Saturday, October 13, 2012: 11:00 AM
Hall 4E/F (WSCC)
This project initiates a review of the potential economic, environmental, and political
impacts resulting from an intentional attack on oil bearing pipelines. Several studies
have indicated that pipeline security may be compromised by external sources targeting
specific direct or strategically important indirect or peripheral locations. A single event
could lead to varying degrees of losses of pipeline transported oil and gas. Damage to the
pipeline infrastructure could lead to extended downtime for the pipeline. One such
instance could be an aircraft loaded with explosives intentionally being flown into the
pipeline creating an explosion that resulted in the discharge of thousands of gallons of
crude oil. Another air based attack on the pipeline might be a missile or rocket being
launched into the pipeline. Ground based attacks on the pipeline might include a truck
loaded with c4 being smashed into the pipeline or something as simple as someone
or multiple people jackhammering into the pipeline at strategic locations. Problems
such as these just are the tip of the proverbial iceberg which could lead to problems
for everyone involved; as such my study focuses on issues related to the security of
pipelines and attempts to illustrate problems.
impacts resulting from an intentional attack on oil bearing pipelines. Several studies
have indicated that pipeline security may be compromised by external sources targeting
specific direct or strategically important indirect or peripheral locations. A single event
could lead to varying degrees of losses of pipeline transported oil and gas. Damage to the
pipeline infrastructure could lead to extended downtime for the pipeline. One such
instance could be an aircraft loaded with explosives intentionally being flown into the
pipeline creating an explosion that resulted in the discharge of thousands of gallons of
crude oil. Another air based attack on the pipeline might be a missile or rocket being
launched into the pipeline. Ground based attacks on the pipeline might include a truck
loaded with c4 being smashed into the pipeline or something as simple as someone
or multiple people jackhammering into the pipeline at strategic locations. Problems
such as these just are the tip of the proverbial iceberg which could lead to problems
for everyone involved; as such my study focuses on issues related to the security of
pipelines and attempts to illustrate problems.