Environmental Risk Analysis and Risk Assessment for Osbra Pipeline: A New Approach

Osbra pipeline (Oleoduto Sa˜o Paulo – Brasi´lia), about 1000 Km long, is one of the main pipelines of Petrobras Transportes S. A. - Transpetro and its function is to carry gasoline, diesel oil, aviation kerosene and liquefied petroleum gas throughout the Center-West region of Brazil. As it crosses several states of Brazil (Sa˜o Paulo, Minas Gerais and Goia´s) and Federal District (Brasi´lia), the process of renewal of the environmental license at the federal level required a series of environmental studies. Accordingly, a new study is being performed, considering, in addition to the already consecrated Quantitative Risk Assessment, a new methodology for recognition and analysis of the vulnerable environmental elements along the pipeline right-of-way in what concerns oil spill. This study intends to present the aforementioned methodology according to the following topics: Characterization of the undertaking and of the surrounding region; identification of the notable points; identification of the sensitive environmental elements in the hydrographic basins; Preliminary Hazard Analysis; definition of accident scenarios; dimension of possible leaks along the pipeline right-of-way and their consequences (physical effects); calculation of frequencies; calculation and evaluation of risks (social and individual); classification of environmental sensitivity; contingency actions analysis and conclusions. Development of this work brings as a result a more detailed knowledge of the consequences of an occasional accident arising from pipeline related activities, to the end of preventing and protecting the vulnerable elements (man and environment) along the pipeline right-of-way.