MEC&F Expert Engineers : 12/24/14

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

VICTIMS OF FATAL HOUSE FIRE IN WILMINGTON HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. POLICE: FIRE WAS INTENTIONALLY SET



Victims of fatal house fire in Wilmington have been identified.  Police:  Fire was intentionally set



WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) -
The victims of a fatal house fire in Wilmington, that officials say was intentionally set, have been identified. 
Crews with the Wilmington Fire Department are responding to a house fire on Lingo Avenue in Wilmington early Tuesday
According to officials, Pamela Pickett, 51, and her great-niece Makayla Pickett, 14, died in Tuesday's fire. Officials are conducting a criminal investigation of the fire that authorities say originated from both the front and back of the house.
Makayla was a freshman at Hoggard High School. Dr. Steven Sullivan, principal of Hoggard, said Makayla always had a positive attitude and a huge smile on her face. He said she had an inquisitive nature and no one at school was a stranger to her.

"She loved to chat with everyone and her infectious laughter will be greatly missed in our classrooms and hallways," Sullivan said. "She was an inspiration to us all."
Crews with the Wilmington Fire Department were called to respond to the property at 1901 Lingo Street around 5 a.m. They reported seeing heavy flames upon arrival and said several people were still inside.
According to Battalion Chief David Hines, three people were taken to New Hanover Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Two of the people have been released at this time. Beverly Pickett, 54, remains in the hospital.


Firefighters searched the home several times in an effort to locate additional victims, but did not find any. Crews were able to put the fire out shortly after 7 a.m. A person who was initially unaccounted for was safely located.
The Wilmington Police Department will be releasing victim identities. The WPD and SBI are investigating the incident at this time. 
The American Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina is providing lodging and all immediate needs to the victims. The Salvation Army is also providing Christmas packs for the victims.
Battalion Chief Sammy Flowers said the structural and content damages are estimated at $115,000.  

SEVEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL AFTER FIRE IN PROVIDENCE’S SMITH HILL IN RHODE ISLAND



Seven taken to hospital after fire in Providence’s Smith Hill in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. —December 24, 2014.

 Seven people were taken to the hospital, three with smoke inhalation, after a fire ravaged a two-family home at 61 Zone St. in the Smith Hill section of Providence Tuesday.

Flames were pouring out of the second-floor window when fire crews first arrived around 11:50 a.m., said Providence Fire Chief Daniel Crowley.

Firefighters rescued one man who was hanging out of the third floor window to escape the flames and two more people from windows. Another four people who were home when the fire started were able to escape out the front door.

The three people rescued by firefighters were suffering from “pretty serious” smoke inhalation, Crowley said. The five others were taken to the hospital as a precaution.
The building did not have a fire escape.

Among those who were able to get out of the house though the single stairwell were two young children, including a 10-year-old girl who told reporters at the scene she carried her six-month old brother to safety.

The fire started on the second floor of the three-story building and the cause was under investigation, but did not appear to be suspicious, said Fire Department Arson Investigator Paul A. Doughty.

Firefighters had the blaze extinguished before 1 p.m.

7 INJURED IN SEPTA BUS, TRASH TRUCK ACCIDENT IN SPRING GARDEN, PHILADELPHIA


7 injured in SEPTA bus, trash truck accident in Spring Garden, Philadelphia

Wednesday, December 24, 2014 05:19PM
SPRING GARDEN (WPVI) -- 

At least seven people are injured after an accident involving a SEPTA bus and a trash truck. 

The accident happened around 4:00 p.m. Wednesday at Broad and Callowhill streets.

SEPTA says a southbound Route 4 bus was rear-ended by the trash truck. 

A host of medics and police responded to the scene to tend to the injured.

Most of the injured will be transported to local hospitals. 

None of the injuries are thought to be life threatening. 

The accident remains under investigation. 


1,000-GALLONS LEAKED FROM A ROLLOVERED SEMI-TANKER TRUCK ON US-2 IN WATERSMEET TOWNSHIP, MI

1,000-GALLONS LEAKED FROM A ROLLOVER SEMI-TANKER TRUCK ON US-2 IN WATERSMEET TOWNSHIP, MI




WATERSMEET TOWNSHIP -- UPDATE: 2:45 p.m. - Officials say it will still be a few more hours before they can open US-2. The tanker spilled around 1,000 gallons. Officials are moving the truck, but still have to clean up the surrounding ground.

Officers from the Gogebic County Sheriff's Office are on the scene of a semi-tractor trailer accident on US-2 near mile marker 59.

According to the Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. in Watersmeet Township near the Gogebic-Iron County line. The tanker has detached from the trailer and is punctured and leaking fuel.


Law enforcement, fire department and the Ironwood Public Safety Hazmat Team members are on the scene.

US-2 is closed until further notice, with a detour route taking vehicles north on US-45 in Watersmeet to M-28 East and then south to Highway 141 in Covington to Crystal Falls.
Further information will be released when the highway is reopened.


