ADVICE WHEN WORKING NEAR TO BPA’S BURIED OIL PIPELINES

Buried oil pipelines

Each year we write to the landowners and tenants along our network of more than 1000km of buried oil pipelines that transport fuel cross-country and at high pressure.  This helps us ensure we have the correct contact details should we need to contact them in an emergency, and it also provides us with an opportunity to remind them of the support we offer and the best practice when operating near to the pipelines.

The buried pipelines are needed to supply fuel to distribution terminals and major airports across the country.  Transporting fuel via buried pipelines remains the most environmentally friendly way of moving fuel, however they remain susceptible to damage if works are undertaken near them without adherence to our pipeline safety guidelines.  Damage caused to the pipeline could prove not only costly but potentially fatal.

Landowners run the risk of damaging buried oil pipelines if they do not follow our advice and guidance.  Pipelines don’t always run in straight lines between marker posts and so we ask landowners to contact the team if they are unsure of a pipeline’s location. We are happy to visit site and mark out the exact location of the pipeline.

The Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 states that no person shall cause such damage to a pipeline as may give rise to a danger to persons. People are therefore asked to maintain a minimum distance of 3m from buried pipelines when installing fencing, clearing ditches or undertaking any works that may cause disruption to the ground above the pipeline.

Breaking these conditions can lead to prosecution, injury or even death. Should there be an incident, those commissioning the works (or their contractor) are responsible for any liability under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.  Damaging a buried pipeline can also cause environmental damage whether to the soil, water and the atmosphere which is likely to lead to prosecution by the Environment Agency.  The repair and subsequent clean-up costs of a pipeline incident are typically in the region of £10m.

BPA is empowered to stop all works near the pipeline if it is considered to be unsafe to the pipeline, however we recognise that works near our pipelines are often necessary and that is why our Lands Team is available to support landowners in undertaking those works safely.

Before starting any works near to pipelines, please contact BPA free 24/7 on 0800 585 387 to arrange for a free site meeting.  Always Know What’s Below before starting any works in the vicinity of buried pipelines.

/by BPA Management

WALKING THE ROUTE OF BPA’s BURIED OIL PIPELINES

Line walking with BPA

Every year, members of BPA’s land team walk along the route of BPA’s buried oil pipelines to visit landowners along key sections of the route. The team undertake a regular programme of line walking as it allows them to engage with landowners and identify any works being undertaken in the area.

By walking the pipeline network and being aware of any works being undertaken helps ensure that the pipeline network is safe, fully operational and that there are no obvious issues. It also gives landowners the opportunity to ask questions and to raise any concerns they may have.

As the pipeline crosses thousands of miles of the UK, the work is broken into manageable chunks or where specific work has been scheduled. By line walking sections of the buried oil pipelines, BPA can check and assess the pipeline’s safety, measure its depth and also chat with local landowners or tenants along the way.
The team typically seeks permission from landowners in advance of line walking, making them aware that they are available to answer any questions or concerns that the landowner may have.

Kevin Padley-Knight, Landowner Services Manager at BPA, comments; “By regularly undertaking a programme of line walking it provides an excellent opportunity to engage with landowners and for them to ask questions or flag any concerns that may have. As well as this, we are able to check for any obvious issues and ensure the pipeline’s continued safe operation.”

The team is also keen to engage with landowners and to encourage them to report any suspicious activities to the team so that they can undertake any investigations if necessary.

To find out when we will be in your area, contact the team on 0800 585 387. Please also feel free to contact the team at any time if you have any questions or concerns relating to the buried high pressure oil pipelines.

/by BPA Management

BURIED OIL PIPELINES IN CHESHIRE

Buried oil pipelines in Cheshire

Works have recently been completed that required sections of the buried oil pipelines in Cheshire to be exposed.  The pipeline’s depth of cover was measured and the works were undertaken to ensure that there was adequate cover to protect the landowner and contractors who may be operating in the pipeline’s vicinity.

As part of BPA’s regular line walking, monitoring and surveying activities, it was decided that this section of buried oil pipeline in Cheshire should be excavated so that a section of the high pressure oil pipeline could be replaced at a greater depth.

High-pressure oil and gas pipelines are laid in welded steel sections, at a nominal depth of at least one meter.  BPA’s buried pipelines carry oil at pressures of up to fifteen hundred PSI, that’s at least 50 times the pressure of an average car tyre, and can pose a risk to people or the environment if they are damaged.

To prevent against accident, contractors working near to pipelines have a legal duty of care to protect their personnel, the general public and the environment when operating in the vicinity of the pipeline.  As such anyone working within 3 meters either side of the pipeline is required to contact the pipeline operator to ensure compliance with legislation.

When contacting BPA, the team will ask for details regarding the proposed works and will support landowners by outlining all the required health and safety requirements.  Landowners or contractors who don’t inform landowners not only risk breaking the law, but could potentially be putting someone’s life at risk.

Once informed of works on the buried oil pipelines, BPA can support landowners or contractors by providing maps that show the exact location of the pipeline and help mark out its route for any activities.  There is no charge for this service and the pipeline operator will always deal with a landowner in an emergency.

