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The '''Colonial Pipeline''' is a double pipeline that supplies gasoline and other refined petroleum products from the Gulf Coast to distribution points across the Eastern United States. The pipeline crosses into Alabama from Mississippi in Sumter County near Paynesville, continues west by northwest through the southern part of the [[Birmingham area]], and then crosses into Georgia from Cleburne County via [[Anniston]] and Heflin.
[[File:Colonial Pipeline logo.jpg|right|175px]]
The '''Colonial Pipeline''' is a double pipeline that supplies gasoline and other refined petroleum products from the Gulf Coast to distribution points across the Eastern United States. The primary pipeline carries 1.3 million barrels per day, or as much as 40-50% of all refined gasoline sold on the East Coast.
 
The pipeline originates in the vicinity Houston, Texas. It crosses into Alabama from Mississippi in Sumter County near Paynesville, continues west by northwest through the southern part of the [[Birmingham area]], and then crosses into Georgia from Cleburne County via [[Anniston]] and Heflin.


The pipeline is owned and operated by the Colonial Pipeline Company of Alpharetta, Georgia. It's development began in [[1962]] as a joint venture between several large petroleum companies. The ownership of the company currently consists of Koch Industries (28%), South Korea's National Pension Service / Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (23%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (17%), Royal Dutch Shell (16%), and Industry Funds Management (16%).
The pipeline is owned and operated by the Colonial Pipeline Company of Alpharetta, Georgia. It's development began in [[1962]] as a joint venture between several large petroleum companies. The ownership of the company currently consists of Koch Industries (28%), South Korea's National Pension Service / Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (23%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (17%), Royal Dutch Shell (16%), and Industry Funds Management (16%).


The pipeline was affected by two major incidents in the fall of [[2016]]. On [[September 9]] about 250,000 to 340,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from a rupture in the pipeline, triggering gas shortages in parts of the Southeast until a 500-foot by-pass was installed to restore service. On [[October 31]] a major explosion and fire took place at a point about five miles west of the earlier leak, off of [[Shelby County Highway 13]] at [[River Road]] west of [[Helena]]. The explosion occurred when a subcontractor working to drain the pipeline struck it with a trackhoe. Seven workers were injured and airlifted to [[UAB Hospital]], where one died from his wounds. The fire burned overnight, fueling a wildfire that burned about 31 acres of drought-stricken forest before it was contained with earthen dams.
==Incidents==
The pipeline was affected by two major incidents in the fall of [[2016]]. On [[September 9]] about 250,000 to 340,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from a rupture in the pipeline, triggering gas shortages in parts of the Southeast until a 500-foot by-pass was installed to restore service.
 
On [[October 31]] a major explosion and fire took place at a point about 5.5 miles west of the earlier leak, off of [[Shelby County Highway 13]] at [[River Road]] west of [[Helena]]. A crew from subcontractor [[L. E. Bell Construction]] was working to drain the pipeline in preparation for a long-term repair of the earlier leak. The explosion occurred when the crew struck the pipeline with a track hoe. Nine workers were injured, with seven airlifted to [[UAB Hospital]]. Anthony Willingham died at the site of the blast and a second worker died later of his wounds. The fire burned overnight, fueling a wildfire that burned about 31 acres of [[2016 drought|drought-stricken]] forest before it was contained with earthen dams. The repaired pipeline was returned to service early on Sunday, [[November 6]].
 
In December [[2017]] some landowners sued the pipeline for lost income from their property, alleging that the company failed to repair damage and remove pollution from the explosion. Willingham's widow named the pipeline and another contractor in a wrongful death suit she filed in [[2018]].
 
In December [[2019]] the National Transportation Safety Board issued a "Pipeline Accident Brief" that faulted the excavation crew for poor planning and non-adherence to Colonial's policies.
 
