Colonial Pipeline Operational Update #9
Update: Monday, May 17, 5:25 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline continues to make substantial progress in safely moving other’s product throughout our pipeline system. We can now report that we are transporting refined products (gasoline, diesel and jet fuel) at normal levels and are fully operational. It will take some time for the fuel supply chain to fully catch-up.
Colonial’s role in the fuel delivery supply chain is outlined in the following infographic.
Thank you to all the terminal operators, the truck drivers making deliveries, and all others who are key in helping to complete the fuel delivery supply chain.
Colonial Pipeline System Restart – Update #8: Full System Restart
Update: Thursday, May 13, 4:40 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline has continued to make substantial progress in safely restarting our pipeline system. We can now report that we have restarted our entire pipeline system and that product delivery has commenced to all markets we serve.
Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during this start-up period. Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.
This would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the many Colonial team members across the pipeline who worked safely and tirelessly through the night to get our lines up and running. We are grateful for their dedicated service and professionalism during these extraordinary times.
Colonial Pipeline System Restart – Update #7
Thursday, May 13, 9:00 a.m.
Colonial Pipeline has made substantial progress in safely restarting our pipeline system and can report that product delivery has commenced in a majority of the markets we service. By mid-day today, we project that each market we service will be receiving product from our system. The green segments on this map are operational, meaning product delivery has commenced. Blue lines will be operational later today.
This would not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the many Colonial team members across the pipeline who worked safely and tirelessly through the night to get our lines up and running. We are grateful for their dedicated service and professionalism during these extraordinary times.
Download Colonial Restart Supply Update PDF
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Colonial Pipeline System Restart – Update #6
Wednesday, May 12, 5:11 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline initiated the restart of pipeline operations today at approximately 5 p.m. ET.
Following this restart, it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal. Some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions during the start-up period. Colonial will move as much gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.
As we initiate our return to service, our primary focus remains safety. As part of this startup process, Colonial will conduct a comprehensive series of pipeline safety assessments in compliance with all Federal pipeline safety requirements.
This is the first step in the restart process and would not have been possible without the around-the-clock support of Colonial Pipeline’s dedicated employees who have worked tirelessly to help us achieve this milestone. We would also like to thank the White House for their leadership and collaboration, as well as the Department of Energy, Department of Transportation, FBI, PHMSA, FERC and other federal, state and local agencies for their ongoing support.
We will continue to provide updates as restart efforts progress.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to restart the pipeline?
We have safely initiated the restart of the Colonial Pipeline system, which means that all lines, including those lateral lines that have been running manually, will return to normal operations and controlled by our centralized control center.
When will product begin to flow into the market?
Although we have initiated the restart of our pipeline system, it will take several days for the fuel delivery supply chain to return to normal. As such, some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions. Colonial Pipeline will move as much gasoline, diesel and jet fuel as is safely possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal.
Will markets experiencing shortages get product first?
Colonial Pipeline is coordinating with shippers to meet market demand, especially in areas that are experiencing shortages. While it will take several days for the product delivery supply chain to return to normal, restarting our pipeline is the first and most critical step in the process to provide product with the communities that need it most.
How much product will Colonial move into the market following restart?
Our system can transport 2.5 million barrels (100 million gallons) per day. As barrels enter our system and our lines pressure up, we will begin to push product out of the system at delivery points.
Is the pipeline secure now?
We have put additional security measures in place to protect our pipeline and would not have initiated restart of our pipeline system if we did not believe it was safe to do so.
What steps did you take to ensure the security of the pipeline before turning it back on? How can you be sure it’s safe to restart the pipeline?
First and foremost, taking our system offline quickly upon detecting the threat was a critical first step in positioning us for an efficient restoration process. Since then, the Colonial Pipeline team and third-party experts have worked tirelessly to conduct hazard assessments, manually monitor the status of our pipeline, and analyze our digital environment to ensure that our pipeline restart plan prioritizes safety and compliance for our employees, our customers, and our communities.
