Corrib Gas Pipeline Development - in a nut shell

mayo | environment | news report Sunday June 26, 2005 16:03 by JM Rossport South, Ballina, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Synopsis of why local people oppose this development and details of new High Court Order.

The proposed pipeline will run through a populated area (never done before; “unique” - Dept. of Marine Minister Noel Dempsey) at pressures well off the design scale (BS8010 limit - 100bar) using a code that is out of date (BS8010) and well short of best available safety standards (from 23% to 57 % of C-FER in these examples), using compulsory purchase orders under legislation (slipped through the Dáil on a bank holiday weekend) never before used in the state, is exempted from Planning scrutiny and regulation by any statutory body (Mayo County Council, EPA, Energy Regulator), skirting Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protected Areas (Sruth Fada Conn, blanket bog complex) and the main drinking water supply for Erris (Carrowmore Lake), while proceeding with construction before ministerial consent has been granted, because the required Quantified Risk Assessment (QRA) is currently being independently drawn up (the only available one was drawn up by Shell themselves) and threatening anyone (with prior knowledge of the Order) with a High Court Order that prevents them from interfering with Shell/Statoil/Marathon or Sicim-Roadbridge, carrying out works on the pipeline, the refinery, travelling to and from their construction sites, causing nuisance to the developers, trespassing on a public right of way (through the existing Rossport compound to the shoreline and an ancient spring well) attempting to damage the developers economically (by refusing to Shop at Shell?) and conspiring to do any of the above, under pain of fine, imprisonment and development delay costs starting at €25,000,000.00.

Articles of the Irish Constitution 40 and 43 (among others) demand the state protect the fundamental rights and property rights of every citizen.

This project must not proceed, cannot be allowed to recur, and those responsible shall be held accountable.


Treated natural gas lines v
Corrib upstream pipeline (untreated gas)

Natchitoches, Louisiana, USA (ruptured 4th March 1965)
Pressure 55bar
Pipeline Design codes - minimum safe distances
BS8010 44m (143ft)
US (C-FER) 119m
Actual average burn radius 132m

Cartwright, Louisiana, USA (ruptured 9th August 1976)
Pressure 55bar
Pipeline Design codes - minimum safe distances
BS8010 44m
US (C-FER) 119m
Actual average burn radius 120m

Carlsbad, New Mexico, USA (ruptured 19th August 2000)
Pressure 45bar
Pipeline Design codes - minimum safe distances
BS8010 38m (123ft)
US (C-FER) 161m (523ft)
Distance to people killed 208m (676ft)

Erris, Co. Mayo, Ireland - Shell/Statoil/Marathon
(proposed pipeline installation October 2005)
Pressure 345bar
Pipeline Design codes - minimum safe distances
BS8010 (code used) 170m (553ft)
US (C-FER) 295m (959ft)
Distance to nearest house 70m (227ft)
Distance to public road 1.2m to 30m
(4ft to 97ft)
………………………………………………………….
Find out more @

www.indymedia.ie/mayo
www.shelltosea.com
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