When we install the replacement pipeline, we commit to:
Investing in the
future
We (Esso Petroleum Company, Limited) launched our Southampton to London Pipeline Project late in 2017. The project proposes to replace 90km of our 105km aviation fuel pipeline that runs from our Fawley Refinery near Southampton, to our West London Terminal storage facility in Hounslow.
To date we have completed two public consultations on our project. Feedback from the 1,300 people who have taken part in the consultations, plus our ongoing meetings and conversations with local organisations and landowners, has helped us to refine the pipeline route.
We also listened to feedback about the 20 sub-options along the preferred route alongside technical information, and this has helped the project team to select the majority of sub-options to progress. Click here for details about the sub-option selection.
We are now holding a third consultation to seek views on design refinements – those refinements that may have different potential impacts to our previous proposals for landowners, the environment or communities.
We are seeking the views of landowners, communities, statutory bodies, environmental organisations and local authorities on these design refinements, to make sure that, on balance we have selected the most appropriate route for the replacement pipeline.
Now that we have a clearer idea of where the pipeline route might go, we are also now sharing the details of our proposed temporary logistics hubs, which will support the installation of the pipeline. There are six proposed temporary logistics hubs along the replacement pipeline route.
The consultation is running from 21 January 2019 to 23:59 19 February 2019.
It’s easy to contribute to this consultation, and we do hope you will. We welcome your views, ideas and opinions. The fastest way to respond is online. Simply click here to submit your response. To download a copy of the consultation response please click here and send via:
Email: info@slpproject.co.uk
Post: FREEPOST SLP PROJECT
Following this consultation, we hope to submit a final route as part of our application for development consent in spring 2019.
To see how our project has progressed so far please click here for the project timeline. To view the design refinements that we are now consulting on, as well as our previous proposals, use our interactive map . For access to materials about our previous consultations please visit our document library. If you would like to view our Frequently Asked Questions, please click here.
Based on Esso’s 2015 data for its existing pipeline
Project Commitments
Protect habitats by using a 10m working width when crossing boundaries between fields where there are hedgerows, trees or watercourses.
Avoid all areas of existing classified Ancient Woodland.
Reduce disruption to travel by using trenchless installation techniques for crossing trunk roads, motorways and railways.
Include remotely operated valves to enable sections of the pipeline to be isolated, if necessary.
Ensure that the principles of safe design have been incorporated into the design of the pipeline, as per Esso’s design standards for fuel pipelines, relevant industry codes of practice, and the requirements of the Pipelines Safety Regulations 1996.
Reduce impacts on habitats and soil quality by typically using a standard working width of 30m for open cut trench installation in rural areas.
Protect waterways that are over 30m wide by using trenchless crossings.
Install ‘water stops’ to reduce the risk of underground water impacting on the materials that support the pipe.
Avoid installation in existing Source Protection Zone 1 (SPZ 1) areas to reduce impacts on sources of drinking water.
Monitor the operation of the pipeline 24 hours a day to detect any changes and remotely shut down the pipeline if needed.