Exposing the buried oil pipeline in Cheshire, clearly shows that pipelines can often be found at a nominal depth of only one metre.  It also shows that pipelines often do not run in straight lines between field markers and that landowners should contact the pipeline operator if in doubt.

If landowners or contractors have any questions regarding the pipelines that run under their land, please contact a member of the BPA’s Lands Team and they would be more than happy to assist.

/by BPA Management

Supporting UKOPA’s Pipeline Awareness Campaign

BPA supporting UKOPA

The team at BPA was delighted to be involved in supporting our colleagues from the United Kingdom Onshore Pipeline Operators Association (UKOPA) with their latest video to help raise awareness of the pipeline amongst both landowners and contractors.

UKOPA is the authoritative industry body behind the essential energy pipeline infrastructure. The UK’s 27,000km pipeline network provides the safest and most efficient means of transporting a range of hazardous fluids, and pipeline operators are constantly working to improve safety and protect the environment.  The organisation, established in 1996, has brought operators together and helped them engage more effectively with each other, as well as with regulators and other key stakeholders.

The filming took place just outside of Milton Keynes where BPA’s lands team are involved in supporting landowners, contractors and local authorities during the development of the site into a multifunctional space for schools, housing and commercial buildings.

BPA’s lands team helped supervise ground works by marking out the pipeline for contractors and also being on hand while excavation work was carried out to ensure the pipeline was protected at all times.  The works were recorded and will be shared with other landowners and contractors looking to carry our similar works.

The video aims to help prevent damage to pipelines as this can have serious consequences including: environmental damage if product was to leak into the soil, water or atmosphere; financial penalty as any repairs or subsequent clean-ups costs can run into the millions as well as potential prosecution under The Pipeline Safety Regulations 1996 – which states that no person shall cause such damage to a pipeline as may give rise to a danger to persons.

Perhaps the most important reason for contacting BPA in advance of any works near to the pipeline are the risks of injury or even death caused by damaging the pipeline.  Should there be an incident, those commissioning the works (or their contractor) are responsible for any liability under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974.  The video aims to highlight these issues amongst landowners and contractors.

BPA’s lands team is on hand to support landowners or contractors who are planning to work anywhere near our pipelines.  Please call BPA free on 0800 585 387 and we will come and locate the pipeline, provide advice and ensure your safety.

/by BPA Management

Buried Pipelines – contact the team for advice

Buried pipelines

The fine spring weather is allowing farmers to get groundwork underway during one of the busiest times of the year and while ploughing and sowing are happening at full pelt as well as regular maintenance work such as ditch clearing and fencing, farmers and landowners must always be aware of the hazards associated with damaging buried pipelines.

Many pipelines carrying highly flammable products are less than one metre from the surface and if no care is taken can be damaged by invasive farm machinery. Holing a pipeline can result in injury, death or significant environmental damage including pollution of soil, water and the atmosphere. Typical costs of repairing and cleaning up following an incident can run into the millions of pounds.

British Pipeline Agency Ltd (BPA)

BPA distributes highly flammable fuels via more than 1,000km of buried high-pressure fuel pipelines across the UK.  If you are in any doubt about the location of a pipeline beneath your land, contact BPA and we will come and locate the pipeline and give advice to ensure the safety of those working close to the line.  Our `Know what’s Below’ campaign aims to give advice and inform farmers and landowners about their responsibilities.

BPA advice:

If you’re planning on working near a pipeline, we are asking farmers, landowners or contractors to contact BPA in advance of any work being undertaken.  Please also contact BPA’s Lands Team if the line is not clearly marked and we will be happy to arrange for a free site visit to help detail the pipeline’s route.  BPA’s Lands Team is typically able to visit a site within seven days of a request.  We would also ask all landowners to inform third parties or contractors of the pipeline and the precautions that are required if working in its vicinity.

Please don’t just assume it’s ok to drill or dig near a pipeline or to clean ditches with mechanical diggers without speaking to BPA first.  Using use heavy machinery close to a pipeline, erecting fences across a pipeline or installing or repairing land drainage networks near to the pipeline requires prior notice and authorisation.

Please also be aware of any suspicious activities near to the pipeline network and contact a member of BPA’s lands team if you have concerns.  We are here and ready to help, so if you are thinking of undertaking work near to a pipeline, call BPA free on 0800 585 387 and if necessary a team member will come out for a free site visit and give advice.

Thank you for your continued support.

/by BPA Management

KNOW WHAT’S BELOW – BPA SEND LETTERS EARLIER

Know What's Below letters

BPA has launched its ‘Know What’s Below’ campaign a little earlier than in previous years to specifically target landowners in advance of the regular ditch clearing season.

BPA’s Landowner Services team has issued letters to nearly 2000 landowner and tenants along BPA’s 1000km of buried high pressure pipelines in the UK.

The letters ask all landowners or tenants to respond using the enclosed form and self-addressed envelope so that BPA can ensure that their records are up to date and that they have the correct details should we need to contact landowners in the event of an emergency or planned works.

