Pipeline Safety Info > Pipeline Safety Info > Local Distribution Systems (LDC)
Pipeline Industry Overview
According to National Transportation Safety Board statistics pipelines are the safest and most efficient means of transporting natural gas and petroleum products, which are used to supply roughly two-thirds of the energy we use. These pipelines transport trillions of cubic feet of natural gas and hundreds of billions of ton/miles of liquid petroleum products in the United States each year.
One easy, FREE phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground pipelines and utility lines marked. When you call 811 from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your state's One-Call Center. Once your underground lines have been marked for your project, you will know the approximate location of your pipelines and utility lines and can dig safely. More information regarding 811 can be found at www.call811.com.
How to Recognize a Pipeline Leak
 | SIGHT: Liquid pools, continuous bubbling in wet or flooded areas, an oily sheet on water surfaces, vaporous fogs and/or blowing dirt around a pipeline area. Dead or discolored plants in an otherwise healthy area of vegetation or frozen ground in warm weather are all signs of a pipeline leak. Natural gas is colorless, tasteless, and odorless, but vapor and "ground frosting" may be visible at high pressures. A natural gas leak may also be indicated by dust blowing from a hole in the ground or flames, if the leak is ignited. |
 | SOUND: Volume can range from a quiet hissing to a loud roar, depending on the size of the leak and pipeline system. |
| SMELL: An unusual smell, petroleum odor, or gaseous odor will sometimes accompany pipeline leaks. Natural gas and HVLs are colorless, tasteless, and odorless, unless commercial odorants or Mercaptan is added. Gas transmission/gas gathering pipelines are odorless, but may have a hydrocarbon smell. |
Gas piping past the customer’s gas meter are the responsibility of you or the property owner. Examples in the image below are not all-inclusive.