We have a very clear and defined restart plan that meets or exceeds the federal pipeline safety regulations that dictate pipeline start up procedures. We will follow these safety procedures.
What are your next steps, and what are you doing to make sure this will not happen again?
Colonial Pipeline is working with third-party cybersecurity experts to conduct a thorough investigation into the nature and scope of this incident. While our priority at this time remains the safe and efficient restoration of our pipeline services, Colonial Pipeline is dedicated to continuing to build upon our existing cybersecurity protocols to enhance the security of our systems.
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Colonial Pipeline System Disruption – Update #5
Tuesday, May 11, 5:15 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline continues to make forward progress in our around-the-clock efforts to return our system to service, with additional laterals operating manually to deliver existing inventories to markets along the pipeline. Markets experiencing supply constraints and/or not serviced by other fuel delivery systems are being prioritized. We are collaborating with the Department of Energy (DOE) to evaluate market conditions to support this prioritization.
Since our pipeline system was taken offline, working with our shippers, Colonial has delivered approximately 967,000 barrels (~41 million gallons) to various delivery points along our system. This includes delivery into the following markets: Atlanta, Ga., Belton and Spartanburg, S.C., Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C., Baltimore, Md., and Woodbury and Linden N.J.
Additionally, in preparation for our system restart, we have taken delivery of an additional 2 million barrels (~84 million gallons) from refineries for deployment upon restart.
Consistent with our safety policies and regulatory requirements, Colonial has increased aerial patrols of our pipeline right of way and deployed more than 50 personnel to walk and drive ~ 5,000 miles of pipeline each day.
Actions taken by the Federal Government to issue a temporary hours of service exemption for motor carriers and drivers transporting refined products across Colonial’s footprint and actions taken by several Governors to lift weight restrictions on tanker trucks should help alleviate local supply disruptions. This is in addition to the Reid Vapor Pressure waiver issued today by the U.S. EPA that will also help alleviate supply constraints in several states serviced by our system. We would like to thank the White House for their leadership and collaboration in resolving this matter as well as the DOE, PHMSA, FERC and other federal agencies for their ongoing support.
Our primary focus remains the safe and efficient restoration of service to our pipeline system, while minimizing disruption to our customers and all those who rely on Colonial Pipeline. We will continue to provide updates as restoration efforts progress.
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Colonial Pipeline System Disruption – Update #4
Monday, May 10, 7:50 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline is continuing to work in partnership with third-party cybersecurity experts, law enforcement, and other federal agencies to restore pipeline operations quickly and safely. While this situation remains fluid and continues to evolve, the Colonial operations team is executing a plan that involves an incremental process that will facilitate a return to service in a phased approach.
We can now report that Line 4, which runs from Greensboro, N.C., to Woodbine, Md., is operating under manual control for a limited period of time while existing inventory is available. As previously announced, while our main lines continue to be offline, some smaller lateral lines between terminals and delivery points are now operational as well. We continue to evaluate product inventory in storage tanks at our facilities and others along our system and are working with our shippers to move this product to terminals for local delivery.
Our primary focus remains the safe and efficient restoration of service to our pipeline system, while minimizing disruption to our customers and all those who rely on Colonial Pipeline. We will continue to provide updates as restoration efforts progress.
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Colonial Pipeline System Disruption – Update #3
Monday, May 10, 12:25 p.m.
Colonial Pipeline continues to dedicate vast resources to restoring pipeline operations quickly and safely. Segments of our pipeline are being brought back online in a stepwise fashion, in compliance with relevant federal regulations and in close consultation with the Department of Energy, which is leading and coordinating the Federal Government’s response.
Restoring our network to normal operations is a process that requires the diligent remediation of our systems, and this takes time. In response to the cybersecurity attack on our system, we proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which temporarily halted all pipeline operations, and affected some of our IT systems. To restore service, we must work to ensure that each of these systems can be brought back online safely.
