NEW YORK, Aug 20 (Reuters) - BP Plc will replace the section of a leaking 12-inch refined product pipeline in Hammond, Indiana most likely late Saturday, but a restart time for the pipeline is not known, a spokesman for the Environmental Protection said on Friday.
Jim Mitchell, the onscene coordinator for District 5 of the U.S. EPA said a 1-inch crack had been discovered in the pipeline and that it had been patched.
The pipeline runs between BP's Whiting, Indiana refinery and BP-owned product storage terminals in Illinois.
The water table is very high in the area due to heavy rains, which is something that has been factored in as to discovering why the 82-year old pipeline sprung a leak, Mitchell said.
The high ground water is also impeding efforts to remove the oil water in the area around the leak, which has been isolated. Mitchell expected it would take a day for the vacuum trucks to perform the procedure.
BP will also replace another section of the pipeline as a precautionary measure, although it is not leaking, as a 'proactive' measure.
The restart of the pipeline is up to the Department of Transportation, Mitchell said.
(Reporting by Janet McGurty; editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid) Keywords: BP WHITING/PIPELINE Thursday, 19 August 2010 12:09:22RTRS {C}ENDS Keywords: BP WHITING/PIPELINE (janet.mcgurty@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: janet.mcgurty.reuters.com@reuters.net; 646 226 3027) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
Jim Mitchell, the onscene coordinator for District 5 of the U.S. EPA said a 1-inch crack had been discovered in the pipeline and that it had been patched.
The pipeline runs between BP's Whiting, Indiana refinery and BP-owned product storage terminals in Illinois.
The water table is very high in the area due to heavy rains, which is something that has been factored in as to discovering why the 82-year old pipeline sprung a leak, Mitchell said.
The high ground water is also impeding efforts to remove the oil water in the area around the leak, which has been isolated. Mitchell expected it would take a day for the vacuum trucks to perform the procedure.
BP will also replace another section of the pipeline as a precautionary measure, although it is not leaking, as a 'proactive' measure.
The restart of the pipeline is up to the Department of Transportation, Mitchell said.
(Reporting by Janet McGurty; editing by Sofina Mirza-Reid) Keywords: BP WHITING/PIPELINE Thursday, 19 August 2010 12:09:22RTRS {C}ENDS Keywords: BP WHITING/PIPELINE (janet.mcgurty@thomsonreuters.com; Reuters Messaging: janet.mcgurty.reuters.com@reuters.net; 646 226 3027) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
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