Tennessee Gas Pipeline

Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Natural gas transportation
Predecessor	Tennessee Gas Transmission Company
Founded	1943
Headquarters	United States
Area served	Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, New England
Products	Natural gas transportation
Parent	Kinder Morgan

Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGPL) is a natural gas transportation network extending from the Gulf Coast regions of Texas and Louisiana through Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, ultimately delivering gas to West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and the New England area. Managed by Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company, a subsidiary of Kinder Morgan, it stands as one of the United States' most extensive pipeline systems. Its identification codes include FERC number 9 and PHMSA operator ID 19160.

History

The pipeline's construction was initiated in 1943 by Tennessee Gas Transmission Company (TGT). In 1996, El Paso Corporation acquired Tenneco Energy, the parent company of TGT, and later in 2012, Kinder Morgan took ownership of El Paso Corporation.

Expansion projects

In 2014, Kinder Morgan introduced plans for the Northeast Energy Direct Project (NED), which involved adding new pipeline segments measuring from Pennsylvania to Wright, New York, and extending to Dracut, Massachusetts. This initiative aimed to transport up to of natural gas sourced from the Marcellus shale formations to markets in New England and Canada.

The project encountered substantial resistance from local authorities, environmental organizations, and more than 20 municipalities in Massachusetts due to ecological concerns and the pipeline’s safety history. Objections centered on eminent domain disputes and denial of survey permissions. The proposed route intersected environmentally sensitive areas including conservation zones, state parks, agricultural lands, residential communities, and crossed the Connecticut River.

Kinder Morgan indicated that about 91% of the NED Market Path segment would be situated alongside existing utility corridors or adjacent to the main TGP line; overall, approximately 82% of the full project would follow similar co-location. An alternative pathway along the Massachusetts Turnpike was also evaluated.

Proponents highlighted potential benefits such as employment opportunities and economic development. Kinder Morgan maintained that NED would support electrical grid reliability, reduce emissions, decrease energy expenses, and foster regional economic advancement. The planned pipeline was designed to be in diameter and equipped with sizable compressor stations.

Critics pointed out safety hazards related to placing a high-pressure gas transmission line near populated areas within possible explosion impact zones. Research indicated that numerous pipelines lie perilously close to residences and educational institutions.

Eventually, Kinder Morgan abandoned the NED initiative due to a lack of sufficient market demand for increased natural gas supplies in New England.

Significant incidents reported

Between 2006 and 2017, Tennessee Gas Pipeline (TGP) documented 111 "significant incidents" according to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), resulting in $89.8 million in property damages alongside 19 federal enforcement actions.

A "significant incident" is defined as one involving fatalities or inpatient hospitalizations; costs exceeding $50,000 measured in 1984 dollars; liquid spills of five or more barrels; or releases causing fire or explosions.

During this timeframe, TGP was subject to 27 federal enforcement actions with penalties totaling $422,500. Federal inspectors conducted 661 days of onsite evaluations plus an additional 187 days dedicated to accident investigations.

Issues related to defective infrastructure—including corrosion, equipment malfunctions, manufacturing flaws, welding defects, and improper installations—accounted for 56% of leaks and caused damages exceeding $90 million. The aging condition of pipelines may be a contributing factor to the rising number of failures.

Accidents

From 1986 through 2017, TGP experienced a minimum of 257 major incidents, encompassing leaks, fires, and explosions. Significant events include:

• On March 4, 1965, a 32-inch pipeline explosion near Natchitoches, Louisiana resulted in the destruction of five residences and the loss of 17 lives, marking the deadliest gas transmission pipeline accident in U.S. history. This tragedy was instrumental in the establishment of PHMSA in 1967.
• February 18, 2000 saw a leak in a 24-inch pipeline at Marcellus, New York caused by a crack stemming from a manufacturing flaw; the pipe had been installed in 1951.
• An explosion occurred on November 28, 2000 during welding activities at a compressor station in Portland, Tennessee, injuring three employees; the equipment dated back to 1950.
• On March 6, 2002, a pipe rupture at the Jeffersonville compressor station in Kentucky triggered a fire and explosion with damages amounting to $2 million; the pipe was manufactured in 1950.
• A pinhole leak attributed to a manufacturing defect was detected near Kensington, Ohio on May 21, 2002; this pipe originated from 1956.
• A leak on September 24, 2004 in Massachusetts led to the evacuation of 28 individuals; investigation revealed pipe damage caused by resting on a rock ledge; the pipe was installed in 1977.
• December 29, 2005 involved the rupture of a 30-inch pipeline in Allen County, Kentucky resulting in over 200 people being evacuated; failure was linked to construction cracks compounded by terrain stresses, with losses totaling $908,032.
• On July 22, 2006, external corrosion led to an explosion near Campbellsville, Kentucky.
• A bulldozer strike on February 17, 2007 caused an explosion of a pipeline installed in 1948 near Cypress, Texas.
• November 30, 2010 saw failure due to a large crack near Natchitoches, Louisiana prompting evacuation of around 100 homes; this location was close to a prior fatal incident.
• An explosion on November 16, 2011 near Glouster, Ohio destroyed three houses; the cause was weld failure linked to landslide displacement and insufficient geotechnical evaluation.
• A rupture on November 21, 2011 near Batesville, Mississippi generated a fireball and required evacuation of 71 residents; failure resulted from fracture of a repair sleeve under significant soil load stress.
• On August 3, 2015, stress corrosion cracking caused an explosion of a corroded pipeline near Falfurrias, Texas that injured two people and formed a large crater; the pipe dated back to 1947.
• A lightning strike on August 1, 2016 prompted an emergency shutdown at Powell County compressor station in Kentucky releasing gas and oil mist onto adjacent land and highway; property damage was estimated at $138,750.
• Operator errors combined with overpressure incidents on November 20 and November 29, 2017 led to hazardous wastewater and gas releases into residential neighborhoods in Massachusetts.

The most recent significant event took place on June 26, 2021 when a TGP pipeline ruptured in West Bloomfield, New York releasing approximately 11,000 MCF of natural gas without causing fire or injuries.