Headline News Thread

[The Sicatoka]

Re: Headline News Thread

Keystone XL approved today in Nebraska. Despite spill in South Dakota.
http://www.postbulletin.com/business...670124b18.html

An oil spill is bad.
And 210,000 gallons is a big number.

However, as with everything, consider it in scope. The 210,000 gallons is 5000 barrels (42 gal/bbl). That section of the pipeline moves 500,000 bbl per day.

One percent of one day leaked.

I'd say Keystone's safeguards and systems worked. They detected the leak, shut down the pipeline, and isolated the problem so that 1% of that day's transport was released.

Still not happy about it; however, imagine if there wasn't the diligence shown (and legally required).

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Headline News Thread



Scope of spill is small because pipeline is huge. Logic is not your strong suit.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Headline News Thread

And one more thing:

I led a project where we installed a novel solvent leak detection system at the plant I worked at. We are able to detect leaks of less than 0.5% flow rate in under 30 seconds. As we tune the system, we expect it to cap out at about 10-15 lbs in a line capable of well over 800 lb/min. If that thing ran 24 hours we would be looking at 0.00091% of the daily output of the pipe. And that’s using the conservative number of 800 lb/min and wireless technology. If we had used wired technology we would have gotten that down to around 0.1% flow difference and cut the max spill even more.


That oil pipeline’s detection and leak prevention system is absolute horsesh-it.

[The Sicatoka]

Re: Headline News Thread

And one more thing:

I led a project where we installed a novel solvent leak detection system at the plant I worked at. We are able to detect leaks of less than 0.5% flow rate in under 30 seconds. As we tune the system, we expect it to cap out at about 10-15 lbs in a line capable of well over 800 lb/min. If that thing ran 24 hours we would be looking at 0.00091% of the daily output of the pipe. And that’s using the conservative number of 800 lb/min and wireless technology. If we had used wired technology we would have gotten that down to around 0.1% flow difference and cut the max spill even more.


That oil pipeline’s detection and leak prevention system is absolute horsesh-it.

Applause to you for that level of performance in a closed environment (your plant).

This is a transcontinental system where temperature differences at pumping stations can account for the detectable changes you claim.

On a transcontinental pipeline getting 1% isolation is solid performance.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Headline News Thread

***** please. A temperature transmitter costs 3,500 bucks and that oil is constantly flowing. Temperature variation had to be accounted for in our system too. It was ridiculously simple and cost us around $50,000 for ten separate systems.

[leswp1]

Re: Headline News Thread

Applause to you for that level of performance in a closed environment (your plant).

This is a transcontinental system where temperature differences at pumping stations can account for the detectable changes you claim.

On a transcontinental pipeline getting 1% isolation is solid performance.

The logic defies me too. Huge spill is OK because it could have been bigger. Yup. Too lazy to think of the multiple analogies that would make this look silly.

[St. Clown]

Re: Headline News Thread

Scope of spill is small because pipeline is huge. Logic is not your strong suit.

The spill was small because, well, the spill was small. Check out the list. You can order by date, location and by estimated max and min tonnes.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Headline News Thread

So because we’ve seen worse this isn’t bad? I know that’s not what you’re saying but it’s the logic you’re using.

This was something like the tenth largest spill in the US since 2007. This was bad others were disasters. Doesn’t make this any better.

[St. Clown]

Re: Headline News Thread

So because we’ve seen worse this isn’t bad? I know that’s not what you’re saying but it’s the logic you’re using.

This was something like the tenth largest spill in the US since 2007. This was bad others were disasters. Doesn’t make this any better.

I think pipelines are the way to go, ultimately. When the Bakken fields were churning out so much oil that it was clogging the railroads throughout MN, causing serious issues for supplying our power plants. We need to diversify our delivery methods, and try to make them as safe as possible. Pipelines are safer than people want to admit, though we still need to work on ways of making them even safer.

[ScoobyDoo]

I think pipelines are the way to go, ultimately. When the Bakken fields were churning out so much oil that it was clogging the railroads throughout MN, causing serious issues for supplying our power plants. We need to diversify our delivery methods, and try to make them as safe as possible. Pipelines are safer than people want to admit, though we still need to work on ways of making them even safer.

That costs money. So won't happen. Instead we'll build the pipeline and destroy the environment. Win win for the 1%.

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Headline News Thread

I think pipelines are the way to go, ultimately. When the Bakken fields were churning out so much oil that it was clogging the railroads throughout MN, causing serious issues for supplying our power plants. We need to diversify our delivery methods, and try to make them as safe as possible. Pipelines are safer than people want to admit, though we still need to work on ways of making them even safer.

I completely agree. So we can’t give them passes on these kinds of spills. Especially when they are running right over what is perhaps the world’s most important aquifer.

[mookie1995]

Re: Headline News Thread

imagine if there wasn't the diligence shown (and legally required).

then there wouldn't have been the diligence shown!

[St. Clown]

Re: Headline News Thread

dx, how impacted are you by the 694 washout? I know it's in your neck of the woods.

http://www.startribune.com/washout-i...s/461806173/#1

[dxmnkd316]

Re: Headline News Thread

If I want to make it down to anything south of GDO, it’s going to be a major PITA. Getting to work was fine this morning. But I had a scouting report that Century was awful yesterday with all the trucks. So I knew of a few backroads that would be fine.

The hole opened about 2-3 miles south of me. It’s a major inconvenience to the east metro. That’s a massive highway that’s clogged on a good day. And it’s not like they closed it between the two closest exits, they closed it from 36 all the way to 94 preventing all local traffic from accessing it. I get why they did it, I’m just not sure I’m fully bought in. They would have had to force all traffic off at CR-5 going south and 10th st going north. There is absolutely no way to handle that volume on any local streets.

If we had anything more than 2-3” of snow coming, this would be biblically bad for anyone east of 35W. I say 35W because 494 and 694 would be completely stopped up with all east side north/south traffic. 35E wouldn’t even be an escape because everyone would be on that and it’s already awful during the winter rush hour.

Here's a link to the current camera shot:
https://video.dot.state.mn.us/video/...?1512409610095




ETA: The absolute worst part about this is that concrete road was finished only a few years ago. It was still virtually pristine. I'm hoping they aren't going to have to cut it apart which will inevitably create Buick-sized potholes within a year.

[St. Clown]

Re: Headline News Thread

I'd probably go east to Radio Dr, or similar. My gf works at a Catholic church in Oakdale, just east of Century, on 15th St. She's hosed. In fact, when I go there to pick her up for a date, I might go so far as to get off 494 at Lake Rd in Woodbury, and take that over to Radio Dr or Woodbury Dr, up to 10th or 15, whichever will get me across 694 the quickest.