Latent hurricane damage investigated in Eugene Island pipeline accident

HOUSTON - Investigators are assessing whether latent damage from recent hurricanes contributed to the Eugene Island pipeline leak in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico in July, a federal pipeline agency spokesman said on Sept. 1.
Damon Hill, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), said the issue is an ongoing concern after recent active seasons featuring several strong storms.
"We do know that a lot of pipelines were affected in the Gulf from past hurricanes, especially when Katrina and Rita came. There were a lot of after-effects," said Hill, whose agency is leading the inquiry.
The U.S. Minerals Management Service, part of the investigation team, acknowledges the possibility of undetected damage after offshore oilfields were raked by storms, notably Ivan in 2004, Katrina and Rita in 2005 and Gustav and Ike in 2008.
"So far, we have not seen a trend of damage showing up later. Of course, with back-to-back storms, it may be hard to determine," said Eileen Angelico, spokeswoman for MMS.
Pipeline operator Shell Pipeline, which has said it expects to have the line repaired and back in operation by late September, declined comment on potential causes.

Coast Guard says Eugene Island oil leak cleanup completed

HOUSTON - Workers on Aug. 3 finished cleaning up 1,500 barrels of crude oil that leaked from the Eugene Island pipeline, according to a joint news release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard and operator Shell Pipeline Co.

Shell said it would repair and restart the line but did not say when.

The pipeline was shut down July 25 after the leak was discovered 33 miles off Houma, La.

Some 80,000 of the 100,000 b/d of crude oil the line was carrying when the leak occurred has been rerouted, Shell said earlier.

Divers found a crack in the line. Shell has given no other details about the damage, what might have caused it or how it might be fixed.