Independent Guestatorial: Diamond Pipeline 2.0

Black touch Red, friend of Fred, Red touch Yellow, harmful D-bag

Some snakes are deadly, some are safe. There are two ways to build a pipeline connecting two points, the Diamond way, and the safe way.

Snakes and Pipelines

Many people think pipelines are seamless, stainless cylindrical solid tubes with uniform wall thickness and friction-free walls. Safer than trucks or oil trains, they say. These analogies are flawed. Pipelines are transmission lines, built by welding 40-ft. pipes, outdoors, by a crew of welders with various skill levels on uneven terrain, tunneling under riverbeds. Oil pipelines transport corrosive fluids at high pressure and turbulent flow. A 440-mile long pipeline uses 60,000 pipes and 60,000 welds. Microscopic cracks on any weld or pipe are opportunities for leaks and spills. Pipelines are complex mechanical systems with pump stations and valve stations, managed from a remote control center.

Design for safety

Honest companies provide safe quality products and services. Safety culture is created by top company executives based on a strict code of conduct. To create and maintain a safety culture, the code is known by everyone and used daily in all decisions. No exceptions to the rules. Everyone is empowered to “shut down the line whenever a problem is found.” Moral investors and banks choose safe companies to protect the environment and public health. On the long run, these are wise investment decisions, made by smart visionary people, with a conscience and concern for others.

Honest companies use safety as the overriding design principle to compare competing designs. Safe designers seek public input, using all available information from government sources and local experts. To avoid surprises, the multidisciplinary design team takes the necessary time to walk and study alternative routes.

High integrity pipelines

Safe designs are low-cost lifecycle designs, easy to build on a safe route avoiding hazardous areas. Pipeline projects using Design for Safety methodology get done in half-the-time with no incidents. Surprisingly, safe designs are also low cost, with no rework, re-routing, or spills. Safe designs are smart sustainable designs, with high integrity and no spills.

            A thorough assessment of the proposed right-of-way and its surrounding natural environment will be done to identify the unique features that must be protected throughout the life of the pipeline. Arkansas geology and geography are surprisingly diverse. Limestone and karst are common features of Arkansas geology. Seismic information on the New Madrid Fault will be included in the design of the route, with information from Missouri experts.

Diamond Pipeline 2.0

This is a new, safe version of the deadly Plains All-American snake. It is designed to carry sweet crude oil. Shale crude or tar sands diluted bitumen will not be allowed on the pipeline.

1. A full Environmental Impact Study will be conducted by third party experts.
2. Seamless premium high pressure, 3-ft diameter pipes will be used.
3. The line will transport 100,000 million barrels per day.
4. Pipe welding will be done by certified welders with 100 percent radiographic weld inspection.
5. Preventive maintenance will be used to replace components before they break. Planned downtime will be scheduled to conduct full inspections and repairs.
6. Complete design documentation will be kept by the Arkansas Attorney General and made available to the public.
7. Daily information on the performance of the line will be available online.

Diamond does not have the right to threaten our public health

Greed and ignorance are at the root of Plains All-American unnecessary abusive conduct. Having the power of eminent domain, why would they hide under the cover of two Delaware corporate entities and use secrecy, deception, and force to take private property without having an approved route? If Plains ignores Diamond 2.0, we will build it and share the profits.

How you can help?

The U.S. Arkansas Congressional Delegation has the power to intervene, but they won’t unless we demand action. They opposed an electric transmission line on a similar route. Please call them today. I will send copies of Diamond Pipeline 2.0. They will be waiting for your call and your vote.

Dr. Luis Contreras