Behind The Keystone XL Smokescreen - Pipelines Are Booming!

Protesters, promoters and politicians continue to debate the merits of the Keystone XL pipeline. The massive project has become perhaps the most divisive Canadian import since Justin Bieber hit it big with “Never Say Never.” And that phrase might as well be TransCanada ’s mantra as it seeks approval to complete Keystone’s final phase -- an approximately 1,200 mile crude oil pipeline from Alberta to refineries along the Gulf Coast. You’d be forgiven for thinking that Keystone is the only project aiming to bring Canadian crude into the United States. But it’s not.

Indeed, while the Keystone debate rages, approximately 13,000 miles of new crude oil pipelines— ten times the length of Keystone XL— are being installed or proposed to go in service soon. This includes the Flanagan South line, a $3 billion undertaking built by TransCanada’s rival Enbridge that originates in Pontiac, Michigan and since starting up in November has been carrying about 550,000 bpd of oil down to Cushing, Okla. In addition, there are more than 55,000 miles of existing crude oil pipeline, including several systems which have been in service for more than 50 years.

And all of this pipeline capacity is much needed. One study estimates that more than $63 billion needs to be invested in new crude oil pipelines in the U.S. by 2035 to meet demand. The benefits of the so-called shale revolution, which has helped to increase domestic crude oil production by nearly 50% in just five years, cannot be fully realized until all that new oil can be delivered to the major refining centers and market hubs. Unfortunately, refining capacity tends to be located near where U.S. oil production used to be, rather than near today’s most prolific shale basins, such as North Dakota’s Bakken Shale and the Marcellus Shale, which runs through western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio, and West Virginia.

This has created an acute need to transport crude oil over longer distances, and the safest and most efficient way to do this is undeniably through pipelines. While it may look like pipelines are still being built the same way they were 50 years ago, improvements in pipeline fabrication, protective coatings, installation, as well as better inspection and maintenance processes make today’s pipelines safer than ever before. 2014 saw the lowest net barrels lost to spills in 20 years and no significant injuries or fatalities reported.This incredible record of safely and reliably transporting crude oil lies in large part on advances in technology, material science, and processes.

One only needs to look at the recent rash of crude by rail accidents to appreciate the long term solution that pipelines represent. Rash may not be the best description, however, since most rashes go away if you simply leave them alone. Our crude oil transportation challenge cannot be ignored. That is why is has become an area of focus for us at Battelle.

Battelle is the independent research organization that the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) chose to lead a study examining the safety of pipeline welds. We have no particular axe to grind in the energy infrastructure debate. What do crude oil rail tankers and pipelines have in common? Welded carbon steel that must be protected from corrosion and external damage, tested for integrity, and inspected and maintained. Much like technology developed by NASA for space exploration has been successfully transferred to other industries, organizations like Battelle are helping to apply advanced technologies and materials developed for other purposes to energy infrastructure.

Our scientists have developed “self healing” coatings, originally designed to protect military assets, that are able to detect localized corrosion as it starts, and release active materials that stop corrosion processes before they can spread. And advanced methods for assessing the structural integrity of welded structures are now focusing on understanding and predicting how pipeline components will perform in their operating environment over time.

It should be noted that at the molecular level steel does not lose its strength over time. New or old, pipelines can be safely operated for decades if they are properly protected and maintained. Both supporters and opponents of Keystone XL need to agree on the common ground of science and technology, and its essential role in maintaining and growing our critical energy infrastructure. Think that kind of agreement is impossible? Never say never.

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Rodney Osborne, Ph.D., is Manager, Exploration and Production Services at the Battelle Memorial Institute where he focuses on research and development programs in the areas of hydrocarbon exploration and production, carbon storage and utilization and pipeline integrity management services.