Managing Product Losses

During the operation of our pipelines, natural gas can escape as the result of leaks and line cuts, which can contribute to “lost and unaccounted for” natural gas.

Our annual “lost and unaccounted for” natural gas for ONEOK and ONEOK Partners – for all of our businesses, not just our pipelines – is less than 1 percent of total throughput. This achievement is the result of consistently focusing on operational best practices, such as asset integrity management, environmental control, measurement, fuel usage and operational optimization.

ONEOK Partners’ natural gas liquids pipelines and facilities manage their NGL system product losses through asset integrity programs, composite product sampling, measurement, leak detection and environmental controls. ONEOK Partners’ NGL annual system product losses are less than one-quarter of 1 percent of total throughput.

By accurately accounting for and taking the necessary steps to reduce our product losses, we are reducing the release of emissions into the air, as well as improving our profitability.

Pipeline Integrity and Monitoring

Managing and maintaining the integrity of our pipeline systems is a priority.

Our pipeline integrity program provides comprehensive management of threats to the integrity of the pipeline systems we operate, with a specific focus on high-consequence areas such as high population areas and schools. This is done by ensuring that integrity risks associated with the pipeline are identified, assessed and managed to a level as low as reasonably possible.

ONEOK pipelines are designed, installed, tested and maintained to meet federal and state regulations and industry standards. The monitoring and inspection of our pipelines and facilities allow us to detect, locate and fix potential problems quickly and safely. Scheduled ground and aerial patrols allow technicians to observe surface conditions along our pipeline rights of way. Dead vegetation, bubbling water and heavy insect activity are visual clues that a leak might exist, as are high-pitched hissing or roaring sounds.

We use various types of equipment to detect leaks:

• Combustible indicators are used in confined spaces and in the field to pinpoint leaks by measuring air samples at intervals along pipelines.
• Portable handheld sensors are used to monitor air for the presence of natural gas and natural gas liquids.
• Flame ionization detectors (handheld or vehicle-mounted) detect any natural gas present in the sample area, down to 1 part per million.
• Infrared gas-detection technologies utilize thermal images to identify leaks along pipelines.