Method for preventing spills resulting from pipeline failures

A petroleum pipeline safety system for preventing contamination of an environmentally sensitive area close to a pipeline, the system comprising:

• a first portion of the pipeline comprising an upstream portion of the pipeline supplying a flow of fluid material;
• a second portion of the pipeline comprising a crossing portion of the pipeline, receiving the flow of fluid material from the upstream portion and conveying the flow of fluid material through the environmentally sensitive area to a downstream portion of the pipeline;
• a third portion of the pipeline comprising the downstream portion of the pipeline;
• a pipeline pressure activated valve selectively capable of blocking the flow of fluid material from entering the crossing portion based upon a change in pressure within the crossing portion;
• an fluid capacitor connected to the upstream portion configured to filter out a pressure spike in the upstream portion associated with the pipeline pressure activated valve blocking the flow of fluid material, wherein the fluid capacitor is connected in-line with the pipeline;
• and
• a flow restrictor downstream of the pipeline pressure activated valve and upstream of the crossing portion of the pipeline, wherein the flow restrictor is configured to create a lower pipeline internal pressure within the crossing portion as compared to a pipeline internal pressure within the upstream portion.