Pipeline Emergency Response Protocols and Incident Investigation

Pipelines are generally considered to be the safest means of transporting hydrocarbon fluids. Nevertheless, they can and sometimes do fail, with varying degrees of loss of containment, ranging from leaks to full bore ruptures. The fluid released can pose a threat to the environment and to public safety. It is incumbent therefore on pipeline Operators and Regulators to develop and implement rigorous plans to deal with this possibility. For many Operators, these plans may form part of their Safety and Loss Management System, or at the very least, are linked to their Integrity Management Program. They are often categorized as an Emergency Management Program and focus on the preparations made in advance of an incident and the initial response to it. In this chapter both these aspects are considered; however, it is also important to investigate the cause(s) of the incident, to understand and prevent its recurrence, as well as ensuring that the pipeline can be safely returned to service.