Dive Brief:
- An explosion on Spectra Energy's Texas Eastern pipeline last week has resulted in several pipelines being shut-in, limiting flows to the Northeast and spiking gas futures in a region already hamstrung by a lack of capacity, Bloomberg reports
- The section which ruptured is a large transmission pipe, 30 inches in diameter, and was built in 1981. An inspection four years ago revealed no major issues.
- One man was injured and two homes were damaged in the explosion. However, Spectra said six of the nine evacuated households have returned to their homes, and said there have been limited impacts on customers.
Dive Insight:
Spectra said it is "committed to taking care of all those involved in the incident in Salem Township and safely restoring the area," and that "there has been minimal service disruption to customers so far." Bloomberg reports, however, that news of the incident sent gas futures up 5.6%.
Texas Eastern is one of the largest pipelines in the United States, running from the Gulf Coast, through shale supply regions and into northeast demand centers. According to Bloomberg, the pipeline section which ruptured had been moving 1.3 Bcf/d.
Spectra has been issuing periodic updates on its website here, and on Sunday, said the company is working with investigators from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration on the incident. Additionally, a silt fence was installed to protect a nearby stream from any potential rainwater runoff, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has completed air quality monitoring, while the company is conducting surface water testing
"Safety is at the forefront of all that we do," the company said. "We have completed the release of natural gas from two other pipelines in the area. Although these lines remain shut-in, there has been minimal service disruption to customers so far."
There are four parallel Texas Eastern lines in the right-of-way, and Spectra said that "all of the lines were isolated within an hour of the incident."
Bill Yardley, president of Spectra Energy US Transmission and Storage, issued a statement expressing "deep sympathy and concern for the individual who was injured and his family, as well as our concern for all those affected by this incident. We greatly appreciate the efforts of local responders, and are working closely with them to resolve the situation as swiftly and safely as possible."
Any pipeline issues in a residential area brings to mind the 2010 San Bruno disaster, where a Pacific Gas & Electric line explosion killed eight and destroyed 38 homes. The incident led to billions in penalties for PG&E and the fallout continues more than a half decade later.