In May [[2021]] the Colonial Pipeline was targeted in a ransomware attack, suspected to have been perpetrated by a criminal organization known as "DarkSide" and believed to based in Russia. The attack forced the main pipeline to shut down. Colonial paid the ransom of 75 bitcoin (then $4.4 million), though much of that was recovered by U.S. Justice Department investigators. A $10 million reward has been offered by the U.S. State Department for information leading to the identification of DarkSide's leaders.


{{stub}}
==Route==
==Route==
===Sumter County===
* enters Alabama at Sumter County, west of Payneville
* enters Alabama at Sumter County, west of Payneville
* pump station at 11261 Sumter County Highway 20 west of {{I-59/20}} Exit 23 (Epes)
* pump station at 11261 Sumter County Highway 20 west of {{I-59/20}} Exit 23 (Epes)
Line 13: Line 25:
* crosses [[Alabama State Route 14]] southeast of {{I-59/20}} Exit 40 ([[Eutaw]])
* crosses [[Alabama State Route 14]] southeast of {{I-59/20}} Exit 40 ([[Eutaw]])
* crosses [[U.S. Highway 11]] north of [[Eutaw]] and south of [[Greenetrack]]
* crosses [[U.S. Highway 11]] north of [[Eutaw]] and south of [[Greenetrack]]
===Hale County===
* crosses [[Black Warrior River]] into [[Hale County]] between mile 288 and 289
* crosses [[Black Warrior River]] into [[Hale County]] between mile 288 and 289
* crosses [[Hale County Highway 69]] south of [[Moundville]]
* crosses [[Hale County Highway 69]] south of [[Moundville]]
===Tuscaloosa County===
* crosses into [[Tuscaloosa County]] east of [[Moundville]]
* crosses into [[Tuscaloosa County]] east of [[Moundville]]
* crosses [[U.S. Highway 82]] ([[McFarland Boulevard]]) southeast of [[Duncanville]]
* crosses [[U.S. Highway 82]] ([[McFarland Boulevard]]) southeast of [[Duncanville]]
Line 20: Line 34:
* pump station on [[Parsons Lane]] west of [[Vance Blocton Road]] south of [[Vance]]
* pump station on [[Parsons Lane]] west of [[Vance Blocton Road]] south of [[Vance]]
* crosses [[Alabama State Route 5]] north of [[Blocton]] and south of [[Woodstock]]
* crosses [[Alabama State Route 5]] north of [[Blocton]] and south of [[Woodstock]]
===Shelby County===
* crosses [[Shades Creek]] into [[Shelby County]] just above its outlet into the [[Cahaba River]]
* crosses [[Shades Creek]] into [[Shelby County]] just above its outlet into the [[Cahaba River]]
* crosses [[Honcock Creek]] just above its outlet into the [[Cahaba River]]
* crosses [[Honcock Creek]] just above its outlet into the [[Cahaba River]]
Line 37: Line 52:
* crosses [[U.S. Highway 231]] at [[Shelby County Highway 25]] and [[Spring Creek]] just north of [[Vincent]]
* crosses [[U.S. Highway 231]] at [[Shelby County Highway 25]] and [[Spring Creek]] just north of [[Vincent]]
* clips the southwest corner of [[St Clair County]] north of [[Childersburg]]
* clips the southwest corner of [[St Clair County]] north of [[Childersburg]]
===Talladega County===
* crosses the [[Coosa River]] into [[Talladega County]] just below [[Elliot Island]]
* crosses the [[Coosa River]] into [[Talladega County]] just below [[Elliot Island]]
* crosses [[Alabama State Route 235]] just north of [[Grasmere]]
* crosses [[Alabama State Route 235]] just north of [[Grasmere]]
Line 45: Line 61:
