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 ...
There are 500 people working on it. Panic buying is a huge problem.
I’m in a sleepy distant suburb of Montgomery, and it took people by surprise here, too. There were a lot of people filling up this afternoon. I topped off my emergency cans, too, just in case.
“the pipeline was built in 1962 so its over 50 years since a spill occurred..”
This same pipe ruptured in April near Anniston.
Also, they got a bad batch of pipe about 30 years ago when they laid one of their spur lines. Had to replace the while thing.
Panic buying is a given once word gets out
We were in North Georgia and stopped at a supermarket, where a lady who worked there informed us......she said it reminded her of the 70’s, i.e. Jimmy Carter
So on our way to North Carolina we saw exactly what she was talking about
Therefore, the first place that had some gas we stopped and paid the higher price.
Stations were closed .....had their signs turned off
Panic buying is causing stations to run out much sooner than would have been the case, yes, and it’s not good. However, once it sets in, that old adage becomes true, he who panics first panics best. When rationality flies out the window regarding something as crucial as fuel for your vehicle to get to work, you’d better dive into the fray before the price skyrockets or all the pumps in your area shut down. I’ve read and heard that people are already starting to follow tanker trucks to gas stations in this area.
I never realized that gas is pumped so far by pipeline. Never thought about it, I guess.
>>I can understand it down south and the immediate area but other than that, it just doesn’t make sense.
Did you not see the map in post #6?
“And a good reason to jack up prices.”
The only thief in the tobacco and oil businesses is your Federal gummint.
Hopefully, I can get some gas tomorrow.
Yeah, we could come up short in Maryland.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Someone from near the TN line said they got 5000 gallons today and at the time of the FB post, they had 887 gallons left. Guess people will turn to FB like they did when that last tornado came through. They posted places which had power, gas, ice, etc. was a very interesting time. I had to go out and drivers were very nice. Lights were like a 4 way stop. I kept my phone charged in the car.
A break in transmission lines is probably buffered by 30-90 days from distribution systems.
Any change in retail pricing at present is opportunism.
Other distribution channels can compete for the same market.
So Obama leaves the nation like Carter:
1) Weak Military
2) Played by the Iranians
3) Gas lines
4) Malaise
“History doesn’t repeat itself but it often rhymes,”
— Mark Twain
We need a Reagan!
I thought our pipelines were monitored... like daily and by computer.. is that NOT the case?
Yeah, we could come up short in Maryland.
***
And even if we don’t it will be an excuse to jack up the price anyway.
Maybe so, but both our cars are now filled up, just in case.
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