SUNOCO "MISTAKENLY" PLACES PIPELINE ON PENN TOWNSHIP LAND

Penn Township-Sunoco pipeline battle could go to court



Penn Township has initiated a legal battle to force Sunoco Logistics to remove a small portion of a 300-mile pipeline that was erroneously installed in the municipality.
The writ was filed Tuesday morning, hours before township and company officials held a brief negotiating session seeking to resolve the dispute. 

Township Solicitor Les Mlakar said no deal was reached during the hour-long meeting.
“We asked them to provide a certified survey of the pipeline and their construction costs if they have to move the line. And we want to independently verify those,” Mlakar said.
Township officials want to review that information by mid-January, Mlakar said. 

Tuesday's court filing was a preliminary move to preserve the township's ability to ask a judge to force Sunoco to dig up and remove the pipeline that was installed on township property. 

Township officials learned earlier this month that a 70-foot section of the $600-million pipeline project — known as Mariner East I — encroached on township property even though it was supposed to be rerouted around the 12-acre parcel. 

Sunoco has acknowledged that a mistake was made when the pipeline segment was built on township land, according to company spokesman Jeff Shields. 

In a statement, company officials said they want to negotiate a resolution.
Shields said Tuesday the company will make no additional statements at this time.
“We'll defer to the township,” he said. 

The dispute involves only a small piece of the 50-mile Western Pennsylvania segment of the pipeline, which will carry propane and other liquid natural gas through Washington, Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. 

That 50-mile piece will link with the pipeline that runs through the state and ends just south of Philadelphia. 

Attempts last year by Sunoco to acquire easements to build the pipeline through Penn Township's property failed. Commissioners rejected a request for an easement in May 2013. 

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Sunoco mistakenly puts part of pipeline on Penn Township land

Penn Township officials are threatening litigation against Sunoco Logistics because the company installed a tiny section of a major pipeline on township property without their permission. 


Township Solicitor Les Mlakar said he might go so far as to request a court order for the removal of the pipeline from the Claridge property after a company representative revealed the mistake to township manager Alex Graziani earlier this month. 


Commissioners authorized Mlakar last week to take legal action, but nothing had been filed in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court as of Tuesday afternoon.

“At this point, I'm taking the position: We don't want them there, we didn't allow them to be there, then they ought to get it out, have it removed,” Mlakar said. 


Sunoco spokesman Jeffrey Shields confirmed that a postconstruction survey found that a 70-foot section of the 50-mile, $600-million pipeline project — known as Mariner East I — “inadvertently encroached” on township property. 


Sunoco has used eminent domain to acquire some easements along the pipeline.

“This mistake should not have happened, and Sunoco Logistics hopes to continue the dialogue with the township to establish a fair resolution to this matter,” Shields said in a statement. 


Sunoco sought the commissioners' approval in May 2013 for a small easement on 12.77 acres but didn't get it. 


The company offered $1,550 for a 39-foot-by-50-foot permanent right of way on open land by Gombach Road and Flour Bag Fort Lane. 


After declining Sunoco's offer, township officials said, they were under the impression that Sunoco routed the pipeline around the property. 


If not for the company's interest in a $2.5-billion second phase, which would involve another pipeline in the same right of way, township officials likely wouldn't have known about the encroachment, Graziani said. 


He said his jaw dropped when the Sunoco representative told him about the error during a Dec. 3 meeting about the Mariner East projects. 


“They made it very clear that they understand this was a big mistake,” Graziani said. 


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NGL Projects
Project Mariner East Phase I
Project Mariner East Phase I

Project Mariner East is pipeline project to deliver propane and ethane from the liquid-rich Marcellus Shale areas in Western Pennsylvania to the Marcus Hook facility, where it will be processed, stored, and distributed to various domestic and waterborne markets. The project is anticipated to have an initial capacity to transport approximately 70,000 barrels per day of natural gas liquids and can be scaled to support higher volumes as needed. Mariner East is expected to have the ability to transport propane by the 4th quarter of 2014. Mariner East is scheduled to be fully operational to deliver propane and ethane in Mid-2015.


Sunoco Logistics will construct a pipeline from MarkWest Energy Partners L.P.'s Houston, Pennsylvania processing and fractionation complex to an interconnection with an existing Sunoco Logistics pipeline at Delmont, Pennsylvania. The natural gas liquids will then be transported to the Marcus Hook facility where Sunoco Logistics will construct new facilities to process, store, chill, and distribute propane and ethane to local, regional and international markets.


Project Mariner East Phase II

Sunoco Logistics announced a successful Open Season for Mariner East 2 project in November 2014.  For Mariner East 2, Sunoco Logistics plans to construct a pipeline from processing and fractionation complexes in Western Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Eastern Ohio for transport to the Marcus Hook Industrial Complex.  Sunoco Logistics plans to construct new facilities at Marcus Hook Industrial Complex to store, chill, process and distribute propane, butane and ethane for distribution to local, domestic and international markets.  Sunoco Logistics plans to offer intrastate and interstate movements to meet the demands of various markets.  Mariner East 2 is anticipated to provide an initial capacity of 275,000 barrels per day of NGL's.  The Mariner East 2 pipeline is expected to be operational in Q4 2016, subject to regulatory and permit approvals.