* crosses Priebes Mill road just south of [[Choccolocco Creek]] in [[Munford]]
* crosses Priebes Mill road just south of [[Choccolocco Creek]] in [[Munford]]
* crosses [[Choccolocco Creek]] southwest of [[Oxford]], near [[I-20]] mile marker 181
* crosses [[Choccolocco Creek]] southwest of [[Oxford]], near [[I-20]] mile marker 181
===Calhoun County===
* crosses into [[Calhoun County]] just south of the [[Anniston Metropolitan Airport]]
* crosses into [[Calhoun County]] just south of the [[Anniston Metropolitan Airport]]
* crosses [[I-20]] near the [[Oxford Civic Center]]
* crosses [[I-20]] near the [[Oxford Civic Center]]
* crosses [[Choccolocco Creek]] and [[U.S. Highway 431]] just south of [[I-20]] [[I-20 Exit 191|Exit 191]]
* crosses [[Choccolocco Creek]] and [[U.S. Highway 431]] just south of [[I-20]] [[I-20 Exit 191|Exit 191]]
===Cleburne County===
* crosses into [[Cleburne County]] at Highland Lakes Boulevard
* crosses into [[Cleburne County]] at Highland Lakes Boulevard
* exits the [[Talladega National Forest]] just south of [[I-20]] near mile marker 199
* exits the [[Talladega National Forest]] just south of [[I-20]] near mile marker 199
Line 61: Line 79:
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonial_Pipeline Colonial Pipeline]" (September 20, 2016) Wikipedia, accessed October 31, 2016
* "[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Colonial_Pipeline Colonial Pipeline]" (September 20, 2016) Wikipedia, accessed October 31, 2016
* Pillion, Dennis (November 1, 2016) "Alabama gasoline pipeline explosion: What we know today." {{BN}}
* Pillion, Dennis (November 1, 2016) "Alabama gasoline pipeline explosion: What we know today." {{BN}}
* Sheets, Connor (November 1, 2016) "Colonial says Alabama pipeline explosion 'related' to September gas leak." {{BN}}
* Pillion, Dennis (November 6, 2016) "Colonial Pipeline restarts 6 days after explosion." {{BN}}
* Pillion, Dennis (October 31, 2017) "One year after deadly explosion, Colonial Pipeline 'refocused' on safety." {{BN}}
* Sheets, Connor (December 17, 2017) "Landowners sue Colonial Pipeline, claim it did 'nothing' to fix land contaminated in 2016 explosion." {{BN}}
* National Transportation Safety Board (December 10, 2019) "[https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/PAB1904.pdf Pipeline Accident Brief. Gasoline Transmission Pipeline Explosion/Fire. Helena, Alabama]"
* Romero, Dennis & Reuters (May 8, 2021) "Colonial Pipeline blames ransomware for network shutdown." NBC News
* Dilanian, Ken & Kelly O'Donnel (May 9, 2021) "Russian criminal group suspected in Colonial pipeline ransomware attack." NBC News
* Thornton, William (November 5, 2021) "$10 million reward offered in Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack." {{BN}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.colpipe.com/ Colonial Pipeline Company] website
* [http://helena.colonialresponse.com/ Helena-Colonial Pipeline Response] website
* [http://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1tNmUC6--CJjGvpFmxboBUhp-D2U&hl=en_US Colonial Pipeline] route on Google Maps
* [http://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1tNmUC6--CJjGvpFmxboBUhp-D2U&hl=en_US Colonial Pipeline] route on Google Maps


