[CANUFNET] Fwd: Roots causing damage to Gas and Oil pipelines

[Croy, Owen]

The U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) in 2010 released safety
guidelines to help local governments, developers, and community planners
better protect areas near transmission pipelines. The guidelines were
developed by the Pipelines and Informed Planning Alliance (PIPA).  The
report, Partnering to Further Enhance Pipeline Safety in Communities
through Risk-Informed Land Use Planning, offers recommended safety
practices.  The planning document also talks about damage to pipelines
from roots.  Follow the link and check out Appendix 'C', examples 14 and
15 (a)-(f); you may find this informative.  I was particularly intrigued
by the lighting damage aspect, which I would not have considered, given
that southern coastal areas of British Columbia suffers few lighting
strikes to trees.

http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/publications/PIPA/PIPA-Report-Final-201
01117.pdf#pagemode=bookmarks

Owen Croy, City of Surrey

 

From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net
[mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Ray Morgan
Sent: November-23-11 7:41 AM
To: canufnet at list.web.net
Subject: [CANUFNET] Fwd: Roots causing damage to Gas and Oil pipelines

 

 

As per the subject line, I just came back from a meeting with a high
profile oil company on how roots of trees/shrubs are decaying/corroding
the protective coating on oil and gas pipe lines.

They are saying that because of the moisture content that surrounds the
pipes, roots are attracted to this and are now "wrapping" themselves
around the lines. They are claiming that this(roots causing damage) is
causing the protective coating to decay or corrode, which they say,
increases the risk for pipe failure.

 

The pipeline is situated on a city easement that allows for the current
underground oil & gas infrastructure and for future additions,
essentially it's a oil and gas easement. 

Trees and shrubs have been planted (1989) on this city easement to
provide a visual barrier to the industrial and commercial areas of
Regina. The company has signed an agreement to this, back in the early
90's. 

They are requesting that the plant material be removed because there is
a concern that if the roots continue to corrode or decay the coating,
this may cause leaks, explosions and loss of life.

 

This will have a significant impact to other areas of the municipality
as there is natural gas, oil and other underground petroleum utilities.
This decision could be precedence setting, even for homeowners.

I'll have our legal staff take a look into this and get their input as
well.

 

There is no question that public safety is one of our first priorities
here in Regina and that if a tree is of a public safety concern and
we've determined this, we will remove it.

 

My questions are;

 

1. Has anyone dealt or heard of this concern before?

 

2. They have verbally indicated this, but I feel they should have data
to support this. Is there any documentation out there that supports
their claim? 

 

3. If the data/research is there that supports their claim, please pass
this onto me.

 

Much appreciated and look forward to your response,

 

 

 

Ray Morgan

Manager, Forestry, Pest Control &

 Horticulture Branch

Parks and Open Space Department

City Operations Division

 

P: 306.777-7065

C: 306.531-5119

E: rmorgan at regina.ca

 Regina.ca

 

 

 

 

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