Pipeline Safety

Safety and Large Natural Gas Pipelines in Georgia

Southern Natural Gas
Natural gas pipelines have been a part of Georgia's history throughout the 1900s. Southern Natural Gas, a major natural gas transmission line company, is upgrading a line to supply the Plant McDonough line. Southern Natural Gas has been safely operating large natural gas lines in Georgia since 1930. The company's natural gas lines - some of which are the same size or larger than the Plant McDonough line - have never caused an injury or fatality to a member of the public residing on property where the company's pipelines are located. The company owns 14 lines that cross the Chattahoochee River, and other lines that cross 13 other rivers in Georgia.

Southern Company Natural Gas Pipelines
Southern Company also owns many gas pipelines that serve generating plants in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. Southern Company contracts with other pipeline operators to maintain and service these lines. Like Southern Natural Gas, Southern Company's large natural gas pipelines have never caused an injury or fatality to a member of the public residing on property where the company's pipelines are located. Here are additional safety statistics related to Southern Company pipelines, as well as a summary of the company's existing lines:

Total Length (excluding McDonough): 46.5 miles
Total Capacity (excluding McDonough): 3,194 MMCFD (million standard cubic feet per day)
Number of Leaks: 0
Number of Incidents: 0
Number of Injuries: 0
Number of Fatalities: 0

Year to be Installed: 2010
Size: 30 inches
Length: Approximately 19 miles
Capacity: 600 MMCFD
Design Pressure: 1,200 psig
Normal Operating Pressure: 800 psig
Gas in Pipeline Odorized?: Yes
Gas Supplier: Southern Natural Gas
Pipeline Operated by: Atlanta Gas Light
Comments: Pipeline will go under Chattahoochee River
Pipeline will be at least 25' below river bottom at closest point to river bottom (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will dictate)

Year Installed: 1994
Size (outside diameter of pipe): 24 inches
Length: 9.5 miles
Capacity: 440 MMCFD
Design Pressure: 1,200 psig (pounds per square inch gauge)
Normal Operating Pressure: 800 psig
Gas in Pipeline Odorized?: Yes
Gas Supplier: Southern Natural Gas
Pipeline Operated by: Atlanta Gas Light

Year Installed: 1999
Size 20 inches
Length: 6.5 miles
Capacity: 370 MMCFD
Design Pressure: 800 psig
Normal Operating Pressure: 650 psig
Gas in Pipeline Odorized?: No
Gas Supplier: Williams Transco
Pipeline Operated by: Atlanta Gas Light

Year Installed: 2000
Size: 20 inches
Length: 2.0 miles
Capacity: 576 MMCFD
Design Pressure: 850 psig
Normal Operating Pressure: 650 psig
Gas in Pipeline Odorized?: Yes
Gas Supplier: Williams Transco
Pipeline Operated by: Atlanta Gas Light

Year Installed: 2001
Size: 30 inches
Length: 6.4 miles
Capacity: 516 MMCFD
Design Pressure: 800 psig
Normal Operating Pressure: 650 psig
Gas in Pipeline Odorized?: No
Gas Supplier: Williams Transco
Pipeline Operated by: Atlanta Gas Light
Comments: Pipeline goes under Chattahoochee River
Pipeline size reduced from 30" to 24" under river
Pipeline approximately 40' below river bottom at closest point to river bottom

The Natural Gas Delivery System (PDF)