[[Category:Industry]]
[[Category:Industry]]

Latest revision as of 13:15, 6 November 2021

Colonial Pipeline logo.jpg

The Colonial Pipeline is a double pipeline that supplies gasoline and other refined petroleum products from the Gulf Coast to distribution points across the Eastern United States. The primary pipeline carries 1.3 million barrels per day, or as much as 40-50% of all refined gasoline sold on the East Coast.

The pipeline originates in the vicinity Houston, Texas. It crosses into Alabama from Mississippi in Sumter County near Paynesville, continues west by northwest through the southern part of the Birmingham area, and then crosses into Georgia from Cleburne County via Anniston and Heflin.

The pipeline is owned and operated by the Colonial Pipeline Company of Alpharetta, Georgia. It's development began in 1962 as a joint venture between several large petroleum companies. The ownership of the company currently consists of Koch Industries (28%), South Korea's National Pension Service / Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (23%), Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (17%), Royal Dutch Shell (16%), and Industry Funds Management (16%).

Incidents

The pipeline was affected by two major incidents in the fall of 2016. On September 9 about 250,000 to 340,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from a rupture in the pipeline, triggering gas shortages in parts of the Southeast until a 500-foot by-pass was installed to restore service.

On October 31 a major explosion and fire took place at a point about 5.5 miles west of the earlier leak, off of Shelby County Highway 13 at River Road west of Helena. A crew from subcontractor L. E. Bell Construction was working to drain the pipeline in preparation for a long-term repair of the earlier leak. The explosion occurred when the crew struck the pipeline with a track hoe. Nine workers were injured, with seven airlifted to UAB Hospital. Anthony Willingham died at the site of the blast and a second worker died later of his wounds. The fire burned overnight, fueling a wildfire that burned about 31 acres of drought-stricken forest before it was contained with earthen dams. The repaired pipeline was returned to service early on Sunday, November 6.

In December 2017 some landowners sued the pipeline for lost income from their property, alleging that the company failed to repair damage and remove pollution from the explosion. Willingham's widow named the pipeline and another contractor in a wrongful death suit she filed in 2018.

In December 2019 the National Transportation Safety Board issued a "Pipeline Accident Brief" that faulted the excavation crew for poor planning and non-adherence to Colonial's policies.

In May 2021 the Colonial Pipeline was targeted in a ransomware attack, suspected to have been perpetrated by a criminal organization known as "DarkSide" and believed to based in Russia. The attack forced the main pipeline to shut down. Colonial paid the ransom of 75 bitcoin (then $4.4 million), though much of that was recovered by U.S. Justice Department investigators. A $10 million reward has been offered by the U.S. State Department for information leading to the identification of DarkSide's leaders.

Route

Sumter County

Hale County

Tuscaloosa County

Shelby County

Talladega County

Calhoun County

Cleburne County

  • crosses into Cleburne County at Highland Lakes Boulevard
  • exits the Talladega National Forest just south of I-20 near mile marker 199
  • pump station on Cleburne County Highway 46 just north of I-20 Exit 205
  • crosses Cleburne County Highway 66 and the Tallapoosa River just north Cleburne County Highway 408
  • crosses Cleburne County Highway 49 just north of Kemp Creek and south of Lebanon
  • crosses into Haralson County, Georgia about 1 mile north of I-20

See also

References

  • "Colonial Pipeline" (September 20, 2016) Wikipedia, accessed October 31, 2016
  • Pillion, Dennis (November 1, 2016) "Alabama gasoline pipeline explosion: What we know today." The Birmingham News
  • Sheets, Connor (November 1, 2016) "Colonial says Alabama pipeline explosion 'related' to September gas leak." The Birmingham News
  • Pillion, Dennis (November 6, 2016) "Colonial Pipeline restarts 6 days after explosion." The Birmingham News
  • Pillion, Dennis (October 31, 2017) "One year after deadly explosion, Colonial Pipeline 'refocused' on safety." The Birmingham News
  • Sheets, Connor (December 17, 2017) "Landowners sue Colonial Pipeline, claim it did 'nothing' to fix land contaminated in 2016 explosion." The Birmingham News
  • National Transportation Safety Board (December 10, 2019) "Pipeline Accident Brief. Gasoline Transmission Pipeline Explosion/Fire. Helena, Alabama"
  • Romero, Dennis & Reuters (May 8, 2021) "Colonial Pipeline blames ransomware for network shutdown." NBC News
  • Dilanian, Ken & Kelly O'Donnel (May 9, 2021) "Russian criminal group suspected in Colonial pipeline ransomware attack." NBC News
  • Thornton, William (November 5, 2021) "$10 million reward offered in Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack." The Birmingham News

External links

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