11
pipelines
Assessing Potential Impacts of Releases from Highly Volatile Liquid (HVL) Pipelines
Operators of pipelines carrying highly volatile liquid (HVL) or similar products (e.g. natural gas liquids, propane, butane, etc.) need to understand the potential impacts from release incidents. This consequence analysis contributes to meeting the requirements of the US DOT Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) hazardous liquids pipeline transportation regulations (49 CFR § 195) or other similar regulations. The outputs from this analysis, the geographic areas where impacts may occur, can be used to identify where impacts to high consequence areas (HCA) are possible. More generally, this analysis can support better decision-making about risk and mitigation. HVL products, while transported as liquids (under pressure or at regulated temperatures), can be released as vapor and/or liquid depending on the composition of the product.
Key Details
Project Name
Assessing Potential Impacts of Releases from Highly Volatile Liquid (HVL) Pipelines
Client
Undisclosed North American pipeline operator
Sector
- Energy
Location
- North America
Services Provided
- Modelling
- Environment
- Health, safety and risk
- Spatial Intelligence and GIS
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Solution
RPS created an extensive matrix of release scenarios, grouping similar pipeline segments (between valves) by length, operational characteristics, and environmental conditions. Release scenarios took into account the various response timings, product compositors, seasonal variations. RPS performed atmospheric dispersion and liquid transport and fate model simulations using a suite of model software and automation routines to quickly perform thousands of simulations. Results were compiled for the various scenarios including maximum impact radius buffers and liquid plume footprints in a GIS format allowing easy integration with HCA analysis and pipeline data management systems.
Project Statistics
600
miles of pipeline
2,200
vapor dispersion scenarios
9,900
overland liquid release simulations
