Hey, Cowtown! It’s a good thing you don’t have any gas pipelines in your neighborhoods.
Oh wait!
Too late!
Firefighters Put Out McCook Gas Pipeline Explosion
Reported by Victor Castillo
MCCOOK, Texas – Multiple agencies were called in for mutual aid to assist in a natural gas pipeline explosion operated by HESCO gas.
Tony Peña, Hidalgo County Emergency Management Coordinator and County Fire Marshal, said flames at one point were shooting about four to five hundred feet from the ignition source.
The “Authorities” don’t know what caused the explosion but said that pipelines just do that sometimes all across the United States because of wear and tear.
In China, 191 people died from poisonous fumes in a recent gas well explosion.
…the well blast nearly wiped out an entire village, caused other widespread damage and had yet to be fully contained.
Hey Denton! Duck and cover people! We’re all collateral damage in the quest for oil and gas profits.
City leaders who are blinded by oil and gas money are not making good decisions for the citizens they represent! Gas wells and pipelines should not be allowed anywhere near neighborhoods. People are nothing but collateral damage in the quest for oil and gas profits. The Railroad Commission is charged with protecting the public and they should revise their rules to keep citizens safe.
Oh wait! The RRC is also blinded by oil and gas profits. Who will protect Texans?
the three-member commission regulates the oil and gas industry and is in charging of ensuring that the pipelines that carry petroleum products are safe
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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So, if we elect a different politician, natural gas will stop exploding? Wow, this Henry must be something!
If we elect Henry, who is NOT a “politician” but a petroleum engineer with decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, we will have ONE, and only ONE, commissioner who does not have any conflicts of interest with the oil and gas industry. That might give us a better chance to have rules that actually serve the public interest rather than industry interest.
I’m sure people in Denton and Fort Worth where operators are putting gas wells right in the middle of neighborhoods are interested in better safety rules. Currently the RRC allows gas wells to be 300′ from a residence. When you have explosions where flames shoot up 600′ to 700′ into the air, I wouldn’t find that 300′ distance much of a comfort. How about you? Would you like your children sleeping 300′ from a gas well?
Get educated Sharon. The RRC doesn’t regulate drilling inside the city limits. You’re barking up the wrong tree. You need to direct your anger to the city councils.
Are you the same person who consulted Art Hall that the RRC deals with rail safety?
Anon 8:27: Click the links in the post and read. Engage brain before commenting.
Landowners willing to forgo the protection can petition the Town Council for a variance that permits wells less than 1,000 feet but no closer than Texas Railroad Commission rules allow.
1. What is the minimum drilling distance for well locations and buildings and homes? How close to my house can a well be drilled?
The Railroad Commission does not regulate how close a gas well can be drilled to a residential property. However, for a well within the city limits, the city may enact ordinances regarding the proximity to dwellings or other structures. In addition, there is an old law in the Municipal Code, Section 253.005(c), which provides: “A well may not be drilled in the thickly settled part of the municipality or within 200 feet of a private residence.”
Commission Rule, 16 Texas Administrative Code (TAC) §3.76 provides that in counties with a population over 400,000 or a population over 140,000 adjacent to a county with a population over 400,000, a developer of the property may obtain Commission approval of a subdivision plan that limits drilling activity to designated drill sites of at least two acres for every 80 acres in the subdivision. You may access this rule directly at: http://info.sos.state.tx.us/pls/pub/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=16&pt=1&ch=3&rl=76
Many mineral leases also include clauses that define how close a well can be drilled to existing structures.
The RRC “should revise their rules to keep citizens safe.
“Hey, Cowtown! It’s a good thing you don’t have any gas pipelines in your neighborhoods.”
I’m curious. How does the natural gas that heats tens of thousands of homes and businesses in Fort Worth get there now?
That was sarcasm hence the “Oh wait. Too Late.”
It’s the gas wells and those pipelines that should be a concern to FW residents.
The pipeline that exploded was connected to a gas well.
From the linked story.
“And what you all see now and have been seeing is the gas well side bleeding off, it’s burning off the product” said Snyder
Actually, FW should also be concerned about the Atmos Energy gas lines since Atmos cuts corners and saves money on safety but spares no expense on expense account items for their legal team all paid for by consumers.
If I lived in an area with Atmos gas lines, I would vote for Dale Henry and send Michael Williams packing.
You tell me to “engage my brain” yet look at what I said and look at what you posted. You just made my argument:
“The Railroad Commission does not regulate how close a gas well can be drilled to a residential property. However, for a well within the city limits, the city may enact ordinances regarding the proximity to dwellings or other structures. In addition, there is an old law in the Municipal Code, Section 253.005(c), which provides: “A well may not be drilled in the thickly settled part of the municipality or within 200 feet of a private residence.”
Hatred is heavy, Sharon. Put it down. It’s clouding your ability to see reason.
Sharon, you said, “…it’s a good thing you don’t have any gas pipelines in your neighborhoods.” The fact is, there are probably hundreds of miles of natural gas pipelines in Fort Worth neighborhoods. Those gas lines have been providing the gas that heats our homes for decades.
