crude-by-rail: design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · shale blog,...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
CRUDE-BY-RAIL:DesignissuesAuthors:C.BartSullivanEE,AmirFirouzCE,SEArticle1:AnOverviewoftheCrude-by-RailprojectPreface:
AccordingtotheproposedValerocrude-by-railproject,100railcarsadayofBakkencrudeoilwillbedeliveredtotheBeniciaValerorefineryeveryday,365daysayear.AseachrailcarofBakkencrudeoilhasbeenshowntohavetheexplosivepoweroftwomillionsticksofdynamite,1webelievethatcitizensofBeniciashouldbeawareofandunderstandtherisksassociatedwiththeprojectasonlyonecrudebyrailaccidentinBenicia,orelsewhereassociatedwiththisproject,willnegativelyimpactBenicia,forever.Publicinformation:
AstheproposedValerocrude-by-railproject,ifimplemented,willtouchandimpactmanyliveshereinBeniciaandbeyond,wehavedecidedtowriteaseriesofarticlesaspublicinformationtohelpthepublicunderstandtherisksassociatedwiththecurrentengineeringdesignoftheBakkencrudebyrailoiloffloadingfacilityandstorage.ThisfirstarticleisageneraloverviewoftheValerocrudebyrailprojectcoveringgeneralrisksanddesignconcernsthatwillbeviewedinmoredepthinlaterarticles.2Keypoints:
DuetoBakkencrudebeingamorevolatilecompoundthanregularcrudeoil,thetransportationandstorageofBakkencrudehasspeciallogisticalconsiderationsandshouldbetreateddifferentlythanregularcrude.TheBakkenrailcarswillbepositionedwithinafewfeetoflocalbusinesses.Localbusinessesandpublicareasarelocatedwithintheblastzoneoftherailcars.MillionsofgallonsofBakkencrudewillbestoredinexistingtanks,whicharespacedveryclosetogetherandarelocatedwithinafewhundredfeetofBeniciaresidents,andinrelativelycloseproximitytoRobertSempleElementarySchool.
Bakkencrudeoilisaboutasexplosiveasgasoline:
Bakkencrudeoil(Bakkencrude)comesfromtheBakkenformation,whichisoneofthelargestcontiguousdepositsofoilandnaturalgasintheUnitedStates.TheBakkenformationisaninterbeddedsequenceofblackshale,siltstoneandsandstonethatunderlieslargeareasofnorthwesternNorthDakota,northeasternMontana,southernSaskatchewanandsouthwesternManitoba.3Duetothisrockstructure,Bakkencontainsaconsiderableamountofvolatilegases,whichmake1Bombtrains–thescariestthreatyoudidn’tknowabout(retrieved9/17/16fromhttp://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/May-2016/Bomb-Trains/)2Mostoftheinformationforthisarticlemaybefoundathttp://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/index.asp?SEC=B7EDC93A-FFF0-4A14-9B1A-1C8563BC256A.3Bakkenformation:News,Map,videosandinformationsources(retrieved9/17/2016fromhttp://geology.com/articles/bakken-formation.shtml)
![Page 2: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Bakkencrudeaboutasflammableandexplosiveasgasoline.4Thissimplymeansthatunlikeregularcrudeoil,forsafetyBakkenshouldbetransportedandstoredinmannersimilartootherhighlyflammableliquidssuchasgasoline.
AnaerialviewoftheproposedValerocrudebyrailproject:Figure1illustratesanoverviewoftheproposedcrude-by-railoffloadingandstoragelocations.5Asisillustratedinfigure1,theproposedoffloadinglocationoftherailcarscontainingtheBakkencrudewouldbelocatedadjacenttotheValeropropertylineparalleltoEastChannelroad.TheValerorefinerypropertylineisseparatedfromEastChannelroadbySulfurSpringsCreek,whichisasmallcreek.SulfurSpringsCreekisnotabufferzonebutisratherawildlifehabitatthatisaccessibletothepublicandisusedbypeopleforrecreationalandeducationalpurposes.Asillustratedintheupperrightcorneroffigure1,whentherailcarsarrive,theywouldbepositionedinalineparalleltoEastChannelroadinalocationafewfeetadjacenttotheValeropropertyfenceline,andpositionedwithinafewfeetofSulfurSpringsCreek,EastChannelroad,andexistingparkinglotsandtheirassociatedbusinessesthatfrontEastChannelroad.Asalsoillustratedinfigure1,theoffloadedBakkencrudewouldbepipedtoexistingcrudestoragetankfarmlocatedasshowninthelowerrightcorneroffigure1.Thetankfarmcontainscrudestoragetanksthatappeartobebetween100and220feetacross,andarecapableofstoringseveralmillionsofgallonsofBakkencrude.Asshown,theproposedBakkencrudetankfarmislocatedwithinafewhundredfeetfromBeniciahomes.
Moreover,areviewoffigure1showsthatthereisabufferzoneofundevelopedland(shownaslightgreenlinesforcolorandlightgrayforblackandwhite)onthewestandsouthsidesoftherefinery(exceptforthetankfarmonthesouth-eastcorner).TheproposedlocationsforthevolatileBakkencrudetobeshipped,offloaded,stored,andprocessedonthesitearelocatedonthesidesofValerorefinerywiththeleastbufferdistancetoadjacentnon-Valerobusinesses,onthenorthside(alongtheEastChannelroad)andthesouth-easttankfarmextension.Becauseofthis,thedesignseemstobeastepbackwardsintermsoflanduseplanning,attheexpenseofthesafetyofBeniciacitizensandlocalbusiness.
4WhyBakkenOilExplodes.(retrieved9/17/16fromhttp://www.sightline.org/2014/01/21/why-bakken-oil-explodes)“ThePHMSAfindingswerecorroboratedbytheindustry-orientedBakkenShaleblog,callingit“flammablelikegasoline.”The“flashpoint”—thelowesttemperatureatwhichignitioncanoccur—islowerforBakkenoilthanforlowergradecrudeoils,whichmeansthatBakkencrudeisparticularlyflammable.Thepostalsowarnsthatwhenflammablegasesaredissolvedinoil,theoilshouldbe“degasified”beforetransportation.”5Nov.2013ValeroAp.,Figure2-2
![Page 3: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Figure1.
![Page 4: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
TheBakkencrudeoffloadingfacilityproposalpositionsrailcarsveryclosetootheronsiteexplosivefuelsourcesandoffsitelocalbusinesses:Figures2A-C,illustratethelocationandgeneraldesignoftheproposedBakkencrudeoffloadingfacility.Figure2AshowsanaerialviewofValero’sproposedBakkencrudeoffloadingfacility,6figure2Bshowstheplanviewoftheproposedfacility,andfigure2CshowsanaerialviewoftheproposedfacilityanditsproximitytoBeniciabusinesses,suchasConco,Praxair,Insightglass,andotherbusinesses.Asillustratedinfigures2A-2C,therailcarsdeliveringtheBakkencrudewouldbepositionedwithinabout200feetoftheseandotherlocalbusinessesthatfrontEastChannelroad.
Figure2A
6Valerocrudebyrailprojectplans(retrieved9/17/16fromhttp://www.ci.benicia.ca.us/vertical/sites/%7BF991A639-AAED-4E1A-9735-86EA195E2C8D%7D/uploads/Project_Plans_ONLINE_VERSION.pdf)
![Page 5: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Figure2B
![Page 6: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Figure2C
![Page 7: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
ThedistancebetweenthelocalbusinessandtherailcarsiscriticallycloseconsideringthepotentialpowerofaBakkencruderailcarexplosion:
EachrailcarbeingusedtodeliverBakkencrudeisdesignedtoholdabout34,000gallonsofcrudeoil.7Duetotheirshapeandconstruction,railcarscanexplodeinprettymuchanydirection,soitisgoodtolookatthecasewherethecarexplodeslikeabomb,radially.Figure3showsamappingofradiantheatfromarailcarexplosion.8EachdottedcirclerepresentsthethermalenergythatwouldbeproducedfromanexplosionofjustoneoftherailcarsholdingBakkencrude.
Figure3alsoshowsthatSulfurSpringsCreek,EastChannelroad,andbusinessesfrontingEastChannelroadarewithintheblastradiuses(blastzones),whichcouldleadtoseriousinjuryordeathforpeoplelocatedinandaroundthosebusinesses,adultsandchildrenenjoyingSulfurSpringsCreek,andpeopletravelingalongEastChannelroadadjacenttotherailcars.Forexample,expertPhyllisFoxstatesinherreporttothecityofBenicia,that“….basedonthisanalysis,individualsalongEastChannelRoadandIndustrialWaywithinthethermalradiation5and10kW/m2circleswouldsufferseriousinjuriesandfatalities….”9
Inaddition,becauseofthecloseproximity,theadjacentonsitestoragetanks,railcars,andotherfacilitiesarewithintheblastzones.Forexample,figures2A-Cand3showthatcrudestoragetanks1739,1720,1716,1718,and1719arewithintheblastzones.Becauseofthecloseproximitybetweentherailcarsandthetanks,ablastfromarailcarfilledwithBakkencrudewouldlikelydamageand/orignitethefuelinatleastoneofthosetankswhichcouldleadtocatastrophicchainreactiononsiteexplosionswhichwouldlikelyextendoutsidetheValeropropertyline.
7DOT-111tankcar(retrieved9/17/16fromhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOT-111_tank_car)8Figure7A.CommentsonValero’sAppealofPlanningCommission’sDenialofValeroCrude-by-RailProjectbyDr.PhyllisFox,Ph.D.,PE,April4,2016.9CommentsonValero’sAppealofPlanningCommission’sDenialofValeroCrude-by-RailProjectbyDr.PhyllisFox,Ph.D.,PE,April4,2016.Page31.
![Page 8: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Figure3
![Page 9: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Thecurrentproposeddesigndoesnotconsidervulnerabilitytoexternalattacks:
Unfortunately,duetotoday’sterroristactivities,terrorismandactsbyindividualsonsocietymustbeconsideredwhendesigningaprojectthatifattackedcouldleadtosignificantinjuryordeathofcitizens.Here,asillustratedinfigures2A-2C,thelocationoftheproposedfacilityandpositionofoffloadingrailcarsisdirectlyadjacenttoapublicstreet,EastChannelroad.Assuch,duetotherelativelyfragileconstructionoftherailcarsandtheirexplosivepowerwhenloadedwithBakkencrude,therailcarsarevulnerableandeasytargetstoattackfrompersonspositionedoutsidetherefinery.Forexample,itwouldbeeasyforapersontopositionhimselforherselfonEastChannelroadandfireaweaponatoneormoreoftherailcars.PleasenotethataconsequenceofthisaddedvulnerabilitywouldlikelyincludecountermeasurestorestrictaccesstoareasadjacenttotheoffloadingfacilitytherebyerodingcivillibertiesofBeniciabusinessesandresidentstoaccesspublicandprivateareasofthecity.DuetothechangefromregularcrudetoBakkencrude,theBakkenStoragetanksarespacedveryclosetogetherandtooclosetothepublicforpublicsafety:Figure4providesacloseraerialviewoftheBakkencrudestoragetanks.Thestoragetanksrangefromabout100feettoabout220feetindiameterandarespacedabout200feetapart.Thesetankswereoriginallydesignedandspacedtoholdregularcrudeoil.DuetothechangeinoilfromregularcrudeoiltomuchmorevolatileBakkencrude,thesestoragetanksdonotseemtobespacedfarenoughaparttomitigatetheeffectsofaBakkencrudeexplosion.Forexample,accordingtoareportfrom“WorldAcademyofScience,EngineeringandTechnology”tomitigatetheeffectsofanexplosionthesaferecommendeddistancebetweentanksholdinggasolineisbetween181metersto904meters(594feetto2,966feet).10Further, one of the accident scenarios mentioned in the environmental impact report (EIR), a thermal tear, could result in injuries and fatalities at the nearest residence at Lansing Circle, approximately 2,000 feet northwest of the northern end of the Project site. An accident at Tanks S-1701 to S-1708, which would store the imported crude oil, could additionally result in injuries and fatalities in the Hillcrest neighborhood, about 1,000 feet from the nearest residence on Hillcrest Avenue.11 These accident scenarios should be considered.
Whattodonow:
IfyouareconcernedaboutValero’scrude-by-railproject,pleasecontacttheBeniciacitycouncilmemberstovoiceyourconcern.ThecontactinformationforthecityofBeniciacitycouncilmaybefoundathttp://www.ci.benicia.ca.us.
10WorldAcademyofScience,EngineeringandTechnologyInternationalJournalofChemical,Molecular,Nuclear,MaterialsandMetallurgicalEngineeringVol:8,No:2,201411CommentsonValero’sAppealofPlanningCommission’sDenialofValeroCrude-by-RailProjectbyDr.PhyllisFox,Ph.D.,PE,April4,2016.Page27.
![Page 10: CRUDE-BY-RAIL: Design issuesbeniciaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/... · Shale blog, calling it “flammable like gasoline.” The “flash point”—the lowest temperature](https://reader033.vdocuments.mx/reader033/viewer/2022060903/609f898db40b944508047968/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Figure4