Colonial Pipeline Update

As part of our nation’s critical energy infrastructure, the 5,500-mile Colonial Pipeline system safely delivers more than 100 million gallons of refined petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, home heating oil, and fuel for the U.S. military each day.

Through our Safety Management System (SMS), we have a systematic approach to safety that is integrated throughout the company.  This SMS framework drives continuous improvement and excellence, allowing us to learn from operational events such as the August 2020 release from our pipeline outside of Huntersville, North Carolina.

Regulatory Update

Colonial has received and is reviewing a notice issued in connection with this release by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).  We will respond to the Notice of Proposed Safety Order (NOPSO) within 30 days as requested by the agency.

In accordance with our SMS practices, Colonial began seeking to implement learnings from the Huntersville incident almost immediately after it occurred.  This included identifying sections of pipe with potentially similar conditions and excavating, evaluating and in some cases enhancing those pipe segments.  Colonial also has leak detection systems in place on each of its pipelines that meet, and in some cases exceed, current regulatory requirements and continues to invest in improvements to leak detection technology.

Additionally, in November 2020, Colonial removed and replaced the impacted section of pipe from the release area to allow for additional analysis, even though this removal was not required.  Colonial sent the section to a third-party laboratory for metallurgical analysis to better understand what happened, and to apply findings to make improvements going forward. This analysis is complete and confirms the preliminary findings that a through-wall crack in the pipe wall was the source of this release.

We will continue to learn from this event and apply those lessons learned to our overall operations.

Environmental Update

From our initial response on Day One, Colonial continues environmental remediation and product recovery activities at the release site in close coordination with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and Mecklenburg County.

To date, Colonial has installed 158 wells to support the environmental remediation, including 96 monitoring and 62 recovery wells.  Additionally, Colonial has collected approximately 600 samples from water supply wells and surface waters. Petroleum constituents have not been detected in any of these samples.

Colonial and NCDEQ have also collected samples to monitor for and ensure that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which can be found in a variety of substances including some fire-suppression agents, was not used at the location.

As previously stated, the response team at the Huntersville release site used a fire suppression product containing F-500 encapsulate agent, which, according to the manufacturer, does not contain PFAS. The Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for the F-500 encapsulate used onsite can be viewed here. We continue to collaborate with NCDEQ in ongoing reviews of data collected during environmental testing.

Colonial is committed to protecting public safety, restoring the natural environment, and meeting or exceeding all regulatory requirements. We also remain committed to regaining the trust of our neighbors who have been affected by this event.

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Colonial Pipeline Update

Colonial Pipeline Company continues environmental remediation and product recovery activities at the site of an August release from the pipeline outside of Huntersville, North Carolina, in close coordination with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) and Mecklenburg County.

Environmental Update

To date, Colonial has installed 140 wells to support the environmental remediation, including 84 monitoring and 56 recovery wells at the release location.  Recovery wells are used to recover product from the subsurface. Monitoring wells are used to monitor groundwater, which allows Colonial to delineate the extent of product below the surface.

Additionally, Colonial has collected 200+ samples from water supply wells, including weekly samples from water supply wells within 1,500 feet of the release point, a radius established by NCDEQ and applicable regulations. Included in the testing radius are eight water supply wells that have been sealed to close off potential pathways for additional movement of product.

Test samples are collected by third-party consultants and then submitted for analysis under chain of custody to an NCDEQ certified third-party analytical laboratory. The results are then shared with residents and with NCDEQ.  No petroleum constituents have been detected in any of those samples.

Although there is no evidence to suggest that the product has migrated from the general vicinity of the release, at the request of local officials and in consultation with NCDEQ, Colonial will conduct additional biannual testing of water supply wells that are located between 1,500 and 2,000 feet from the release point. This expanded program will involve seven additional water supply wells, two of which are not currently in use, one which is used for irrigation purposes and four that are used for potable water needs. These four potable water supply wells were sampled as part of Colonial’s initial response, and no petroleum constituents were detected in those samples. The following illustration provides an overview of Colonial’s water supply well sampling efforts:

Community Commitment

Colonial remains committed to regaining the trust of our neighbors who have been affected by this event.  In a recent tour of the area conducted for officials with Mecklenburg County, Colonial reemphasized its commitment to restoring the natural environment, and meeting or exceeding all regulatory requirements.  We will continue to work with local partners to remediate the Oehler Nature Preserve, and we will expand area partnerships as part of our ongoing Environmental Partners Program.

Colonial Pipeline appreciated the opportunity to provide an update on our recovery and remediation activities during the Huntersville Board of Commissioners’ meeting last night. We remain committed to regaining the trust of this community, where we have been operating for more than 50 years, and to keeping our neighbors informed.

