Russia's giant Komi oil spills (37288 bytes) are not likely to pollute the Arctic Ocean or foreign shores, two U.S. Senate committees have been told.
The spills are about 25 miles north of Usinsk in Komi republic of the Russian federation. In July and August 1994, persistent leaks occurred along a 32-mile, 26 in., 800,000 b/d pipeline operated by Russia's Komineft.
Heavy rains last fall caused the water level of the swampy area to breach dams, spilling large volumes of crude into creeks and rivers.
Robert Huggett, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official, says the Komi spill is unlikely to pollute the Arctic Ocean because it is more than 400 river miles away
He told a joint session of the Senate energy and environment committees, "This does not mean the arctic ecosystem will be spared the impact of the spill. This spill, and the fact there have likely been others, has likely degraded the habitat in the upper parts of the river system so as to effect fish and water associated birds and mammals."
SPILL VOLUME
Patricia Godley, assistant U.S. energy secretary for fossil energy, told the Senate hearing the amount of oil lost through the breached dams was from 100,000 to more than 2 million bbl. A United Nations estimate placed it at more than 580,000 bbl.
Moscow reported Komineft has cleaned up a fifth of the polluted area by mid April, largely by burning the oil.
Godley said, "On June 12 the pipeline developed a new leak about 3 miles from the Kolva River. Komineft has been told to inspect all existing pipelines and replace worn out sections.
The cost of replacing the leak prone sections is likely to exceed $100 million. Komineft has sought permission to increase its exports of crude oil to raise money to pay for the cleanup and repairs.
The World Bank provided a $99 million loan for an emergency oil spill cleanup project, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development approved a $25 million loan for a new pipeline and cleanup.
Godley said the Komi spill is a symptom of a broader problem in the 31,000 mile Russian oil pipeline network. Public sources say 5-7% of Russia's oil production is lost through leaks in its pipeline system.
"The failure of the nearly 20 year old Komineft pipeline was likely caused by poor foundations, inadequate pressure control, substandard water crossings, and progressive internal corrosion," she said.
"As much as 35% of the fluid flowing through the pipeline is produced water. If water is not removed from the oil before entering the pipeline, severe internal corrosion can occur."
Godley also said 25-70% of Russia's pipelines are thought to be in dangerous disrepair.
SPILL RUNOFF
Jerry Gault, speaking for the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration, said the Komi spill is really a series of spills 30-45 km along the pipelines. The spilled oil can move significant distances only during high runoff periods: the spring thaw and autumn rain.
He said the Russians have made major efforts to build dikes and dams across feeder streams that drain the spill areas into the Kolva River.
"All reports suggest that these efforts were successful in limiting the relatively free floating oil from migrating into the river system during the spring thaw and flooding that has just occurred.
"It should be remembered that the majority of the spilled oil is bound up in vegetation of the thousands of square meters of bogs, fens, and stream banks associated with the individual spills that make up the total spill."
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