Pipes Decommissioning and Abandonment

What occurs when a pipeline is left unfinished?

When a pipeline is permanently taken out of service and product supply to end users is halted, this is known as pipeline abandonment. The pipeline is stopped in its operation. After that, the pipeline may be either removed from the ground or left there (a practice called abandonment in place).

What steps must be taken to abandon a pipeline?

It is necessary to disconnect abandoned pipeline facilities from the active pipeline network. The pipeline needs to be completely cleared of the dangerous liquid. The pipeline must be tightly sealed at all ends.

What are the legal ramifications of abandoning pipelines?

Recent federal and state legislative and regulatory changes indicate that lawmakers are paying more attention to problems relating to the abandonment of oil, water, and power pipelines.
A bill that would change the federal Pipeline Safety Act to require pipeline inspections to certify their status each time they are classified as abandoned or transferred as part of a sale is now being considered by the U.S. House of Representatives. The disconnection, purging, and sealing of abandoned pipelines that have been left in place are just a few of the processes that regulations specify must be taken in order to formally abandon pipelines.

Pipelines that have been abandoned can pose major risks to public safety and the environment. An abandoned pipe essentially creates a void beneath the ground, which can lead to soil destabilization, subsidence, and water intrusion. This could raise the possibility of leftover fluids seeping into public spaces and the ground giving way.

It is imperative that municipalities and asset owners decommission abandoned pipes and plug them appropriately, rapidly, and safely in the interest of public safety and in compliance with regulatory obligations. 

Low-density cellular concrete grout designed to fill pipe voids of all sizes is mixed with assistance from Stable-Air. It is a flowable fill material that can swiftly and efficiently fill large pipes.