Inspections and System Integrity

As we shared during the meeting, Colonial relies on a number of systems and processes to identify a potential release, including in-line inspections, operational monitoring, aerial patrols, and community awareness. The technology we use to monitor our mainline pipelines, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition or SCADA, is routinely updated. The system, which meets all regulatory requirements, underwent a full upgrade in 2018.

Federal regulations require that pipeline right-of-ways (ROW) be visually inspected 26 times per year. Colonial performs aerial patrols of our mainlines at least once a week – far exceeding federal regulation. In Huntersville, we performed an aerial patrol on August 12, just two days before the release was discovered. At the time of this patrol, there were no indications of a release – no signs of dead vegetation or product on the ROW.

Hydrogeological and Operational Data

An ongoing investigation of subsurface geological conditions has helped provide more information on what is happening underground at the release site. The location of the release is at the highest elevation point in the vicinity, which we believe resulted in a flow of released product downward and then outward from the release point, which was on the bottom of the pipe. Based on this hydrogeological information and the location of the crack on the pipe, we believe the product may have flowed into the subsurface for a period of time, measured in days or weeks, before reaching the surface.

We have also reviewed a significant amount of operational data from the days and weeks before the release was discovered. Based on that information, we believe this release occurred at a rate less than what SCADA technology can detect.

Recovery Efforts

To date, Colonial has installed 137 wells to support environmental remediation, including 81 monitoring and 56 recovery wells at the release location. As of January 30, Colonial had recovered approximately 17,615 barrels of product. We have continued to conduct weekly tests of water supply wells for homes within the 1,500-foot monitoring radius established by NCDEQ. These tests are performed by third-party consultants and submitted under chain of custody to NCDEQ certified third-party labs. The results are also shared with the NCDEQ.

No petroleum constituents have been detected in any of those tests. We have provided those homeowners with the opportunity to convert from well water to public water supplies, at no cost to the homeowners. That offer remains open to any homeowners in the 1,500-foot radius.

Additional Steps

We also recently reopened traffic along Huntersville-Concord Road and have worked with local businesses and contractors to install landscaping to enhance the visual appearance of the area and to minimize disruptions to our neighbors.

We will continue to update the public through this website as new information becomes available.

For a video of our response overview, click here.

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Colonial Pipeline Company continues environmental remediation and product recovery, site enhancement, and pipeline recoating activities at the site of an August release from the pipeline outside of Huntersville, North Carolina.  The Company is working in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Mecklenburg County, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), and Colonial remains committed to cooperating with state and federal regulators throughout this process.

To date, Colonial has installed 131 wells to support the environmental remediation, including 81 monitoring and 50 recovery wells at the release location. Recovery wells are used to recover product from the subsurface. Monitoring wells are used to monitor groundwater, which allows Colonial to delineate the extent of product below the surface. The following illustration provides an overview of Colonial’s remediation and product recovery efforts:

Recovery work will continue in support of the long-term remediation plan being developed for the site in conjunction with NCDEQ and as referenced in the Comprehensive Site Assessment (CSA) report that Colonial filed with NCDEQ on January 20, 2021.

The impacted section of pipe was removed on November 10, 2020 and sent to an independent third-party laboratory for analysis. The preliminary analysis identified a through-wall crack as the source of the release, although a final determination of the cause will be made once the technical analyses are complete.

Colonial engaged independent environmental engineering firms to support its internal team of subject matter experts in product recovery, monitoring and remediation efforts – as well as to assist in gathering and analyzing environmental and geological data – to help Colonial estimate the volume of released product.

Extensive data collected over the past five months also indicates that the product is contained to the general vicinity of the release location, and weekly water supply well sampling results have shown there has been no impact to those drinking water wells.

From the beginning of this incident, information gathered from the field has informed our analysis, and we continue to collect and analyze additional information daily. Based upon operational, environmental and geotechnical data collected to-date, Colonial estimates the volume of the release to be approximately 28,571 barrels, as reported in the CSA. This volume estimate may continue to be revised as additional data is collected and analyzed by our team of internal and third-party experts. To date, Colonial has recovered approximately 15,754 barrels of product.

Additionally, Colonial has collected 193 samples from water supply wells, including weekly samples from water supply wells within the 1,500-foot sampling radius established by NCDEQ, and no petroleum constituents have been detected in any of those samples.

Colonial is committed to protecting public safety, restoring the natural environment, and meeting or exceeding all regulatory requirements. We will continue to work with local partners to remediate Oehler Nature Preserve, and we will expand area partnerships as part of our ongoing Environmental Partners Program. We also remain committed to regaining the trust of our neighbors who have been affected by this event.

Continued response to the release that occurred will take time and we recognize that we will ultimately be judged by our actions and our work in the field. We will continue to cooperate and coordinate regularly with state and federal regulators throughout this process, while also providing transparency through updates to our response website to keep the public informed of our progress.

