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Alabama pipeline leak: What we know so far about the spill, gas shortages and more
AL.com ^ | 9-18-2016 | Dennis Pillion

Posted on 09/18/2016 5:43:49 PM PDT by servo1969

On the morning of Sept. 9, an inspector with the Alabama Surface Mining Commission was performing a routine monthly check of an old coal mine in Shelby County when he noticed "a strong odor of gasoline" as well as a sheen on the surface of one of the retention ponds.

The gasoline he was smelling came from Colonial Pipeline's Line 1, an underground pipeline three feet in diameter that normally pushes 1.3 million barrels of gasoline per day from refineries in Houston to distribution centers across the Southeast and along the eastern seaboard.

That 36-inch line, built in 1963, has been estimated to supply the east coast of the United States with up to 40 percent of its gasoline supply. Colonial Pipeline initiated a shutdown of Line 1 within 20 minutes of receiving the report about a potential leak.

That section of pipeline remains closed. Eight days later, official estimates climbed to 336,000 gallons of lost gasoline. More than 700 people were working around the clock to dig up the pipe, plug the leak, clean up the old mining property south of Birmingham and restore supply.

With the flow of gasoline interrupted, the governors of six states have declared a state of emergency to allow truck drivers to work longer shifts to head off shortages at the pumps.

Gasoline is now being shipped by alternate routes throughout the southeast. Alternate pipelines are being used, and gasoline is even being shipped by tanker ship from Houston to New York.

Colonial announced Saturday the company will construct a temporary pipeline to bypass the spill site in hopes of restoring gasoline flows more quickly. No timetable was given for completing the bypass line."

(Excerpt) Read more at al.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events; US: Alabama; US: Georgia; US: Maryland; US: Massachusetts; US: New Jersey; US: New York; US: North Carolina; US: South Carolina; US: Tennessee; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: alabama; energy; fuel; gasoline; gasolineprices; leak; naturalgas; pipeline; shortage
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To: Lazamataz

We left church today in North Georgia and found out between there and Western North Carolina the gas stations were either closed or limited, and only taking cash........the one place we found for gas was only selling the expensive Super Premium


21 posted on 09/18/2016 6:49:03 PM PDT by Guenevere (If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do....)
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To: lexington minuteman 1775

This spill validates their concern


22 posted on 09/18/2016 6:50:25 PM PDT by ctdonath2 ("If anyone will not listen to your words, shake the dust from your feet and leave them." - Jesus)
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To: Viking2002

I live in Mobile. Didn’t get out today and don’t know the impact down here but right now I’m glad I drive a diesel.


23 posted on 09/18/2016 6:56:38 PM PDT by suthener
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To: servo1969
"The Cahaba River is home to 135 known species of fish, according to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, as well as 35 snail species, 10 of which are not found anywhere else in the world. Ten species of fish and freshwater mussel in the Cahaba are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act."

FYI.

Alabama has the largest number of species of fresh water fish than anywhere else in the world.

24 posted on 09/18/2016 7:00:11 PM PDT by blam (Jeff Sessions For President)
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To: Guenevere

So we paid $2.90 per gallon instead of last week’s $1.96. :(


25 posted on 09/18/2016 7:01:20 PM PDT by KingArthur (Guenevere: She's a Wonder Woman)
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To: Viking2002

This is going to affect truckers....


26 posted on 09/18/2016 7:02:48 PM PDT by caww
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To: ctdonath2

Well yes an no...the pipeline was built in 1962 so its over 50 years since a spill occurred...pipelines do wear out.


27 posted on 09/18/2016 7:10:21 PM PDT by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: Viking2002

We lost of 1/4 mil gallons of gas. That’s just a few drops in the of this scheme of things. I suspect we use mega, mega, millions everyday.

Is this just histrionics? And a good reason to jack up prices.

I can understand it down south and the immediate area but other than that, it just doesn’t make sense.


