Last week, residents of Marshall County, West Virginia, awoke at 4:15 a.m. to a major natural gas rupture and explosion on TransCanada’s Leach XPress pipeline on Nixon Ridge — a quickly built pipeline only half a year old.
The fire was visible for miles, local TV news reported. Police warned anyone who could see the flames to evacuate — and the Emergency Management Agency director of neighboring Ohio County said officials had received dozens of 911 calls from locals able to see the fire, which was extinguished roughly four hours later. The blast was so powerful that one resident told a local CBS affiliate it felt like a tornado was passing through.
No one was injured, and no property damage was reported, TransCananda said in a statement released last week, adding that the cause of the explosion was not yet determined.
The Leach XPress pipeline is just six months old, having been put into service on January 1, 2018.
At the time, TransCanada emphasized that it was built quickly — but safely. “Leach XPress was done in less than a year,” Scott Castleman, manager of US Gas Communications for TransCanada, said in a January statement.
“We’re looking forward to generations of safe operations,” he added. “This is truly a best-in-class pipeline and we look forward to many years of safe, reliable, and efficient operation on behalf of our customers.”
Leach XPress is the first in a series of major TransCanada pipeline construction projects — and part of a larger sprint to build out oil and gas pipelines nationwide, spurred by an urgent push to get shale gas and oil to market.
“This is our first major pipeline in our growth portfolio,” Castleman said in January. “There’s currently about 8 and a half billion dollars in pipeline projects in the works for the US and TransCanada.”
Leach XPress, a 36-inch-diameter pipeline, went into immediate heavy service after it was built. Market research firm Genscape Inc. “said in a note to clients on Thursday that the Leach XPress segment has been flowing at or just above its operational capacity through May,” Natural Gas Intelligence reported.
The 160-mile, $1.6 billion dollar pipeline project is designed to carry 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, moving it from the Marcellus and Utica shales down to the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions. Leach XPress runs from Marshall County, about 70 miles from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, into Ohio, and its gas then flows into the 12,000-mile Columbia Gas Transmission pipeline system.
Sprint to Build Pipelines
TransCanada also received US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval for two other pipelines, the company announced on January 1, the same day that Leach XPress went into service.
The company plans to spend $3.2 billion to build the 171-mile Mountaineer XPress and the smaller Gulf XPress pipeline in Appalachia and intends to have those pipelines up and running by the end of this year.
In March, FERC rejected a request to suspend construction of these projects from three environmental groups, the Allegheny Defense Project, the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and the Sierra Club, finding that their “generalized claims of environmental harm, however, do not constitute sufficient evidence of irreparable harm that would justify a stay.”
This year, pipeline companies plan to lay 14,657 miles of pipeline worldwide — roughly double the amount finished in 2017, an Oil & Gas Journal report found. Over 81 percent of those pipes will carry natural gas, the same fossil fuel in last week’s pipeline blast.
And they’re planning to do it at starkly reduced costs of $5.94 million per mile, down from $7.65 million.
Meanwhile, whistleblowers at numerous pipeline companies have raised red flags about the impacts of rushed construction — including TransCanada.
DeSmog has previously reported numerous concerns raised by former TransCanada engineer Evan Vokes about construction problems and cut corners at TransCanada’s Keystone 1 and other pipelines.
“TransCanada keeps insisting the Keystone XL pipeline will be the safest pipeline ever built despite irrefutable evidence to the contrary,” Vokes, who was fired after ringing alarm bells internally, testified at a State Department hearing in Nebraska in April 2013. “In fact they are building the southern portion of the Keystone XL to the lowest permissible standards, just as they have the Keystone 1 and the Bison Pipeline.”
Former TransCanada engineer-turned-whistleblower Evan Vokes at a TransCanada construction site in Texas.©2013 Julie Dermansky The cause of the blast last week is not yet clear.
In November, the Keystone pipeline spilled roughly 210,000 gallons of bitumin from tar sands in northeast South Dakota, a spill that came on the heels of other spills on that same line in 2016 and 2011.
Separately, in October, an accident at a TransCanada meter station in Ohio killed a maintenance worker following a leak of pressurized gas that did not ignite.
The Calgary-based company’s operations in the US are massive, especially following its acquisition of the Columbia Gas pipeline network two years ago. It operates over 56,000 miles of pipes, which can be found in virtually all of the major North American gas-producing areas.
“Once we’re done, we’ll be the only company in North America that can move a molecule of gas right from Northern Alberta through the Midwest and to the Gulf Coast and into Mexico City,” President and CEO Russell K. Girling said in a July 2017 video commemorating the acquisition. “We are now moving one in every four molecules [of gas] that crosses this continent, and we are an extremely important part of the economic fabric of Canada, Mexico, and the United States.”
“We truly are the North American natural gas transmission company,” Girling added.
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TransCanada contains West Virginia natgas pipeline blast, no injuries
Reuters Staff
(Reuters) - TransCanada Corp said it has isolated the section of Columbia Gas Transmission pipe that exploded early Thursday in Moundsville, West Virginia.
