Frozen/chilled fluid for pipelines and for storage facilities

A pipeline for transporting a hazardous fluid, said pipeline comprising:

• (a) a first hollow pipe having an inlet end and an outlet end;
• (b) a plurality of sensors arranged along said pipe at spaced intervals between said inlet end and said outlet end, said sensors being operative to sense when said hazardous fluid is likely to escape from said pipe;
• (c) a first valve, disposed at said inlet end, for controlling the entry of fluid into said pipe;
• (d) a second valve, disposed at said outlet end, for controlling the exit of fluid from said pipe;
• and
• (e) at least one control device, responsive to said sensors, for closing at least one of the first valve and the second valve, whereby (i) upon detection of said likelihood of escape by one or more of said sensors, at least one of said first valve and said second valve is closed by said control device and (ii) said at least one closed valve restricts the access of said hazardous fluid to said pipe, thereby to render said fluid less hazardous;
• and
• (f) a second hollow pipe, having an inlet end coupled to the outlet end of the first hollow pipe and located downstream from said first hollow pipe, and having an outlet end, and
• (ii) a distal pump, coupled to said second hollow pipe;
• wherein, following the closing of said at least one of said first valve and said second valve, said distal pump is operative to drain said second hollow pipe, by pumping said hazardous fluid out of said second hollow pipe,
• thereby to secure the hazardous fluid that is present in the second hollow pipe.