Post-9/11 Investigations Reveal Oil, Gas Achilles Heel

摘要

The statistics describing the nation's oil and gas infrastructure reflect a vast and highly decentralized energy industry. The U.S. is home to roughly 878,000 wells, 161 oil refineries, 726 gas-processing plants, 1,280,000 miles of natural gas pipeline and 220,000 miles of oil pipe, according to the National Academy of Sciences. Thousands of independent owners and operators are the driving force connecting these elements. The sprawling nature of the energy supply chain reveals both its strength and weakness. Consequently, a single act of sabotage at any one point in this chain is unlikely to have a substantial impac on the system as a whole. That is the up side to a decentralized infrastructure.