28 posted on 09/18/2016 7:12:11 PM PDT by lizma2
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To: FBRhawk

I’m not far from you, just northeast of Stokesdale. I went on GasBuddy Friday night, cheapest price was $2.09 at Eagle Express on Highway 220. Went there, filled up, no problems, no lines. They’ve bagged the pumps as of today, no gas. The two stations in the middle of Stokesdale raised their price to $2.59 yesterday. One is now out of gas, the other had lines this afternoon.

I went to visit my mom today over in Advance, coming in I was surprised to see no problems, price still $2.09, even the Sheetz was open and busy at the pumps. Sheetz has for some reason been hit very hard by this, I didn’t expect to see the pumps open there.

Leaving at 7:00 PM was a different story, pumps bagged at Sheetz, lines at other stations, price had risen to $2.29 so it spread to there over the course of an afternoon.

Suspect it’s going to be a long week in this area for people who didn’t gas up or who run through more than a tank in a week.


29 posted on 09/18/2016 7:12:38 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: lizma2

It’s not the amount of gas that was lost, it’s the fact that the pipeline is not functioning as a result of the break. No gas is flowing and won’t be until they can fix it.


30 posted on 09/18/2016 7:18:08 PM PDT by FReepaholic (Stupidity is not a crime, so you're free to go.)
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To: FReepaholic

I went to the Wikipedia page for Colonial Pipeline, there was a much larger gas spill due to a ruptured pipeline in I believe 1996, I don’t recall gas shortages and lines here from that. Really the only previous time in recent decades this has happened was due to a hurricane, was it Ike?


31 posted on 09/18/2016 7:21:12 PM PDT by RegulatorCountry
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To: servo1969

Price on the TN/AL border up 50 cents and more since Thursday. Regular is sold out everywhere and some stations completely sold out.


32 posted on 09/18/2016 7:29:07 PM PDT by Betty Jane
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To: servo1969

Getting all in a ruckus ain’t going to get it fix faster.

Sometimes I think people believe the pipeline guys are taking their time on this. When in reality I am willing to bet people are working their butts off 24/7 until it’s fixed.


33 posted on 09/18/2016 7:30:11 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Here in North Texas I payed $1.61 @ Kroger on Friday. Less gas up East means more gas here.


34 posted on 09/18/2016 7:38:58 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah so shall it be again,")
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To: servo1969
I live in HSV. I was talking to my daughter about this and she had to get gas yesterday. She got the last at that station. I have half a tank and do not know if I should get any. I do not have to go anywhere. I read that people from southern TN are coming here. It is a mess. Reminds me of the odd-even days during Carter's term. We went across the river bridge south of here.
35 posted on 09/18/2016 7:39:07 PM PDT by MamaB (Heb. 13:2)
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To: FReepaholic

Got it, Thank.

How long and how did it happen?


36 posted on 09/18/2016 7:43:56 PM PDT by lizma2
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To: Vermont Lt
WHNT’s web page said they have been working on it since it happened. I learned about it on FB. I get their news’ postings there.
37 posted on 09/18/2016 7:46:16 PM PDT by MamaB (Heb. 13:2)
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To: caww
This is going to affect truckers....

That means we pay big time.

38 posted on 09/18/2016 7:47:35 PM PDT by lizma2
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To: RegulatorCountry

It all depends on where in the pipeline system a leak is, some places they may be able to go around... this one appears to be close to the source, so they don’t have a workaround.


39 posted on 09/18/2016 7:51:05 PM PDT by orionrising
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To: lexington minuteman 1775
Well yes an no...the pipeline was built in 1962 so its over 50 years since a spill occurred...pipelines do wear out.

Nope.

A leak and explosion in Maryland in 1970.

A 500,000 gallon leak in South Carolina, 1991.

A leak in Herndon, VA in 1993.

A 900,000 gallon leak in South Carolina in 1996.

Colonial also lost a bunch of pipelines in Houston in 1994, but that really wasn't their fault - an unusual flood event caused the failures at the San Jacinto River.

40 posted on 09/18/2016 7:51:13 PM PDT by PAR35
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