Rather than post scary pictures, why don’t you post some real statistics. How many Texans are killed or injured each year by gas pipeline ruptures? 100? 1,000? 1,000,000?
Delivering gas via pipelines is nothing new. It’s been going only for years, and all things considered, its safe.
Your crystal ball isn’t working. It’s so typical for an outspoken woman to be labeled as hateful or shrewish when she speaks out with force.
Urban drilling is very new and potentially dangerous. The Railroad Commission should establish new rules regarding the distance between gas wells and residences so they can insure public safety. Even if it takes new legislation, those safety rules should override anything that city council members, who might have conflict of interest issues, enact.
I am having connectivity issues which caused the posting of your comment to be delayed.
Oh, you poor thing. You create a blog just to spew hatred, then you cower in your gender corner when you are confronted and proven wrong…Sorry, I’m not playing that game.
At least you finally confirmed that you were wrong: the RRC doesn’t have regulation jurisdiction inside city limits. Further, RRC can’t just come in and take that jurisdiction from cities. Sort of a constitutional problem with that. Just details….
So, Sharon, now that you have confirmed that the Ft Worth City Council is the responsible party in correcting what you perceive to be a danger to its citizens, why don’t you provide the FWCC with the same vitriol you do the RRC? Perhaps you’re just a partisan and not really interested in these issues, just want to get some old man elected? Perhaps…
JPS: I am referring to gathering pipelines not the utility pipelines. Fort Worth does not, or did not until recently, have “hundreds of miles of natural gas [gathering] pipelines in Fort Worth neighborhoods.”
Anon 7:37: Remember that one man’s “hatred”–which you accuse me of “spew[ing}”–is another man’s pillow talk. That you think it is hatred tells me you are a member of the party that is soon to be turned out of office all across this country. Should you ever get into power again, try to do a better job.
In light of the new and untested, reckless drilling right in the middle of neighborhoods, new rules and new laws should be made. Is that such a hard concept?
Of course you don’t read my blog or you would know that I have also written about the FWCC and their mayor.
I would rather have an honest, knowledgeable “old man” than a well dressed politician desiring to use an important office as a springboard to a political career or a bought-and-paid-for Republican.
Sharon:
I looked the data up for you. The fact of the matter is that over the last 10 years there have only been 13 serious incidents involving gas gathering pipelines in Texas. These incidents resulted in 0 loss of life and 0 injuries.
You can post all the scary pictures you want, that doesn’t change the facts that this delivery method has proven to be rather safe. This data comes straight from the federal Office of Pipeline Safety and anyone can look it up online.
How many of those incidents where in DENSELY POPULATED NEIGHBORHOODS? Your facts do not apply to the brand new practice of urban drilling.
Look at the picture then imagine that in your neighborhood. Big difference from out in the middle of nowhere.
Sharon:
My facts do not apply to gas drilling for one simple reason. Your post is about gas pipelines, not gas drilling. Transporting natural gas through underground pipelines is not a new practice. It’s a proven, efficient, safe method.
Again, do you have any facts that prove otherwise or is the sum of your argument scary pictures and typing in all caps?
Dear John: You’re just being obstinate because I know that you can’t possibly be so ignorant as to not understand that with gas drilling comes gathering pipelines.
Transporting natural gas through underground gathering pipelines, which are up to 24″ in diameter, through densely populated neighborhoods is a very new practice.
Do you have a gathering pipeline running through your yard? Are you willing to have one running through your yard? Are or you a NIMBY?
In comparison to shipping the NG in thousands of trucks on our highways, pipelines are the safest alternative (in comparison). However, I do agree that the transmission lines should be kept as far from residences as possible. Unfortunately, urban sprawl has since covered these behemoth pipes with suburbs upon suburbs. Thank God we haven’t seen what a blown transmission pipeline could do to a neighborhood. It would be horrifying. The safest alternative is to follow the Europeans’ example by creating utility corridors that contain gas pipelines, high-voltage powerlines, and other utilities in a safe zone far from residences or businesses. I think that’s the best route instead of letting utility companies haphazardly plopping them in wherever’s convenient for them. Anyhoo, that’s my thoughts on the issue.
Oh, and you know what else is fun? The Office of Pipeline Safety, The Federal regulatory committee that overseas all these pipelines, doesn’t have the staff or resources to monitor the tens of thousands of miles of pipelines cris-crossing our country. Instead, they only penalize a utility when the utility reports any leaks or explosions. That’s a riot. That’s like keeping all the state troopers at home, and they write you a ticket only when you contact them to tell them you’ve been speeding. Yeah, that’s safety for ya.
Transmission pipelines and gathering pipelines do not carry the same product. Transmission pipelines carry processed natural gas which has been stripped of extra content and is dry. Gathering lines carry raw gas which contains highly corrosive salts and water vapor. When (not if) the vapor and salts precipitate and pool at low points in the line, they start eating the pipe.
It takes some years before leaks start. We don’t have those years behind us yet… but we will. And it won’t be pretty.