Safety assessments indicated no physical damage to the major interstate oil pipelines in the area impacted by Hurricane Katrina. They experienced minor flooding and loss of electric power, which was the primary cause for the delay in returning to service, but have since returned to operating at full or near-full capacity. Below is a timeline detailing the impact Katrina had on America’s oil pipelines.

Monday, Aug. 29 – Pipeline operators performed a controlled shutdown of their systems to preserve product quality and prevent damage to the pipeline.

Tuesday, Aug. 30 – Safety assessments were performed on all major affected pipelines and no damage was found.

Colonial Pipeline Company
used distributed generation power (tractor trailers)  that was vital to resuming operations until electric grid power could be restored.

Wednesday, Aug. 31 – Colonial and Plantation, which together account for as much as 60 percent of the supply in the Southeast, were able to resume limited service and arrange for alternative power sources. Colonial began operating at between 25 to 35 percent normal capacity, transporting both gasoline and aviation fuel.  Plantation was operating at approximately 25 percent.

Thursday, Sept. 1 – Colonial and Plantation continued to increase their capacity to 40 percent and 55 percent respectively.  Capline, a crude oil pipeline that transports crude oil from the Gulf of Mexico to refineries in the Midwest, was operating at 65 percent capacity after the integrity of the pipeline was confirmed and electric grid supply to some pumps was re-established. Dixie, a propane pipeline serving markets in the Southeast, was operating at 40 percent capacity.

Friday, Sept. 2 – Colonial was operating at approximately 66 percent and Plantation 95 percent normal capacity. Capline was operating at 75 percent capacity.

Saturday, Sept. 3 – Both Colonial and Plantation received some utility electric power.  Colonial was running at 76 percent capacity, and Plantation was running at 95 percent.  Capline was restored to 80 percent capacity. Dixie was operating at 50 percent capacity.

Sunday, Sept. 4 – Colonial increased to approximately 80 percent capacity and Plantation continued operations at 95 percent capacity.  Capline continued at 80 percent and Dixie at 50 percent capacity.

Monday, Sept. 5 – Colonial’s capacity increased to approximately 90 percent and Plantation continued at 95 percent.  Capline continued at 80 percent and Dixie at 50 percent.

Tuesday, Sept. 6 – Colonial and Plantation began running at 100 percent capacity.  Capline increased capacity to 88 percent and Dixie to 80 percent.

The shut-down of offshore platforms and refining capacity in the storm’s wake means that supply may still be affected even after the pipeline transportation system is fully restored. But when that supply does become available, oil pipelines will be ready to transport product to distribution centers across the country.