August 9, 2010 | Mark Paradies

NTSB Press Release: Photos of Michigan Pipeline Rupture

Dsc07434-1

Dsc07332

National Transportation Safety Board
Washington, DC 20594

August 8, 2010

************************************************************
NTSB RELEASES PHOTOS OF
PIPELINE OIL SPILL IN MICHIGAN

************************************************************

The National Transportation Safety Board today released the following photographs of the pipeline that ruptured and spilled oil into a river last week in Marshall, Michigan.

On the evening of Sunday, July 25th, a 30-inch crude oil pipeline, operated by Enbridge Energy Partners/Pipeline, experienced multiple low pressure alarms near the Marshall City Pump station during a planned shutdown.  By 11:45am (EDT) the following morning Enbridge employees confirmed an oil leak extending into nearby Talmadge creek, a tributary to the Kalamazoo River.

Two sections of the pipe, 23 feet, 4-inches and another 26 feet, 10-inches, have arrived at the NTSB for further examination.

The photographs show the length of the fracture which extends approximately 6 1/2 feet longitudinally with the widest portion of the opening measuring 4 1/2-inches.  The fracture was located approximately 25 feet from the upstream joint in a 40 foot section of 30-inch pipe.

The photographs may be viewed by clicking on the following link http://ntsb.gov/Pressrel/2010/100807.html

The NTSB’s investigation continues.

Categories
Root Cause Analysis
-->
Show Comments

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *