Kinder Morgan Energy Partners

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  2. Companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange
  3. Natural gas companies of the United States
  4. Oil companies of the United States
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  6. Companies established in 1997
  7. Companies based in Houston, Texas
  8. Oil pipeline companies


Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP (NYSE: KMP) (KMEP) is a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, Inc. which owns or operates petroleum product, natural gas, and carbon dioxide pipelines, related storage facilities, terminals, power plants and retail natural gas in the United States and Canada. KMEP is a Master Limited Partnership.

The company, headquartered in Houston, Texas, was co-founded by Richard Kinder and William Morgan. The company began in 1997 when Kinder and Morgan purchased the liquid pipeline assets of Enron, and now employs many former Enron employees, including former Enron whistleblower Jordan Mintz.[1]

Regulatory oversight

The majority of its pipelines fall under the regulatory oversight of the U.S. Department of Transportation. The company asserts that it is proud of its safety record and follows many regulations and procedures to monitor and ensure the integrity of its pipelines, despite involvement in numerous accidents as outlined below. Interstate natural gas pipelines are subject to the rate and facility regulation of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission under the Natural Gas Act.

Facilities

  • Calnev Pipeline
  • Central Florida Pipeline
  • Cypress Pipeline System
  • Plantation Pipe Line
  • Portland Airport Pipeline
  • Rockies Express-West Pipeline

Accidents

Pipelines operated by this company have been involved in several incidents in the United States.[2] Most of the incidents were caused by equipment hitting the pipeline.

Suisun Marsh diesel spill

On April 28, 2004, a petroleum pipeline owned and operated by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners ruptured, spilling an estimated 1,500 barrels (240 m²) of diesel fuel into marshes adjacent to Suisun Bay[3] [4].

Walnut Creek gasoline fire

File:WalCrkKMFire.jpg
Pipeline fire flames
File:WalCrkKMFireZ.jpg
Pipeline fire wide angle

On November 9, 2004 in Walnut Creek, California, a petroleum pipeline carrying gasoline to San Jose owned and operated by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners (KMEP) was struck by a backhoe used by Mountain Cascade Inc. (MC), a contractor operating in the construction of a water pipeline for the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD). A massive gasoline spill was subsequently ignited, likely by the unaware welders of subcontractor Matamoros Welding[5] working inside the steel water pipe, resulting in an explosive fireball that caused the deaths, by burns, of four workers and one supervisor and the severe injury of four others. Several nearby homes were ignited and one was partially destroyed. The fire burned for several hours before being brought under control by firefighters from departments throughout the central Contra Costa County region. CalOSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) cited KMGP Services Company (a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan) for failure to accurately stake-out the pipeline location[6]. On Wednesday, July 7, 2005, the California State Fire Marshal assessed a fine of $500,000 upon KMGP, the largest ever levied within the state [7][8] [9].

On September 22, 2007 KMGP was convicted on six felony charges related to the Walnut Creek Explosion. They were fined $15 Million in connection with the case.[10] [11][12]. Over $90 Million Dollars in legal settlements were paid to the various victims of the explosion [13].

Burnaby crude oil spill

On July 24, 2007, a crude oil pipeline owned and operated by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners was ruptured by an excavator digging a storm sewer trench, spraying 234,000 litres of crude oil into the residential neighborhood and the ocean near Inlet Drive in Burnaby, British Columbia.[14][15]. The crude oil sprayed 11 houses on Inlet Drive and caused an evacuation of the area, forcing 250 residents from their homes.[16] Approximately 70,000 litres of the oil flowed into Burrard Inlet, the resulting cleanup costing more than $15 million. The cleanup operation ultimately recovered 210,000 litres of oil from the Inlet and coastline.[14][17]

The Transportation Safety Board released a report on the incident in 2009 which concluded that the pipe, which was 610 mm in diameter, was struck and punctured by a contractor’s excavator bucket during excavation of a trench for a new storm sewer line along Inlet Drive in Burnaby.[17] On October 3, 2011 three companies—two contractors and Kinder Morgan—each entered guilty pleas to a 21-count indictment in Provincial Court. The Crown sought a sentence of a $1,000 fine and a $149,000 contribution to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, which works to protect B.C.'s fish, wildlife and habitats. Kinder Morgan was also asked to contribute $100,000 to an educational and training program.[18]

Burnaby Mountain oil spill

On May 6, 2009, a contractor discovered that oil was leaking from one of the tanks Kinder Morgan's Burnaby Mountain terminal. In total, almost 200,000 litres of crude oil were spilled. Fire and HazMat teams were called to the scene and contained the spill.[19]

Abbotsford oil spill

On January 24, 2012 an oil spill was discovered at Kinder Morgan's Sumas terminal in Abbotsford. Local residents began reporting a strong gas-like smell coming from the area as early as 4:30 a.m. The spill was reported to be limited to a "containment area." [20]

References

  1. ↑ Kinder To Buy Company He Co-Founded
  2. ↑ The Tyee (August 23, 2005). Kinder Morgan Marked by Spills
  3. ↑ Breaking News
  4. ↑ San Francisco Bay Watershed
  5. ↑ SFGate 11/11/04
  6. ↑ Officials Dole Out Fines In Fatal Pipeline Explosion
  7. ↑ Walnut Creek Explosion: Cal/OSHA Issues Multi-Employer Citation
  8. ↑ State Of California, Notice Of Violation
  9. ↑ Marketwatch 4/10/06
  10. ↑ Boxer & Gerson
  11. ↑ SFGate 9/22/07
  12. ↑ Walnut Creek Gas Explosion Pipeline Case
  13. ↑ Victims Have Rights in the San Bruno Explosion
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 British Columbia Ministry of Environment. Burnaby Oil Spill. Retrieved on: 2012-04-23.
  15. ↑ Vancouver Sun (July 25, 2007). Huge Burnaby Oil Spill. Retrieved on: April 23, 2012.
  16. ↑ CBC News ( July 24, 2007). Cleanup continues on B.C. oil spill. Retrieved on: April 23, 2012.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 CBC News (March 18, 2009). Transportation Safety Board releases report on Burnaby oil spill.
  18. ↑ CBC News (October 3, 2011). 3 Companies plead guilty to Burnaby oil spill.
  19. ↑ Darcy Wintonyk (May 7, 2009). Major oil spill at Kinder Morgan B.C. facility. CTV News.
  20. ↑ Andrea Woo (April 3, 2012). Oil spill at Abbotsford tank farm raises concerns over pipeline expansion. Vancouver Sun. Retrieved on: 2012-04-23.

External links

Kinder Morgan information

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