History of Colonial Pipeline in Timeline
The Colonial Pipeline, the largest refined oil products pipeline system in the United States, spans 5,500 miles and transports 3 million barrels of fuel daily. Connecting Texas and New York, this vital energy infrastructure comprises three pipelines.
1956: Oil Companies Discuss Gulf Coast-to-East Coast Pipeline
Discussions about a pipeline connecting the Gulf Coast to the East Coast were initiated by eight major oil companies in 1956.
June 7, 1961: Suwannee Pipe Line Company Incorporated
Eight oil companies filed incorporation papers in Delaware on June 7, 1961, to establish the Suwannee Pipe Line Company.
1961: Colonial Pipeline Company Founded
The Colonial Pipeline Company was founded in 1961.
February 1962: Suwannee Pipe Line Company Renamed to Colonial Pipeline Company
The Suwannee Pipe Line Company board decided to change the company's name to Colonial Pipeline Company in February 1962.
March 6, 1962: Colonial Pipeline Company Announces Construction Plans
Colonial Pipeline Company formally announced its construction plans on March 6, 1962, calling it the "largest single, privately financed construction project in the history of the United States."
June 20, 1962: Ceremonial Groundbreaking for Colonial Pipeline Held
A ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony for the Colonial Pipeline took place near Atlanta on June 20, 1962.
July 2, 1962: Colonial Pipeline Company Solicits Bids for Pipeline Construction
Colonial Pipeline Company initiated the bidding process for the construction of 15 segments of the pipeline's mainline on July 2, 1962.
August 1, 1962: Construction of the Colonial Pipeline Begins in Mississippi
Construction work on the Colonial Pipeline began in Mississippi on August 1, 1962.
December 1962: Ben "Tex" Leuty Appointed President of Colonial Pipeline Company
Ben "Tex" Leuty was appointed as the President of Colonial Pipeline Company in December 1962.
1962: Construction of the Colonial Pipeline Begins
Construction of the Colonial Pipeline commenced in 1962.
February 1963: Colonial Pipeline Featured in Fortune Magazine
The Colonial Pipeline Project was featured as the cover story in the February 1963 edition of Fortune magazine, highlighting its scale and significance in the industry.
September 16, 1963: First Linefill of Colonial Pipeline Begins
The initial filling of the Colonial Pipeline with refined product commenced in Houston on September 16, 1963.
November 1963: Colonial Pipeline Delivers Product to Greensboro, North Carolina
In November 1963, the Colonial Pipeline successfully delivered refined product to Greensboro, North Carolina.
April 27, 1964: First Refined Product Delivery to Roanoke, Virginia
The Colonial Pipeline made its first delivery of refined product to the Roanoke, Virginia area on April 27, 1964.
June 2, 1964: Colonial Pipeline's First Delivery to Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
On June 2, 1964, the Colonial Pipeline successfully delivered its first batch of refined product to the Baltimore, Maryland - Washington, D.C., area.
August 1964: Colonial Pipeline Highlighted in Time Magazine
In August 1964, Time magazine published an article titled "The Invisible Network: A Revolution Underground," showcasing Colonial Pipeline's innovative approach to energy transportation.
December 1, 1964: Mainline Construction of Colonial Pipeline Completed
Construction of the Colonial Pipeline's mainline was finished on December 1, 1964, and the Linden Junction Tank Farm and Delivery Facility in New Jersey became operational.
December 18, 1964: Colonial Pipeline System Becomes Fully Operational
The Colonial Pipeline system achieved full operational capacity on December 18, 1964.
1964: Colonial Pipeline Nears Completion of $670 Million Expansion
An expansion project, with a total cost of $670 million, for the Colonial Pipeline neared completion, increasing the system's capacity by 83 percent compared to its initial capacity in 1964.
July 26, 1965: Fred Steingraber Elected President of Colonial Pipeline Company
Fred Steingraber was elected as the President of Colonial Pipeline Company on July 26, 1965.
1965: Colonial Pipeline's Potential Impact Recognized
An article in Pipeline Magazine in late 1965 acknowledged the transformative potential of Colonial Pipeline, suggesting it would revolutionize transportation and marketing operations in the Eastern and Southern United States.
1965: Colonial Pipeline Achieves Average Throughput of 636,553 Barrels per Day
During 1965, its first full year of operation, the Colonial Pipeline system achieved an average throughput of 636,553 barrels of refined product per day.
February 1966: Colonial Pipeline Surpasses Throughput Estimates
By February 1966, the Colonial Pipeline was moving an average of 776,883 barrels of refined product daily, exceeding the initial estimate of 600,000 barrels per day.
May 1966: Colonial Pipeline Initiates Expansion Project
Colonial Pipeline started the first phase of an expansion project in May 1966 to enhance the system's capacity by adding 18 intermediate booster stations.
November 1967: Colonial Pipeline Completes Phase Two of Expansion
The second phase of the Colonial Pipeline expansion was finished in November 1967, incorporating more pump units and a new pipeline segment from Mitchell, Virginia to Roanoke, Virginia.
1971: Colonial Pipeline Begins "Looping" Project
The Colonial Pipeline started a "looping" project in 1971, which involved adding a second pipeline parallel to the existing one, effectively doubling the system's capacity.
November 3, 1978: New Pipeline Segment and Technological Upgrades at Colonial Pipeline
On November 3, 1978, a new 40-inch pipeline segment connecting Atlanta, Georgia to Greensboro, North Carolina, became operational. Colonial Pipeline also implemented geodesic domes on gasoline storage tanks and upgraded its Atlanta control center with an advanced SCADA system.
1980: Colonial Pipeline Completes "Looping" Project
The Colonial Pipeline's "looping" project, which spanned from 1971 to 1980, concluded, significantly expanding the capacity of the pipeline system.
September 1988: Colonial Pipeline Replaces Delaware River Pipe Segment
In September 1988, Colonial Pipeline replaced a 7,700-foot section of its mainline pipe crossing the Delaware River at a cost of $10 million.
1996: Reedy River Spill
A spill occurred on the Colonial Pipeline on the Reedy River in 1996, contributing to the EPA's complaint in 2000.
March 26, 1997: Colonial Pipeline Recognized for Quality Service by Department of Defense
The Department of Defense's Military Traffic Management Command honored Colonial Pipeline Company, along with nine other companies, for their quality service on March 26, 1997.
1997: Bear Creek Spill
Another spill occurred in 1997 on Bear Creek, further adding to Colonial Pipeline's environmental violations and the subsequent EPA complaint.
1999: Goose Creek/Tennessee River Spill
A significant spill occurred in 1999 on Goose Creek and the Tennessee River, marking a series of environmental incidents that culminated in legal action against Colonial Pipeline by the EPA.
1999: First API Award Amidst Environmental Concerns
Despite the ongoing environmental issues and pending EPA complaint, Colonial Pipeline received the American Petroleum Institute's Distinguished Environmental and Safety award in 1999, marking the beginning of a four-year streak of receiving this recognition.
December 31, 1999: Colonial Pipeline Implements Precautionary Shutdown for Y2K
To mitigate any potential Y2K-related power disruptions, Colonial Pipeline temporarily halted operations for a brief period before and after midnight on December 31, 1999.
2000: EPA Files Complaint Against Colonial Pipeline
In 2000, the EPA filed a complaint against Colonial Pipeline for multiple violations of the Clean Water Act, citing gross negligence in several instances.
September 2001: Colonial Pipeline Relocates Headquarters and Enhances Security
Colonial Pipeline Company moved its headquarters from Atlanta to Alpharetta, Georgia in September 2001. Following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the company bolstered security measures at all its facilities.
2002: Fourth Consecutive API Award
Colonial Pipeline received its fourth consecutive American Petroleum Institute's Distinguished Environmental and Safety award in 2002, despite facing a landmark civil penalty for environmental violations in a settlement with the EPA.
April 1, 2003: EPA Settlement and Record Fine
On April 1, 2003, Colonial Pipeline settled a lawsuit with the EPA, agreeing to a $34 million fine, the largest in EPA history at the time, and $30 million in environmental upgrades. This settlement came after a series of spills in the 1990s, including significant incidents on the Reedy River in 1996, Bear Creek in 1997, and Goose Creek/Tennessee River in 1999.
2005: Hurricane Katrina and Operational Adaptations
When Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, Colonial Pipeline faced significant disruptions, operating at reduced capacity due to power outages. The company implemented a strategy of using portable generators to maintain partial service, a practice that evolved in response to subsequent hurricanes.
September 2008: Hurricane Ike Impacts Colonial Pipeline Operations
In the wake of Hurricane Ike in September 2008, the Colonial Pipeline's operational capacity was significantly reduced due to supply disruptions caused by the closure of refineries in the Gulf Coast, leading to gasoline shortages in the southeastern United States.
2008: Generator Strategy Following Hurricanes Gustav and Ike
Following the experience of Hurricane Katrina, Colonial Pipeline had acquired and operated a set of emergency generators. This proactive measure proved valuable when hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit in 2008, demonstrating the company's adaptation to recurring environmental threats.
2012: Investment in Enhanced Disaster Preparedness
In 2012, further reinforcing its commitment to disaster preparedness, Colonial Pipeline invested in a new set of emergency generators, strategically positioning them inland in Mississippi to mitigate risks posed by future storms.
May 7, 2021: Ransomware Cyberattack Forces Colonial Pipeline Shutdown
On May 7, 2021, Colonial Pipeline was hit by a ransomware cyberattack, forcing the company to shut down its operations. This shutdown directly affected approximately 12,000 gas stations.
May 13, 2021: Colonial Pipeline Resumes Operations
Colonial Pipeline resumed its operations on May 13, 2021, following a shutdown caused by a ransomware cyberattack.
May 2021: Ransomware Cyberattack Disrupts Colonial Pipeline Operations
In May 2021, a ransomware cyberattack targeted Colonial Pipeline, leading to a five-day shutdown and fuel shortages along the East Coast.
October 2022: Connection to Philadelphia International Airport
In October 2022, Colonial Pipeline expanded its network by connecting directly to Philadelphia International Airport.