There were no employees at the site at the time of the blast around 4:15 a.m. EDT (0815 GMT) and no homes were in danger, officials from the Roberts Ridge Volunteer Fire Department told local news media.
The company said in a statement that its first priority was to protect the public and the environment.
Moundsville is located in Marshall County on the West Virginia panhandle on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the heart of the giant Marcellus and Utica natural gas shale formations.
TransCanada said the incident could impact about 1.3 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd) of gas service, according to a notice to customers using the pipeline.
One billion cubic feet is enough gas for about five million U.S. homes.
The company did not say when it expected the pipe to return to service, but said it was declaring a force majeure.
It was too soon for pipeline flow data to show any impact on the movement of gas through the area. The latest data from Thomson Reuters analysts showed West Virginia was producing about 4.8 bcfd of gas, about the same as earlier in the week.
The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) said it was investigating the cause of the incident.
Fire was reported this morning on Columbia Gas Transmission’s Leach Xpress Pipeline in Marshall County and the line has been shut down, said Darius Kirkwood, a spokesman for the agency.
The Leach XPress project, which was placed in-service on January 1, 2018, includes 160 miles (257 kilometers) of 36-inch-diameter pipeline and is capable of transporting approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day, TransCanada said earlier this year.
The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) too said it was investigating the explosion.
The 12,000-mile (19,312-kilometer) Columbia pipeline system, which TransCanada acquired in 2016, serves millions of customers from New York to the Gulf of Mexico.
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TransCanada puts Leach XPress pipeline into service
TransCanadaThe Leach Xpress pipeline during its construction back in the summer. The 160 mile line is now finished and in service
By Chris Lawrence in News
January 04, 2018
MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — A new pipeline put into service this week will carry natural gas from the Marcellus Shale plays of the northern region of West Virginia to gas markets in the southeast United States. TransCanada put its new Leach XPress pipeline into service for the first time on January 1.
“This gas will serve markets in our region as well as other markets further down the road in the southeast United States,” said Scott Castleman Manager of U.S. Gas Communications for TransCanada.
The 160 mile pipeline starts in Marshall County, West Virginia, travels across the river into Ohio, and turns south. The terminal point is near the West Virginia-Kentucky border in southeastern Ohio. The line is one of many TransCanada has in the various stages of development aimed at increasing the capacity to transport Marcellus Shale products more rapidly to market.
“This is our first major pipeline in our growth portfolio,” Castleman explained. “There’s currently about 8 and a half billion dollars in pipeline projects in the works for the U.S. and TransCanada.”
TransCanada operates the lines formerly operated by Columbia Gas in West Virginia. The Leach XPress line can transport up to 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day.
“Successful completion of Leach XPress is a prime example of TransCanada’s North American strategy of connecting prolific and growing supply basins with markets eager to access reliable, reasonably priced sources of energy,” said Russ Girling, TransCanada President and CEO. “This is truly a best-in-class pipeline and we look forward to many years of safe, reliable, and efficient operation on behalf of our customers.”
Construction of the pipeline took approximately a year and involved 5,000 employees and contractors on the massive job. Most of the project was in the state of Ohio. It was closely monitored for safety and environmental impact according to Castleman.
“Leach XPress was done in less than a year. It was done safely and with a very keen eye on environmental responsibility,” he explained. “We’re looking forward to generations of safe operations.”
The gas transmitted along the line comes out of production operations in much of West Virginia’s northern panhandle as well as surrounding areas in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
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TransCanada Pipeline Explodes in West Virginia
A newly installed TransCanada natural gas pipeline exploded early Thursday in the remote Nixon Ridge area of Marshall County in West Virginia.
No injuries were reported but flames and smoke from the blast could be seen as far as 20 miles away, residents told local media. Area police told CBS News the fire was "very large—if you can see it from your house, evacuate."
"It sounded like a freight train coming through, or a tornado, and the sky lit up bright orange, and then I got up and looked out the window and flames were shooting I don't know how far into the sky," Tina Heath-Chaplin, of Moundsville, told WPXI.
TransCanada—the same company behind the Keystone pipeline—said the explosion has been contained and an investigation is underway.
"As soon as the issue was identified, emergency response procedures were enacted and the segment of impacted pipeline was isolated. The fire was fully extinguished by approximately 8:30 a.m," the company commented Thursday.
"The cause of this issue is not yet known," TransCanada continued. "The site of the incident has been secured and we are beginning the process of working with applicable regulators to investigate, including the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration."
Robert Burrough, the director with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's Eastern Regional Office, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette the affected line is likely TransCanada's $1.6 billion, 160-mile Leach XPress pipeline, which started service in January.
Russ Girling, TransCanada president and CEO said at the line opening, "This is truly a best-in-class pipeline and we look forward to many years of safe, reliable, and efficient operation on behalf of our customers."
