By now, I’m sure you already know that pipelines have a bad reputation when it comes to the environment. Whether it’s with the pipeline company or the pipeline itself, people are suggesting that it won’t do any good for the environment.
But let’s set the record straight, some of the things you know about the environment and pipelines isn’t completely true.
That’s what we’ll talk about in this article, the common misconceptions about how pipelines affect the environment.
The pipeline industry doesn’t care about the environment
Most of the time, people think of companies as composed of “heartless” businessmen, but that’s not true at all. It’s not like in the movies; pipeline companies are actually working to reduce the emissions from their operations.
However, they need to make sure that the energy delivered to people in cities is still sufficient. That’s why their efforts to be environmental-friendly is limited.
Pipeline operators don’t care about the wildlife, fish, and vegetation
It’s said that pipeline operators will only do their job, nothing less and nothing more. That means there’s no need to consider the wildlife, fish, and vegetation during the construction process.
In reality, what they’re actually doing is in contrast with what many believe. Pipeline companies have a planned route where they identify, the wildlife and vegetation, protects them throughout the construction process, then restore the area affected.
There’s a high chance of pipeline spills
It might be difficult to believe this, since it’s one of the most common misconceptions, but pipeline spills aren’t as likely to happen as you think. Pipeline spills are actually rare.
To assure you of this, more or less 99% of the transported crude oil moved through pipelines was moved safely. No spills. No incidents.
Additionally, the safety of the pipelines of each company varies. Some might even have more than 99% of transport success. And pipeline oil spills are getting less and less likely to happen over the years.
Environmental damage from pipeline spills is inevitable
While this isn’t entirely true, it’s not entirely false either. Pipeline spills might be rare, but it is inevitable. However, environmental damage isn’t always the result.
Pipeline companies are working to improve their technologies so that damage in the environment will be minimized. Other than the damage, they are also improving their equipment to achieve zero incidents.
It’s not only the technology, though. Companies are also improving and adjusting their system of doing things so that pipeline spills are minimized.
Pipeline companies are in contrast with renewable energy development
Despite what everyone says, pipeline companies are in favor of the idea of developing a more sustainable and renewable energy. In fact, the pipeline companies themselves are upgrading their technologies to improve renewability of energy.
However, since they won’t be needed if demand of energy sources (oil and gas) is removed, they still recognize that the world will still need energy sources in the future.
Technologies of pipeline companies are for profit only
As previously mentioned, pipeline companies are improving their technology in order to help, or rather, minimize the damage they do to the environment.
And that concludes our list of misconceptions. While a lot of people believe that pipeline companies are the bad guys, this is not the case at all, as you can see on this list. They are working at finding ways to be more environmentally friendly, just like the rest of us.