For a video of our response overview, click here.

Colonial Pipeline Update

Colonial Pipeline Company (Colonial) continues remediation activities at the site of an August release from the pipeline outside of Huntersville, North Carolina. This work is in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Mecklenburg County, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Operational Update

Colonial will be reducing activities onsite around the holiday (approximately December 24-27, 2020). This break is intended to minimize potential disruptions to our neighbors, and allow more of our team to rest and recognize the holiday during this period.

Recent operational work at the site has been related to completing the recoating of the new section of the Line 1 pipeline around the release site.  Beginning next week, we will also be excavating Colonial’s Line 2 to evaluate and replace the external coating on the segment of pipeline in the vicinity of the site. This work is expected to be completed within the next four to six weeks.

Environmental Update

Beginning next week, additional work will commence to clear an area that will support equipment required to install additional product recovery wells.  This work is being conducted in cooperation with the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department. Colonial is committed to working with local partners to fully remediate and restore the site.

Stakeholder Outreach

As part of our ongoing efforts to provide transparent communication, last week Colonial hosted a delegation of local and county officials for a site tour of our continuing operational and remediation activities.

In addition, we will continue to cooperate and coordinate regularly with state and federal regulators throughout this process, while also providing transparency through updates to our dedicated response website to keep the public informed of our progress.

Colonial is committed to protecting public safety, restoring the natural environment, and meeting or exceeding all required regulatory standards.

We remain committed to regaining the trust of our neighbors and will continue to work with local stakeholders in a collaborative and transparent manner.

Colonial Pipeline Update

Colonial Pipeline Company (Colonial) continues remediation activities at the site of an August release from the pipeline outside of Huntersville, North Carolina.  This work is in cooperation with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), Mecklenburg County, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA).

Environmental Update

As of November 22, 2020, Colonial had installed a total of 115 monitoring and recovery wells at the release location (68 monitoring and 47 recovery).  Recovery wells are used to collect product and groundwater from the subsurface; monitoring wells are used to measure groundwater levels to determine groundwater flow direction and to collect groundwater samples for laboratory analyses, which allows Colonial to evaluate the concentrations and extent of dissolved gasoline constituents in the subsurface.  The 68 monitoring wells include seven wells installed at deeper depths, in consultation with NCDEQ, to vertically assess any possible groundwater impacts.

Colonial and NCDEQ conduct status update meetings twice a week, and NCDEQ personnel currently visit the site on a weekly basis.  In addition, Colonial continues to gather additional environmental data and provide monthly reports to the agency.  As Colonial reported to NCDEQ in its November 30, 2020 monthly report, we recovered 8,430 barrels of product as of November 22, and recovery work will continue in support of the long-term remediation plan being developed for the site in conjunction with NCDEQ.

Extensive data collected since the release event, including sampling from the monitoring and recovery wells, indicate that the release appears to be contained within the general vicinity of the release location.  Additionally, there have been no detections of petroleum constituents in any of the weekly tests of water supply wells within the 1,500-foot sampling radius established by NCDEQ.  Likewise, bi-weekly sampling of nearby surface waters has shown no detections of petroleum constituents.

Product Volume Estimates

Colonial has engaged independent environmental engineering firms that are providing analysis and support to our internal team of subject matter experts in our product recovery, environmental monitoring and remediation efforts. These firms are also experts in modeling release events and are assisting us with gathering and analyzing site-specific environmental and geological data from the field to help determine the volume of product that was released and its distribution in the subsurface.  Determining volume in an event such as this is an intricate process that requires the detailed analysis of multiple models and data points over time.

Operational Update

In addition to our ongoing remediation work, Colonial also continues operational activities onsite.  We recently completed the removal of the impacted pipe segment for metallurgical analysis and are now conducting activities related to the recoating of the new section of pipeline and segments near the release location.  We will also be excavating Colonial’s Line 2, adjacent to Line 1, to evaluate and replace the external coating on the segment of pipeline in the vicinity of the site.  This work is expected to be completed within the next six to eight weeks.

In anticipation of additional work related to the ongoing assessment and remediation activities, we have worked with some landowners to purchase property in the area of the release site.  This will provide us with a safe workspace to support our operations and minimize inconvenience to those living in close proximity to the location.

Colonial is committed to protecting public safety, restoring the natural environment and meeting or exceeding all required regulatory standards.  We also remain committed to regaining the trust of the people in this community, who have been our neighbors for more than 50 years, and have been inconvenienced in the last few months.  We will continue to cooperate and coordinate regularly with state and federal regulators throughout this process, while also providing transparency through updates to our response website to keep the public informed of our progress.

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