The letter also provides information on who landowners need to contact, and what to do, if they are required to operate in the vicinity of one of the high-pressure fuel pipelines.

Respond by end of March

Those who respond to the request and return their completed forms in the self-addressed envelope by the end of March will automatically be entered into a prize draw to receive one of five luxurious hampers.

Please keep a look out for BPA’s ‘Know What’s Below’ campaign letters and ensure that you promptly return them to a member of the BPA Landowner Services team.  Contact the team for further information.

 

 

/by BPA Management

KNOW WHAT’S BELOW – HAMPER WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Know What's Below hamper

We are delighted to announce the winners of the Know What’s Below hamper draw.  The winners were selected at random from the hundreds of landowners and tenants who confirmed their contact details and returned their pipeline map to BPA.

This year’s luck winners are Ms K. Charlesworth from Nantwich, Mrs H. McBreen from Woolscott, Mrs J. Rawding from Marsworth, Mr R. Daniell from Betchworth and Mr N. How from Hargrave in Northamptonshire.

Each has received a stunning ‘Taste of Christmas’ hamper filled to the brim with everyone’s favourite festive flavours.  The £100 hamper included a range of goodies from indulgent snacks and treats to bottles of red wine, white wine and Prosecco.  The recipients were presented with their hampers by members of BPA’s lands team.

Know What’s Below

As part of its Know What’s Below campaign, each year BPA writes to the landowners along its pipeline network to remind them of the high-pressure oil pipeline that runs under their land, what to do if they need to undertake groundworks in the vicinity of the pipeline and to check that they are still responsible for the land.  Everyone who returns the map, confirming their details is entered into the prize draw.

Phil Taylor, Lands Manager at BPA, comments: “We write to the landowners along the pipeline network to remind them of the high-pressure oil pipeline that run under their land and to confirm that we have their correct contact details.  Those who respond are automatically entered into the draw and it’s great to be able to reward these lucky landowners in this way.”

Letters are sent to more than 2000 recipients along the BPA pipeline network as part of the company’s “Know What’s Below” campaign.  The campaign aims to reduce the number of incidents, accidents and spills along the pipeline network.  Landowners are encouraged to contact BPA’s Lands Team with any questions or concerns they may have regarding the pipelines on 0800 585 387.

/by BPA Management
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MOBILE PROVES POPULAR WITH LANDOWNERS

Know what's below

As part of our ‘Know What’s Below’ campaign to communicate with landowners to ensure they inform us of any changes to landownership or plans to operate in the vicinity of pipelines, we trialled contacting landowners via SMS.

Despite the record responses to our annual letter, some landowners either lost their letters or were too busy to use the self-addressed response envelope.  To offer landowners an easy and convenient way of responding we thought it may work if we sent a text message to the contacts that we have not heard back from.

Of our target list of nearly 300 landowners we sent a simple message asking landowners to reply ‘correct’ or ‘incorrect’ to whether the information they had received from BPA was correct or not.  The response rates were very positive more than a quarter deciding to respond in this way.  Our records were updated to reflect those who responded ‘correct’ and while those who replied ‘incorrect’ were contacted by the team and their details were amended.

All recipients were given the option to opt out of the messaging, however the positive response rates showed that this harder to reach group welcomed the opportunity to respond in this way.

If you have any comments regarding our communications, please contact the team by using the email link below.

/by BPA Management

WALKING THE BURIED WLPS PIPELINE

Know What's Below

During October the team will be carrying out a Cathodic Protection survey along the WLPS pipelines that run from the Buncefield Oil Storage Terminal near Hemel Hempstead and Heathrow Airport.

The survey aims to assesses the condition of the pipeline coating, allowing the team to identify any potential works that may need to be carried out to further protect the pipeline.

Phil Taylor, BPA’s Lands Manager, comments; “Your safety is our concern and it’s important that the team regularly walks sections of the pipeline to ensure there are no issues with the pipeline.  It’s also a good way for us to get out and meet landowners and answer any questions they may have.”

To find out when we will be in your area, contact the team on 0800 585 387.

/by Know What's Below BPA

BPA’S LANDS TEAM NAME HAMPER WINNER…!

Know What's Below Hamper winners

Each year BPA’s Lands team write to landowners to confirm both current contact details and for a quick check of the ownership of the land through which the pipeline runs.  This helps us keep contact information up to date and allows us to keep landowners fully informed about the pipeline on their land and any works we may need to do.

In recognition of this annual inconvenience, we give landowners the chance to win a food and wine hamper by simply returning the enclosed forms.  The hamper contains a range of goodies from biscuits and chocolates to wine and chutneys.

The winner, picked at random from those who returned their contact details, was Mr Sinclair of Tollgate Farm Colney Heath. He was the happy recipient of the hamper worth over £100 and packed with goodies.

If you would like the opportunity to win a hamper with more than £100 of food and wine, keep a watch out for our annual letter asking landowners to confirm their contact details, complete the form and return to us using the stamped addressed envelope provided.

We would like to thank all those who have completed their forms and returned them to the BPA Lands team.  Working together we can help keep our high pressure oil pipelines safe.

/by Know What's Below BPA