Project Mariner West
Project Mariner West


Project Mariner West is a pipeline project to deliver ethane from the liquid-rich Marcellus Shale processing and fractionation areas in Western Pennsylvania to the Sarnia, Ontario petrochemical market. The project is anticipated to have an initial capacity to transport up to 50,000 barrels per day of ethane and can be scaled to support higher volumes as needed. Mariner West commenced operations in Q4 2013.



Project Mariner South


Mariner South Pipeline is a pipeline project to transport export grade propane and butane from Lone Star’s storage and fractionation complex in Mont Belvieu, Texas to Sunoco Logistics’ terminal in Nederland, Texas. In addition to export grade propane and butane, the pipeline will be available for other natural gas liquids and petroleum products depending on shipper interest. The pipeline is anticipated to have an initial capacity to transport approximately 200,000 barrels per day and can be scaled to support higher volumes as needed. The pipeline is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2015.
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Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. announced Thursday that it will build an enormous, $2.5 billion pipeline project that will quadruple the volume of Marcellus Shale natural gas liquids moving through the Philadelphia area.

The Mariner East 2 project, the second phase of a plan to move materials like propane, butane, and ethane from Appalachian shale-gas fields, would dramatically expand industrial activity at the company's Marcus Hook Industrial Complex.

Sunoco Logistics said it would build a pipeline at least 16 inches in diameter to follow the route of its first Mariner East project, an 83-year-old fuel pipeline crossing Pennsylvania that the company is repurposing to carry liquids to Marcus Hook.

Industry and political leaders have rallied behind the Mariner East projects as a way to closely tie Philadelphia to the Marcellus Shale region, which now accounts for nearly a quarter of the nation's natural gas production.


The mad rush to replace aged, aging and defective pipelines. Too little can be done for densely populated areas of New Jersey, New York and other states?



The mad rush to replace aged, aging and defective pipelines.  Too little can be done for densely populated areas of New Jersey, New York and other states?


The appraisal of the structural capacity and serviceability of a pipeline past its design life presents a challenge to many pipeline owners and operators. While there are many issues that can affect these pipelines, there are also many techniques that can be used to overcome these challenges. It is important that those within the pipeline industry share their knowledge and experiences with aged, ageing or vintage pipelines.
What are the issues?
In particular, pre-1970 liquid and gas pipelines present a mix of potential problems such as coating deterioration, external/internal corrosion, stress-corrosion cracking, random mechanical damage (dents and gouges), fatigue loading (liquid pipelines), pipe weld quality and, although rare, axial overloading (ground movements). Despite the industry’s good safety record, it should be emphasised that ‘ageing’ or ‘vintage’ pipelines were constructed using simple consensus design codes.
The changing legislative requirements, the change in population density near the pipeline, and the prevention of unstable fracture propagation (in case crack-arrest capability was not specified at the time of construction) are other issues to be accounted for.  Consequently, the assessment of the condition of ageing pipelines involves all aspects of temporary pipeline engineering.


What can be done?
Several well-established methods using a deterministic or probabilistic approach can be applied to assess reported defects/anomalies. Alternatively, numerical models based on finite-element analyses (FEA) can also be used. The deterministic or ‘worst-case’ approach can produce overly conservative predictions, causing undue repairs or requiring operational conditions lower than those for which the pipeline was designed. With the probabilistic approach, more-precise predictions are obtained. The predictions based on numerical models are only as good as the reliability of the input data and assumptions on which the calculations are based. This issue can be overcome if the assessment is supplemented with experimental evidence to validate their use.
However, the uncertainty and the scatter of the input parameters and the inherent conservatism of the predictions can be difficult to determine or estimate. For example, the tensile and toughness properties of many old pipelines are either not available or poorly documented, and if available, retrieval of relevant data from handwritten material certifications and construction records might be difficult.
Consequently, to obtain safe predictions, a representative material property database from which reliable input data can be derived is needed. Defect-sizing accuracy (ILI data), the defect-interaction criteria used, and the assessment level or sophistication of the method, have equally a direct effect on the calculations. Perhaps of greater significance is that errors in the prediction can be made if unqualified persons conduct the assessment. Such errors can erode the safety margin. This implies that technical experience and knowledge of data management are needed to generate safe solutions.


Depending on the available information, the standard assessment methods give safe but different answers. For critical applications, the interaction between the uncertainties can directly be simulated by full-scale (pressure and or fatigue) testing. Experience shows that this option allows reduction of the level of conservatism and establishment of a cost-effective trade-off between the desired operating conditions, inspection capabilities, and inspection frequency.
The critical issues faced by the pipeline industry
  • ILI and defect-sizing accuracy
  • Material properties and test requirements
  • Code developments: vintage vs new codes
  • Girth welds: inspection and assessment
  • Crack-arrest capabilities
  • Fatigue testing
  • Routing issues, third-party damage
  • Coating properties, cathodic protection, corrosion
  • Data management
  • Risk management.