AND GAS
Ukraine Unlikely to Meet Challenge of Building Large Rocket Engines for US

SLS Booster 'Chills Out' Ahead of Super-Hot Ground Test

US-Ukrainian Rocket Engine Proposal 'Formula for Disaster'

Understanding today's rocket engine market

OIL AND GAS
Experts Fear Chinese Space Station Could Crash Into Earth

Bolivia to pay back loan to China for Tupac Katari satellite

China plans 5 new space science satellites

NASA Chief: Congress Should Revise US-China Space Cooperation Law

OIL AND GAS
Natural quasicrystals may be the result of collisions between objects in the asteroid belt

Planetary Resources and Luxembourg partner to advance space resource industry

Scientists reconstruct the history of asteroid collisions

Luxembourg takes first steps to asteroid mining law









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.