BP's Pipeline Work May Make Some Noise In Pittsfield Township

BP Pipelines Inc. will be performing maintenance activities along their existing pipeline in Pittsfield Township, according to a press release sent out by the township Monday.

Before beginning maintenance activities, BP will purge the pipeline of product. Nitrogen purging is an industry standard technique for the replacement of a hazardous or undesirable atmosphere with an inert dry atmosphere. The pressure from the nitrogen that is pushed into the pipeline will move a cleaning pig down through the pipeline and displace the product through the pipeline. Once the product is displaced, the nitrogen will be vented into the atmosphere through a frac tank fitted with a carbon filter.

The nitrogen venting will take approximately 6-10 hours, and will allow for a clean pipeline for maintenance activities. The process poses no danger to the public, however, the process will produce some potentially loud noise. For this activity, BP will be working at its existing facility located near South State Street and Old State Road.

The nitrogen purge will not require any road closures or traffic diversions. Any excavations that will need to be completed for the purge will be within BP’s existing facility/property.

The nitrogen purge is planned to occur on Oct. 12 and may start as early as 7 a.m.

(This release was sent by Pittsfield Township.)