Corrosion Caused Pipeline Explosion|ABC 13

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Corrosion Caused Pipeline Explosion

12/15/08 11:42 pm | reporter: Brian Damewood producer: Amy Foster

search tags: pipleline • appomattox • explosion

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ABC 13 - Corrosion Caused Pipeline Explosion

Appomattox Co., VA - After months of analysis, Williams Gas Pipeline officials say they now know what caused this pipeline to explode in Appomattox County. The company says it was corrosion on the outside of Line B that caused the line to weaken and burst into flames. And Williams says an error in pipeline testing devices didn't give them the warning they needed.

Monday night Williams explained their findings to folks who live in the area. The part about those testing devices, Williams officials admit that's troubling to them. Because these testing devices do come with a margin of error. Williams just wishes that error didn't destroy two homes.

Williams Gas Pipeline now knows why an explosion wiped two houses off the map in Appomattox County.

John Batchedler, Williams Gas Pipeline Company - "The immediate cause of the pipeline was due to external corrosion."

Corrosion caused by decades of the pipeline, Line B, sitting underground. John Batchedler of Williams says they were analyzing testing results from earlier in the year that showed the pipeline at the explosion site was breaking down.

Batcheldler - "It was strictly a matter of timing that we didn't get to it before it failed."

Batchedler says an error in those testing results did not show the pipe was as weak as it was, so Williams didn't think they needed to repair Line B as quickly.

Batchedler - "If the severity is great enough, we go immediately out, we de-pressure the line, and we do an investigation. In this particular case, the tool was not reporting a severity that would require us to be concern immediately."

That error has Gene Bryant questioning Williams' testing methods.

Gene Bryant, Lives Near Explosion Site "That does yeah. I means they're going to have to go back and do something better than that."

But even with that error and explosion Bryant say Williams repair efforts make him confident Line B is ready for full pressure.

Bryant -"I've been watching them since day one. And they've done a super job I think."

Williams hopes to get a nod of approval from PHMSA— the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. And PHMSA says it could be days or weeks before any pressure is restored to Line B.

Alex Dankanich, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration - "As long as it takes to perform a thorough analysis of the repairs they made to their system."

To make sure something like this doesn't happen again.

One positive thing Williams says they can take from this disaster is that they better understand how their testing technology can fail. Now they'll be able to make improvements and find ways to make natural gas pipelines safer.

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