Posted on 02/04/2014 8:47:21 AM PST by thackney
Replacing the Keystone XL pipeline with oil-laden freight trains from Canada may result in an average of six additional rail-related deaths per year, according to a U.S. State Department report that is adding to pressure for President Barack Obama to approve the line.
The long-awaited study, released on Friday, focused on the environmental impact of TransCanada's $5.4 billion pipeline, but also spent several pages analyzing the potential human impact of various ways to transport oil, using historical injury and fatality statistics for railways and oil pipelines.
Although it excluded the runaway oil train derailment that killed 47 people in Lac Megantic, Quebec, last summer, the tragedy that first shone a critical light on the rapidly expanding trend in shipping crude by rail, the findings highlight the risks or railway transport versus pipes.
Shipping another 830,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude "would result in an estimated 49 additional injuries and six additional fatalities for the No Action rail scenarios compared to one additional injury and no fatalities" per year if Keystone XL is built, according to the report.
Keystone XL would carry 830,000 bpd from Alberta's oil sands U.S. refiners, but has been awaiting a presidential permit for more than five years. The "No Action" options refer to the likely alternative outcomes if Obama rejects the permit or the project is not built for some other reason.
The report also showed that carrying crude by rail, instead of by pipeline, was likely to result in a higher number of oil spills and a larger amount of leakage over time.
(Excerpt) Read more at rigzone.com ...
How many dead people piled on Obama’s doorstep because of his indecisiveness does it take to stop voting present.
On top of that, there are fewer main lines for trains to travel over—thanks to liberal government policies.
We’ll need the pipeline anyhow, but the FRA ought to back off and let the railroads handle the traffic without having to worry about being micromanaged from DC. Same goes for Canada and RAC.
This offsets 830,000 bpd of crude brought in by ocean-going tankers.
If the environment was the primary concern, this would be a good thing. If you could eliminate an endless parade of tankers crossing the Atlantic, or the Caribbean, why would you not?
I of course believe the point of denying Keystone is to protect the 830,000 bpd brought in from overseas. Denying Keystone hurts the environment but helps OPEC.
BTTT
You could not imagine how absolutely burdensome FRA compliance is. With every issue of the Federal Register, there is some new “Final Rule” published... cramming stuff up the railroad’s ass... The regulation, actually interferes with interstate commerce. Original intent, be damned.
You know, not every railroad in this country is a big Class 1 with shiny new 4400HP GE locomotives... there are hundreds and hundreds of shortline roads that are just trying to serve their local customer base and remain profitable... it’s often very difficult in the face of some looming Regulatory Watchdog like the FRA.
Once upon a time, railroad best practice was based on what worked and was profitable and safe. Safety was a continuous improvement process... this safety culture has existed was before it was regulated into being...
Now, railroads see the burden of compliance and say, “OK... well if THAT is the law, we will follow the law and NO MORE. We have been commanded to do so, and this way, there shall be zero deviation from 100% compliance and ZERO civil penalties”.
Shipping by rail adds something like $15 bucks a barrel to the cost.
The oil they ships by rail is discounted at the source so that the landed price at the refinery is the same or less as buying by ship.
There is also probably a higher cost to unloading a trainload of tanker cars than there is offloading a supertanker at your dock. Each tanker needs to be hooked up individually to the pipe and then unhooked when it drains out. With a tanker you many only hook up once or twice. Less labor involved, is less cost to the refinery.
Stop the Hate Trains!
“Shipping by rail adds something like $15 bucks a barrel to the cost.”
Thus enriching the obama supporters who own rail lines.
Get on with it, build the darn thing already !
It may even be already fabricated waiting for approval to install. This line has been in the works for a long time.
Actually, at this point I would be more conserned with the Pump Station equipment. That size stuff has a long lead time.
I would guess those seamless pipes are extruded.... I don’t think they would be forged.
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