zyzzyva57
10-02-2008, 07:20 AM
I put together rough Energy Accidents v. Death ratio list:
Particularly to be noted are incidents increasing or decreasing with technology as well as # killed
Natural Gas Pipeline Accidents with Number Killed
Pipelines conveying flammable or explosive material, such as natural gas or oil, pose special safety concerns
(I did not expect this to be the #1 killer, so in this energy/anti-energy climate we need a politician to push for a ban on oil pipelines as the latest "THE SKY IS FALLING!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!" hysterics -- With pipelines all around, hot damn!! We have yet another issue to be solved with a ban and, of course, a Tax Enhancement! :biggrin: )
For a more complete list see in Wikidpedia Pipeline accidents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_accidents)
1982 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982) - One of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history occurred along the Trans-Siberian Pipeline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Siberian_Pipeline) in the former Soviet Union (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union). It has been alleged that the explosion was the result of CIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA) sabotage of the Trans-Siberian Pipeline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_pipeline_sabotage).
June 4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_4), 1989 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989) - sparks from two passing trains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufa_train_disaster) detonated gas leaking from an LPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefied_petroleum_gas) pipeline near Ufa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufa), Russia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia). Up to 645 people were reported killed.
October 17 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_17), 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998) - at Jesse (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesse,_Nigeria&action=edit&redlink=1) in the Niger Delta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_Rivers) in Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria), a petroleum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum) pipeline exploded killing about 1,200 villagers, some of whom were scavenging gasoline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline) - the worst of several similar incidents in this country.
June 10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_10), 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999) - a pipeline rupture in a Bellingham, Washington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellingham,_Washington) park led to the release of 277,200 gallons of gasoline. The gasoline was ignited, causing an explosion that killed two children and one adult.
August 19 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_19), 2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000) - natural gas pipeline rupture and fire near Carlsbad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad), New Mexico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico) this explosion and fire killed 12 members of the same family. The cause was due to severe internal corrosion of the pipeline.
July 30 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_30), 2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004) - a major natural gas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas) pipeline exploded in Ghislenghien (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghislenghien), Belgium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium) near Ath (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ath) (thirty kilometres southwest of Brussels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels)), killing at least 23 people and leaving 122 wounded, some critically. (CNN) (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/30/belgium.gas.blast/index.html) (Expatica) (http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?channel_id=3&story_id=25465)
May 12 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_12), 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006) - an oil pipeline ruptured outside Lagos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos), Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria). Up to 200 people may have been killed. See Nigeria oil blast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_oil_blast).
November 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_1), 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007) - a propane pipeline exploded near Carmichael, Mississippi (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carmichael,_Mississippi&action=edit&redlink=1), about 30 miles (48 km) south of Meridian, Mississippi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian,_Mississippi). Two people were killed instantly and an additional four were injured. Several homes were destroyed and sixty families were displaced. The pipeline is owned by Enterprise Products Partners LP, and runs from Mont Belvieu, Texas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Belvieu,_Texas), to Apex, North Carolina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex,_North_Carolina), according to an Enterprise spokesman. [2] (http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/10946761.html)====
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001457.html
Nuclear and Chemical Accidents
Though nuclear power is a good source of energy and is generally not a threat, there have been instances when security measures have failed. Nuclear meltdowns can cause dangerous radiation to escape into the surrounding environment.
