Safety First: From Aspiration to Reality

In 2020, a CO2 pipeline rupture near Satartia, MS (see photo to the right) impacted a 15 km segment. During the first 7 minutes (pre-control valve closure), 9,532 barrels of CO2 were released. An additional 21,873 barrels were intentionally vented afterwards. The resulting CO2 dispersion cloud caused the hospitalization of nearly 50 people and the entire town’s evacuation. The rupture occurred in a relatively rural area about 1 mile from town, yet despite this, it still caused significant harm. What if this had happened in a more densely populated area? Or in closer proximity to a vulnerable population such as a school or hospital?

Traditional mitigation techniques rely on a “detection-first” strategy. A defect must be identified before it can be fixed. A sensor has to send an alert so that a valve can be closed. In turn, both the valve and the communications equipment must be in good working order. A potential threat must not reside within a modeling blind spot so that an analyst can flag it. A controller must properly and promptly notify first responders of a release. Each of these dependencies (and many others) in the response chain introduces vulnerabilities. As a result, serious harm can still occur from a “good-condition” pipeline and a rapidly “detected” incident.

But for Envirolock, instead of detection preceding safety, safety precedes detection. NO human, mechanical, or computer actions are needed to enact Envirolock’s protections. This goes to the very heart of why TCI was founded - to keep communities and the environment safe. TCI's Envirolock containment system (ECS) empowers industry to realize their "safety first" aspirations by preventing a variety of threats and then containing whatever it cannot prevent. Geohazards, third-party strikes, corrosion, and defects are all countered effectively. Because for TCI, even a single pipeline incident is a call to do better. We invite you to join us in transforming what it means to do pipeline integrity work. Contact us today to learn how Envirolock can be used to truly achieve "Safety First" at your company.

Strategic Pipeline Protection

No matter how well a pipeline system is designed, there will always be segments that are especially critical. Perhaps the line is located in rugged terrain that is difficult to access for repairs. Or maybe the pipeline carries particularly large volumes or unique products. Whatever reason underlies their special status, these “vital” segments have a disproportionately high risk of creating supply chain bottlenecks that threaten the broader economic environment. Strategically deploying TCI's Envirolock Containment System (ECS) to safeguard these vital segments therefore protects the integrity of the system as a whole.

What makes ECS an especially compelling method for protecting strategic pipelines? The key is its unique ability to not only prevent, but capture releases as well - even explosive ruptures are completely contained. In this way, even when a pipeline is "down", it is still "up" - which is to say, ECS enables pipelines to continue to safely operate, even after an otherwise disabling leak or rupture occurs. This transforms would-be emergency shut-downs into routine repairs that can be scheduled even up to 6 months later. Relative to other options, ECS offers an unrivaled combination of strength, comprehensiveness, and self-sufficiency in a single apparatus, delivering better value at lower cost. Envirolock redefines what pipeline integrity means - a "one-and-done" solution that mitigates financial and operational pain points over the entire useful life of the pipeline.