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Leach XPress Project Placed into Service; Mountaineer XPress, Gulf XPress Receive FERC Certificates
HOUSTON, TEXAS--(Marketwired - Jan. 2, 2018) - News Release - TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP) (NYSE:TRP) (TransCanada) today announced its Leach XPress (LXP) project was placed in-service on January 1, 2018, and that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity for its Mountaineer XPress (MXP) and Gulf XPress (GXP) projects on December 29, 2017. All three projects provide vital links between Appalachian natural gas supply and growing U.S. markets.
LXP comprises 160 miles (257 kilometres) of 36-inch-diameter pipeline, three compressor stations, and modifications to an existing compressor station. Representing an investment of approximately US$1.6 billion, the pipeline is capable of transporting approximately 1.5 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day (Bcf/d). Via an existing interconnect with TransCanada's Columbia Gulf Transmission System and its Rayne XPress (RXP) project which was placed into service last November, LXP will facilitate the delivery of up to an additional 1 Bcf/d to Southeast and Gulf Coast supply markets.
"Successful completion of Leach XPress is a prime example of TransCanada's North American strategy of connecting prolific and growing supply basins with markets eager to access reliable, reasonably priced sources of energy," said Russ Girling, TransCanada President and CEO. "This is truly a best-in-class pipeline and we look forward to many years of safe, reliable, and efficient operation on behalf of our customers."
At peak construction, LXP employed nearly 5,000 employees and contractors.
FERC's thorough review and approval of MXP and GXP follows three years of planning by TransCanada's project teams, along with over two years of outreach to communities and landowners along the projects' routes. Once remaining regulatory approvals are obtained, TransCanada plans to begin right-of-way preparation and construction activities on both projects, with an anticipated in-service date in late 2018.
"FERC's approval of Mountaineer XPress and Gulf XPress allows us to continue delivering on our commitment to create new outlets for our customers, transporting Marcellus and Utica shale gas to key markets in the U.S. and beyond," said Stanley Chapman III, TransCanada's Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Natural Gas Pipelines. "Our project teams are prepared to begin construction on both projects."
The MXP and GXP projects consist of combined infrastructure investment of US$3.2 billion. MXP will deliver approximately 2.6 Bcf/d of gas to the TCO Pool and Leach markets on the Columbia Gas Transmission System through the construction of 170-miles (274 kilometres) of 36-inch pipeline, three new compressor stations and upgrades to three existing compressor stations. GXP will transport approximately 0.8 Bcf/d to Southeast and Gulf Coast supply markets through the construction of seven new compressor stations, and upgrades to one existing compressor station, along TransCanada's existing Columbia Gulf System.
MXP and GXP are expected to create over 8,000 jobs during peak construction later this year. Both are underpinned by long-term, fixed-fee, firm transportation service agreements. They will be designed, constructed and operated with a core focus on safety and minimizing environmental impact.
TransCanada now has FERC Certificate Orders for all major Appalachian growth projects associated with the 2016 acquisition of Columbia Pipeline Group. Together, they represent a significant part of TransCanada's portfolio of complementary infrastructure assets and CAD$24 billion of near-term growth projects that is expected to underpin growth in the company's common dividend at the upper end of an eight to 10 percent range annually through 2020 and an additional eight to 10 percent in 2021.
With more than 65 years' experience, TransCanada is a leader in the responsible development and reliable operation of North American energy infrastructure including natural gas and liquids pipelines, power generation and gas storage facilities. TransCanada operates one of the largest natural gas transmission networks that extends more than 56,900 miles, tapping into virtually all major gas supply basins in North America. TransCanada is the continent's leading provider of gas storage and related services with 653 billion cubic feet of storage capacity. A large independent power producer, TransCanada currently owns or has interests in approximately 6,100 megawatts of power generation in Canada and the United States. TransCanada is also the developer and operator of one of North America's leading liquids pipeline systems that extends approximately 3,000 miles, connecting growing continental oil supplies to key markets and refineries. TransCanada's common shares trade on the Toronto and New York stock exchanges under the symbol TRP. Visit TransCanada.com to learn more, or connect with us on social media and 3BL Media.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This publication contains certain information that is forward-looking and is subject to important risks and uncertainties (such statements are usually accompanied by words such as "anticipate", "expect", "believe", "may", "will", "should", "estimate", "intend" or other similar words). Forward-looking statements in this document are intended to provide TransCanada security holders and potential investors with information regarding TransCanada and its subsidiaries, including management's assessment of TransCanada's and its subsidiaries' future plans and financial outlook. All forward-looking statements reflect TransCanada's beliefs and assumptions based on information available at the time the statements were made and as such are not guarantees of future performance. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is given as of the date it is expressed in this news release, and not to use future-oriented information or financial outlooks for anything other than their intended purpose. TransCanada undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information except as required by law. For additional information on the assumptions made, and the risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from the anticipated results, refer to the Quarterly Report to Shareholders dated November 8, 2017 and 2016 Annual Report filed under TransCanada's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov.