Curious about gas/diesel after East Coast pipeline crash

[BrentB]

Pre-weekend update:

% stations without gasoline, 5pm CT, change since last update:

AL 9% NC
DC 75% +2%
DE 5% +1%
FL 30% NC
GA 49% +1%
KY 3% NC
LA 0% NC
MD 39% +3%
MS 8% +1%
NC 69% +1%
NJ 1% +1%
SC 52% NC
TN 33% NC
TX 0% NC
VA 50% -2%
WV7% +1%

[BrentB]

% stations without gasoline, 7am CT, change since last update:
AL 9% NC
DC 87% +8%
DE 4% NC
FL 30% NC
GA 49% -1%
KY 3% NC
LA 0% NC
MD 42% +1%
MS 7% NC
NC 69% -2%
NJ 1% NC
SC 51% -1%
TN 33% NC
TX 0% NC
VA 51% -1%
WV 6% -1%

[Jerry Burks]

I am wondering if the military has separate supply lines. Otherwise it would be too easy to shut down most of defense directly and a lot of the supply logistics indirectly in case of a future potential conflict (at least here in the US). I don't think tanks or fighter jets are ready to run on batteries yet...

[TonyMac]

Originally Posted by Jerry Burks

I am wondering if the military has separate supply lines. Otherwise it would be too easy to shut down most of defense directly and a lot of the supply logistics indirectly in case of a future potential conflict (at least here in the US). I don't think tanks or fighter jets are ready to run on batteries yet...

Some bases are on a separate pipeline, but others have it trucked in. Alot depends on usage. Either way, there is always a pipeline involved, from the field to the refinery to the user, there's a pipeline somewhere. And there's no where near enough trucks or rolling stock to make up for massive pipeline outages.

[LETMGROW]

As long as we keep paying the attackers we won't have anything to worry about. What's a few more trillion dollars thrown away?
I'm afraid this is only a start.

[baraff]

From this article it appears Colonial's backoffice IT billing system was compromised. Colonial stopped the flow because they could not bill for it.




"Speculation abounded as to precisely what led to the shutdown of the pipeline on Friday, May 7 though the most likely explanation is that rather than compromising the operational technology (OT) controlling the pipeline's pumps and valves, the ransomware KO'd back-office systems used for monitoring oil flows and generating billing records based on those flows.
If you can pump oil but can't tell who you're pumping it to or how much they're taking, your oil-as-a-service business will miss out on significant profits and your engineers will rapidly lose sight of how much wear and tear safety-critical systems are enduring. Hence the shutdown."



https://www.theregister.com/2021/05/...peline_ransom/

[SlowJoe]

This pipeline was running for a long time before internet was even thought of. How is it possible that nobody was creative enough to figure a work around solution out? It flowed oil for 30 years with no internet. We cant do it now?



Did anybody learn anything from this situation? Colonial employees? Federal employees? General public?





This was not an emergency, it was a fire drill and we overwhelmingly failed. If this is the best our country can muster at this point, then we are set for a serious reality check if real adversity comes our way ever again.
















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[frank1018]

2.89 in the great smoky mountains today for regular and there is gas on the quiet side. I was not in pigeon forge area.

[BrentB]

% stations without gasoline, 8pm CT, change since last update:
AL 8% -1%
DC 88% NC
DE 3% -1%
FL 25% -2%
GA 46% -1%
KY 3% +1%
LA 0% NC
MD 39% NC
MS 6% -1%
NC 67% +2%
NJ 1% NC
SC 49% +1%
TN 29% -2%
TX 0% NC
VA 43% -2%
WV 6% NC

[chriscowles]

There are stations in Gainesville FL with no gas. We're not even served by the affected pipeline.

[Bobby F]

Originally Posted by baraff

Colonial stopped the flow because they could not bill for it.

Yeah, that's what I'd say too.

[TriMoot]

I work for a medium sized company, over 40k employees and we got hit with it about 2.5 years ago. All it takes is one person opening the wrong email and having an unpatched server or two and it can FLY through a company.

We spent the next 6 months rebuilding servers.

We now have several new technologies in place to help prevent the intrusion and spread of this particular virus.

The question is, can we stay ahead of these hackers?

Since most back office software is Microsoft based, and each MONTH MS pushes out 100+ patches to various operating systems as well as back office infrastructure applications it’s just a matter of time before some OTHER virus gets us.

[IC2]

Originally Posted by SlowJoe

This pipeline was running for a long time before internet was even thought of. How is it possible that nobody was creative enough to figure a work around solution out? It flowed oil for 30 years with no internet. We cant do it now?

Once you have converted, you have in a few words, left analog/manual technology behind and gone digital with all new controlling devices from a simple new valve to operation of their turbines, motors and engines along with all of the safety devices. About 35 years ago I was involved with the digital update design and installation at another fossil fuel transmission system in only two of their stations. I've forgotten the exact dollar figures but they were in the millions.It took many semi truck loads to move the new material in place, install, start, test and put in operation plus several weeks work. This particular pipeline was over 3 feet in diameter with the driver engine being over 25.000 Hp.

[KenZ71]

Assuming the pipeline only moved gasoline not diesel as well so why is diesel spiking too?