1952 Dec. 12, Chalk River, nr. Ottawa, Canada: a partial meltdown of the reactor's uranium fuel core resulted after the accidental removal of four control rods. Although millions of gallons of radioactive water accumulated inside the reactor, there were no injuries. 1953 Love Canal, nr. Niagara Falls, N.Y.: was destroyed by waste from chemical plants. By the 1990s, the town had been cleaned up enough for families to begin moving back to the area. 1957 Oct. 7, Windscale Pile No. 1, north of Liverpool, England: fire in a graphite-cooled reactor spewed radiation over the countryside, contaminating a 200-square-mile area. South Ural Mountains: explosion of radioactive wastes at Soviet nuclear weapons factory 12 mi from city of Kyshtym forced the evacuation of over 10,000 people from a contaminated area. No casualties were reported by Soviet officials. 1976 nr. Greifswald, East Germany: radioactive core of reactor in the Lubmin nuclear power plant nearly melted down due to the failure of safety systems during a fire. 1979 March 28, Three Mile Island, nr. Harrisburg, Pa.: one of two reactors lost its coolant, which caused overheating and partial meltdown of its uranium core. Some radioactive water and gases were released. This was the worst accident in U.S. nuclear-reactor history. 1984 Dec. 3, Bhopal, India: toxic gas, methyl isocyanate, seeped from Union Carbide insecticide plant, killing more than 2,000 and injuring about 150,000. 1986 April 26, Chernobyl, nr. Kiev, Ukraine: explosion and fire in the graphite core of one of four reactors released radioactive material that spread over part of the Soviet Union, eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and later western Europe. 31 claimed dead. Total casualties are unknown. Worst such accident to date. 1987 Sept. 18, Goiânia, Brazil: 244 people contaminated with cesium-137 from a cancer-therapy machine that had been sold as scrap. Four people died in worst radiation disaster in Western Hemisphere. 1999 Sept. 30, Tokaimura, Japan: uncontrolled chain reaction in a uranium-processing nuclear fuel plant spewed high levels of radioactive gas into the air, killing two workers and seriously injuring one other. 2004 Aug. 9, Mihama, Japan: nonradioactive steam leaked from a nuclear power plant, killing four workers and severely burning seven others. 2007 July 17, Kashiwazaki, Japan: radiation leaks, burst pipes, and fires at a major nuclear power plant followed a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near Niigata. Japanese officials, frustrated at the plant operators' delay in reporting the damage, closed the plant a week later until its safety could be confirmed. Further investigation revealed that the plant had unknowingly been built directly on top of an active seismic fault. 2008 February 7, Port Wentworth, Georgia: an explosion fueled by combustible sugar dust killed 13 people and injured several others at the Imperial Sugar plant near Savannah
=================
From Wikipedia, OFF-SHORE Oil Rig Safety and Deaths:
The nature of their operation — extraction of volatile substances sometimes under extreme pressure in a hostile environment — has risk and accidents and tragedies occasionally occur. In July 1988, 167 people died when Occidental Petroleum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_Petroleum)'s Piper Alpha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_Alpha) offshore production platform, on the Piper field in the North Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea), exploded after a gas leak. The accident greatly accelerated the practice of providing living accommodations on separate rigs, away from those used for extraction.
However, this was in itself a hazardous environment. In March 1980, the 'flotel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flotel)' (floating hotel) platform Alexander Kielland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Kielland_%28platform%29) capsized in a storm in the North Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea) with the loss of 123 lives.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform#cite_note-3)
In 2002, an oil rig exploded just offshore near New Orleans.
Particularly to be noted are incidents increasing or decreasing with technology as well as # killed
Natural Gas Pipeline Accidents with Number Killed
Pipelines conveying flammable or explosive material, such as natural gas or oil, pose special safety concerns
(I did not expect this to be the #1 killer, so in this energy/anti-energy climate we need a politician to push for a ban on oil pipelines as the latest "THE SKY IS FALLING!! THE SKY IS FALLING!!" hysterics -- With pipelines all around, hot damn!! We have yet another issue to be solved with a ban and, of course, a Tax Enhancement! :biggrin: )
For a more complete list see in Wikidpedia Pipeline accidents (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pipeline_accidents)
1982 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1982) - One of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history occurred along the Trans-Siberian Pipeline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Siberian_Pipeline) in the former Soviet Union (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union). It has been alleged that the explosion was the result of CIA (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CIA) sabotage of the Trans-Siberian Pipeline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siberian_pipeline_sabotage).
June 4 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_4), 1989 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989) - sparks from two passing trains (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufa_train_disaster) detonated gas leaking from an LPG (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquefied_petroleum_gas) pipeline near Ufa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ufa), Russia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia). Up to 645 people were reported killed.
October 17 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_17), 1998 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998) - at Jesse (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesse,_Nigeria&action=edit&redlink=1) in the Niger Delta (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_Rivers) in Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria), a petroleum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum) pipeline exploded killing about 1,200 villagers, some of whom were scavenging gasoline (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline) - the worst of several similar incidents in this country.
June 10 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_10), 1999 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1999) - a pipeline rupture in a Bellingham, Washington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bellingham,_Washington) park led to the release of 277,200 gallons of gasoline. The gasoline was ignited, causing an explosion that killed two children and one adult.
August 19 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_19), 2000 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000) - natural gas pipeline rupture and fire near Carlsbad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlsbad), New Mexico (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico) this explosion and fire killed 12 members of the same family. The cause was due to severe internal corrosion of the pipeline.
July 30 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/July_30), 2004 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004) - a major natural gas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural_gas) pipeline exploded in Ghislenghien (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghislenghien), Belgium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium) near Ath (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ath) (thirty kilometres southwest of Brussels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussels)), killing at least 23 people and leaving 122 wounded, some critically. (CNN) (http://edition.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/europe/07/30/belgium.gas.blast/index.html) (Expatica) (http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?channel_id=3&story_id=25465)
May 12 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/May_12), 2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006) - an oil pipeline ruptured outside Lagos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagos), Nigeria (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria). Up to 200 people may have been killed. See Nigeria oil blast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigeria_oil_blast).
