PHMSA sets conditions for Enbridge to restart failed pipeline

July 31, 2012

The US Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration prohibited Enbridge Energy Partners LP from restarting a shut-down crude oil pipeline in Wisconsin until it submits a restart plan for the US Department of Transportation agency’s approval.

Nick Snow

PHMSA issued a corrective action order on July 31 requiring a restart plan for the entire 467-mile pipeline segment as well as mechanical and metallurgical testing and failure analysis of the ruptured pipe, evaluation of previous in-line inspection results, and submission of an integrity validation and remedial work plan.

The pipeline operator also will be required to have an independent evaluator investigate the company’s integrity management plan for Line 14, PHMSA said.

Enbridge said on July 30 that restarting the pipeline would be evaluated once repairs were completed, which could occur possibly as soon as July 31.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].

About the Author

Nick Snow

NICK SNOW covered oil and gas in Washington for more than 30 years. He worked in several capacities for The Oil Daily and was founding editor of Petroleum Finance Week before joining OGJ as its Washington correspondent in September 2005 and becoming its full-time Washington editor in October 2007. He retired from OGJ in January 2020.