Pipeline Safety
Committed to Safety, From the Ground Up
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, pipelines are the safest, most reliable and cost effective means of transporting energy products, such as natural gas, over long distances. The federal government sets standards for the development of integrity management programs for pipelines. The most stringent requirements are for pipelines near high consequence areas including densely populated areas or places where people congregate such as schools, parks and campgrounds.
We Take our Jobs Seriously
We have many programs in place to maintain the safety of our natural gas system, including:- All pipe is factory-tested to make sure it meets our safety standards
- Newly-installed pipes are inspected and tested in accordance with state and federal requirements prior to being placed in service
- Our cathodic protection program uses a low-voltage electric current to help reduce or eliminate corrosion
- We use high-tech devices called “smart pigs” to locate any flaws in the pipe’s protective wrap, dents or small internal weaknesses
- We conduct ground and aerial surveys to check every inch of our 2,550 miles of transmission pipelines at least once a year
- We respond to more than 300,000 MISS DIG 811 requests each year to mark natural gas pipeline locations so excavators can dig safely
- We use sophisticated technology to detect any abnormal pressure or flow in the natural gas system
- We have an extensive pipeline public awareness program to promote natural gas safety