Kinder Morgan Energy Partners: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Revision as of 16:49, 10 October 2006

•

The company acquired Canada's BC-based Terasen Inc. on November 30, 2005, which was subsequently renamed Kinder Morgan Canada. On May 30, 2006 it was announced that a group led by co-founder Richard D. Kinder offered to buy the company for $22 billion. Its other co-founder is William Morgan. The company began in 1997 as a spinoff of some assets of Enron, and now employs many former Enron employees, including former Enron whistleblower Jordan Mintz.

Susuin marsh diesel spill

On April 28, 2004, a decrepit petroleum pipeline owned and operated by Kinder-Morgan Energy Partners ruptured, spilling an estimated 1,500 barrels (240 m&sup2) of diesel fuel into marshes adjacent to Suisun Bay.

Walnut Creek gasoline fire

On November 9, 2004 in Walnut Creek, California, a petroleum pipeline carrying gasoline to San Jose owned and operated by Kinder-Morgan Energy Partners (here KMEP) was struck by a backhoe used by Mountain Cascade Inc., a contractor operating in the construction of a water pipeline for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. A massive gasoline spill was subsequently ignited, likely by welders of subcontractor Matamoros Welding working inside the water pipe, resulting an explosive fireball that caused the deaths by burns of four workers and their supervisor and the severe injury of four others. Several nearby homes were ignited and one was partially destroyed. The fire burned for several hours before being brought under control by firefighters from departments throughout the central Contra Costa County region. Preliminary indications are that the location of the petroleum pipeline was staked out with an error of five feet by KMEP. EBMUD contract with MC specifies that "contractor shall verify location" [of the KM pipeline prior to construction (in this section)]. EBMUD had terminated the first Contractor, Modern Continental (MC) for moving too slowly, with MC pointing out the need for caution due to a previous staking error of 13 feet in another location. KM claims that it is not its responsibility to determine exactly the location of the pipeline [1]. Contrary to established procedures, KMEP had no representative on site at the time of the disaster. EBMUD denies rushing its contractors and is currently suing Modern Continental for breach of contract. Investigation by State of California authorities was completed and the results announced on May 5, 2005. CalOSHA (California Occupational Safety and Health Administration) placed principle blame on the pipeline operator (a unit of Kinder-Morgan) for failure to accurately stake out the pipeline location, with some responsibility shared by the other parties.

Further details were released in a State Senate report published June 11, 2005 and widely reported throughout the Bay Area. According to a Contra Costa Times article published June 19th, 2005 the report noted that the KMEP "line rider" (the person with primary responsibility for locating the pipeline) was unable to read blueprints. Furthermore a second line KMEP line rider had stated in response to subcontractor inquires that the pipe would be bent only where it was to go around a tree and since no tree was present there was not a bend in the pipe. (The tree had been removed prior to the construction.) KMEP continues both to deny responsibility and to press its legal appeals.

On Wednesday, July 7, 2005, the California State Fire Marshal assessed a fine of $500,000 upon KMEP, the largest ever levied within the state.

External links

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+•
-•	Kinder Morgan is one of the largest energy companies in North America with approximately 43,000 miles of pipelines that transport natural gas, crude oil, petroleum products, CO2 and natural gas liquids; about 150 terminals that store and handle products like gasoline and coal; and over 1.1 million natural gas distribution customers.  Combined, its companies have an enterprise value (market cap plus debt) of over $35 billion.
-•	KMP was recognized by Fortune Magazine in 2006 as one of America’s Most Admired Companies.  KMP ranked first in the pipeline category.  Voted on by industry peers and competitors, the list focuses on corporate reputation and takes into account such things as how a company manages its balance sheet, customer satisfaction and shareholder returns.
-•	Kinder Morgan is the independent industry leader in the United States for many of its businesses.  For example, it is: the largest independent products pipeline operator, transporting more than 2 million barrels per day of gasoline, jet fuel and distillates; the largest independent terminals operator, handling over 80 million tons of coal and other dry-bulk materials annually and having a liquids storage capacity of about 70 million barrels for petroleum products and petrochemicals; the leading marketer and transporter of CO2 for enhanced oil recovery projects in the United States and the second largest oil producer in Texas; and the second largest natural gas pipeline transportation company in America.
-•	Kinder Morgan is committed to public safety, protection of the environment and operation of its facilities in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations.  The majority of its pipelines fall under the regulatory oversight of the Office of Pipeline Safety in the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The company is proud of its safety record and follows many regulations and procedures to monitor and ensure the integrity of its pipelines.
 The company acquired Canada's [[British Columbia|BC-based]] [[Terasen Inc.]] on [[November 30]], [[2005]], which was subsequently renamed [[Kinder Morgan Canada Inc.|Kinder Morgan Canada]]. On May 30, 2006 it was announced that a group led by co-founder [[Richard Kinder|Richard D. Kinder]] offered to buy the company for $22 billion. Its other co-founder is [[William Morgan (businessman)|William Morgan]]. The company began in 1997 as a spinoff of some assets of [[Enron]], and now employs many former Enron employees, including former Enron whistleblower [[Jordan Mintz]].