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When you think of natural gas pipelines in the US and learn that some of these are operational since 1899, you tend to be concerned,particularly if you have piped cooking and heating gas.
This blog had discussed the San Bruno gas pipeline burst and since then we have had gas pipe accidents in Minnesota and Allentown,Pennsylvania.
Well the good news is that piped gas distribution organizations including utility companies, municipalities will face stiff fines for not replacing gas pipes that are getting old. Fines will jump from $100,000 per day to $250,000 a day for dangerous pipelines. The problem though is that every federal and state inspector is responsible for 5700 miles of pipeline as there are 2.4 million miles of gas pipelines and only 420 inspectors.
Cast iron gas pipelines do not seem to be rated for replacement. Kind of strange because your home roof or your car tire has replacement guidelines. You need to replace your roof in 20 years or now 40 years and your tires when the Lincoln penny head is no longer visible on the tread. It's even stranger to think that New York's gas pipelines are planned to be replaced by 2090 ! Pennsylvania will need about a century, yes a hundred years to replace the cast iron pipes with high density polythene pipes which are less prone to soil and weather damage.
Just because the gas pipelines are out of sight should not put them out of mind till accidents happen. Gas distribution organizations need to clearly articulate their gas pipeline condition,tests and plans for replacement to shore up public confidence in natural gas both in the US and throughout the world.
Natural gas is an important part of the world's energy mix -according to one estimate 25% of all energy by 2030. Standards for safe distribution will be a great help to develop this industry to its full potential.