November 1 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_1), 2007 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007) - a propane pipeline exploded near Carmichael, Mississippi (http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Carmichael,_Mississippi&action=edit&redlink=1), about 30 miles (48 km) south of Meridian, Mississippi (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian,_Mississippi). Two people were killed instantly and an additional four were injured. Several homes were destroyed and sixty families were displaced. The pipeline is owned by Enterprise Products Partners LP, and runs from Mont Belvieu, Texas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont_Belvieu,_Texas), to Apex, North Carolina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apex,_North_Carolina), according to an Enterprise spokesman. [2] (http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/10946761.html)====
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001457.html
Nuclear and Chemical Accidents
Though nuclear power is a good source of energy and is generally not a threat, there have been instances when security measures have failed. Nuclear meltdowns can cause dangerous radiation to escape into the surrounding environment.
1952 Dec. 12, Chalk River, nr. Ottawa, Canada: a partial meltdown of the reactor's uranium fuel core resulted after the accidental removal of four control rods. Although millions of gallons of radioactive water accumulated inside the reactor, there were no injuries. 1953 Love Canal, nr. Niagara Falls, N.Y.: was destroyed by waste from chemical plants. By the 1990s, the town had been cleaned up enough for families to begin moving back to the area. 1957 Oct. 7, Windscale Pile No. 1, north of Liverpool, England: fire in a graphite-cooled reactor spewed radiation over the countryside, contaminating a 200-square-mile area. South Ural Mountains: explosion of radioactive wastes at Soviet nuclear weapons factory 12 mi from city of Kyshtym forced the evacuation of over 10,000 people from a contaminated area. No casualties were reported by Soviet officials. 1976 nr. Greifswald, East Germany: radioactive core of reactor in the Lubmin nuclear power plant nearly melted down due to the failure of safety systems during a fire. 1979 March 28, Three Mile Island, nr. Harrisburg, Pa.: one of two reactors lost its coolant, which caused overheating and partial meltdown of its uranium core. Some radioactive water and gases were released. This was the worst accident in U.S. nuclear-reactor history. 1984 Dec. 3, Bhopal, India: toxic gas, methyl isocyanate, seeped from Union Carbide insecticide plant, killing more than 2,000 and injuring about 150,000. 1986 April 26, Chernobyl, nr. Kiev, Ukraine: explosion and fire in the graphite core of one of four reactors released radioactive material that spread over part of the Soviet Union, eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and later western Europe. 31 claimed dead. Total casualties are unknown. Worst such accident to date. 1987 Sept. 18, Goiânia, Brazil: 244 people contaminated with cesium-137 from a cancer-therapy machine that had been sold as scrap. Four people died in worst radiation disaster in Western Hemisphere. 1999 Sept. 30, Tokaimura, Japan: uncontrolled chain reaction in a uranium-processing nuclear fuel plant spewed high levels of radioactive gas into the air, killing two workers and seriously injuring one other. 2004 Aug. 9, Mihama, Japan: nonradioactive steam leaked from a nuclear power plant, killing four workers and severely burning seven others. 2007 July 17, Kashiwazaki, Japan: radiation leaks, burst pipes, and fires at a major nuclear power plant followed a 6.8 magnitude earthquake near Niigata. Japanese officials, frustrated at the plant operators' delay in reporting the damage, closed the plant a week later until its safety could be confirmed. Further investigation revealed that the plant had unknowingly been built directly on top of an active seismic fault. 2008 February 7, Port Wentworth, Georgia: an explosion fueled by combustible sugar dust killed 13 people and injured several others at the Imperial Sugar plant near Savannah
=================
From Wikipedia, OFF-SHORE Oil Rig Safety and Deaths:
The nature of their operation — extraction of volatile substances sometimes under extreme pressure in a hostile environment — has risk and accidents and tragedies occasionally occur. In July 1988, 167 people died when Occidental Petroleum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental_Petroleum)'s Piper Alpha (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piper_Alpha) offshore production platform, on the Piper field in the North Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea), exploded after a gas leak. The accident greatly accelerated the practice of providing living accommodations on separate rigs, away from those used for extraction.
However, this was in itself a hazardous environment. In March 1980, the 'flotel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flotel)' (floating hotel) platform Alexander Kielland (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Kielland_%28platform%29) capsized in a storm in the North Sea (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Sea) with the loss of 123 lives.[4] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_platform#cite_note-3)
In 2002, an oil rig exploded just offshore near New Orleans.