American Petroleum Institute, Association of Oil Pipe Lines release pipeline safety report

The American Petroleum Institute (API) and the Association of Oil Pipe Lines (AOPL) released this week
a pipeline safety report that reviewed the industry’s 2016 safety performance and outlined safety plans for 2017 through 2019.

In 2016, the amount of pipeline safety incidents fell by 10 percent from 2015 levels, according to the 2017-2019 Pipeline Safety Excellence Strategic Plan and 2016 Performance Report. The report also outlines safety precautions taken by pipeline operators including improvements in in-line inspection technology, a new recommended practice for pipeline cracking incidents and emergency preparedness plans.

“Pipelines are one of the safest and most efficient ways to transport liquid energy,” API Pipeline Manager David Murk said. “While nearly 100 percent of crude and petroleum products reach their destination safely, the industry remains committed to zero incidents. Strategic planning and the establishment of long-term goals will be critical for continuous, industry-wide pipeline safety improvements.”

The strategic plan portion of the report acknowledges areas for improvement and highlights challenges to pipeline safety. The report identified four goals for the next three years, which are to “promote organizational excellence, improve safety through technology and innovation, enhance emergency response preparedness, [and] increase stakeholder awareness and involvement.”

“This plan will help drive advances in pipeline safety technology, strengthen emergency preparedness and response planning, and encourage the adoption of holistic pipeline safety management systems,” Murk said.