Incident Report
Subject: NTSB Releases Photos of Pipeline Spill - Michigan, Talmadge Creek
Date
of Email report: Tue 10/08/2010
Report Detail:
The National Transportation Safety Board today released 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 NTSB's investigation continues.
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