There are a number of key issues that are facing the natural gas industry.
Especially natural gas utilities that operate distribution systems.
The number one concern is corrosion and
the need to upgrade the aging gas delivery system.
That means eliminating cast iron and
unprotected steel pipes from millions of miles of natural gas distribution systems.
They have also been calls to reduce
methane emissions and implement better leak detection at facilities.
The latter is especially important since
the Aliso Canyon natural gas facility methane leak in California,
that made many people ill. Congress has passed new laws and PHMSA is developing
new regulations and 24-hour monitoring of some natural gas facilities like Aliso Canyon.
The industry is also being asked to use better tools
to mitigate the risks of incidences and fatalities.
All of these request and challenges are growing,
as the abundance of low cost natural gas produces economic benefits across the country.
Many states especially those shown on the map,
have accelerated infrastructure replacement programs for
natural gas utilities to replace their cast iron pipes.
Corrosion is the major factor involved,
and can occur on the exterior of a pipe due to the loss of its protective coating,
manufacturing defects, and the lowest of cathodic protection.
It can also occur as pitting corrosion or
general corrosion which can cause the pipeline to fail over time.
Internal corrosion occurs when corrosive substances are transported through pipelines.
Externally, corrosion occurs from moist soil or groundwater.
About 8,000 families had to be evacuated from the suburban,
Los Angeles when the Aliso Canyon gas storage facility leak methane.
Because methane cannot be seen with the naked eye or smelled,
the facility leaked for months.
Faulty weld repairs by pacific gas and electric on
a natural gas distribution line killed
eight people and injured 60 in San Bruno, California.
An investigation found that the company
had actually appropriated the money for the repairs,
but instead compensated top management.
In 2015, New York City's east village experienced a gas explosion.
The explosion was caused by an illegal tap into a gas main,
which caused an explosion that killed two people and injured 19.
The fire completely destroyed three adjacent buildings.