While this situation remains fluid and continues to evolve, the Colonial operations team is executing a plan that involves an incremental process that will facilitate a return to service in a phased approach. This plan is based on a number of factors with safety and compliance driving our operational decisions, and the goal of substantially restoring operational service by the end of the week. The Company will provide updates as restoration efforts progress.
We continue to evaluate product inventory in storage tanks at our facilities and others along our system and are working with our shippers to move this product to terminals for local delivery. Actions taken by the Federal Government to issue a temporary hours of service exemption for motor carriers and drivers transporting refined products across Colonial’s footprint should help alleviate local supply disruptions and we thank our government partners for their assistance in resolving this matter.
Our primary focus continues to be the safe and efficient restoration of service to our pipeline system, while minimizing disruption to our customers and all those who rely on Colonial Pipeline. We appreciate the patience of the traveling public and the support we have received from the Federal Government and our peers throughout the industry.
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Colonial Pipeline System Disruption Update #2
Sunday, May 9, 5:10 p.m.
On May 7, Colonial Pipeline Company learned it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack and has since determined that the incident involved ransomware. Quickly after learning of the attack, Colonial proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat. These actions temporarily halted all pipeline operations and affected some of our IT systems, which we are actively in the process of restoring.
Leading, third-party cybersecurity experts were also immediately engaged after discovering the issue and launched an investigation into the nature and scope of this incident. We have remained in contact with law enforcement and other federal agencies, including the Department of Energy who is leading the Federal Government response.
Maintaining the operational security of our pipeline, in addition to safely bringing our systems back online, remain our highest priorities. Over the past 48 hours, Colonial Pipeline personnel have taken additional precautionary measures to help further monitor and protect the safety and security of its pipeline.
The Colonial Pipeline operations team is developing a system restart plan. While our mainlines (Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4) remain offline, some smaller lateral lines between terminals and delivery points are now operational. We are in the process of restoring service to other laterals and will bring our full system back online only when we believe it is safe to do so, and in full compliance with the approval of all federal regulations.
At this time, our primary focus continues to be the safe and efficient restoration of service to our pipeline system, while minimizing disruption to our customers and all those who rely on Colonial Pipeline. We appreciate the patience and outpouring of support we have received from others throughout the industry.
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Colonial Pipeline System Disruption Update #1
Saturday, May 8, 12:30 p.m.
On May 7, the Colonial Pipeline Company learned it was the victim of a cybersecurity attack. We have since determined that this incident involves ransomware. In response, we proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which has temporarily halted all pipeline operations, and affected some of our IT systems. Upon learning of the issue, a leading, third-party cybersecurity firm was engaged, and they have launched an investigation into the nature and scope of this incident, which is ongoing. We have contacted law enforcement and other federal agencies.
Colonial Pipeline is taking steps to understand and resolve this issue. At this time, our primary focus is the safe and efficient restoration of our service and our efforts to return to normal operation. This process is already underway, and we are working diligently to address this matter and to minimize disruption to our customers and those who rely on Colonial Pipeline.
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About Colonial Pipeline
Colonial Pipeline is the largest refined products pipeline in the United States, transporting more than 100 million gallons of fuel daily to meet the energy needs of consumers from Houston, Texas to the New York Harbor.
Colonial is a value-based energy company, well positioned to provide our services in a cost advantaged, reliable, and environmentally sensitive manner with efficient solutions to meet our customers’ needs and the energy demands of the future. We are doing our part to deliver energy that improves lives and keeps the economy moving. At Colonial we are focused on excellence in everything we do. Excellence is woven into our core values. We raise the bar. We exceed the bar. Then we raise it again.
We are more than a pipeline. We are expanding our business to meet the needs of our customers and offer solutions to meet America’s energy demands. Our marine logistics division offers shippers on Colonial an alternative to the Houston Ship Channel by providing water access in the Beaumont Port Arthur area. We develop infrastructure for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and other blending activities, and our 28-million-barrel tank storage capacity helps to maintain a stable supply of energy along our delivery system. In 2020, Colonial expanded its portfolio, acquiring three terminal assets and adding complimentary services to its customer base.
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