Preliminary Guess on TETCO Pipeline Explosion Cause: Corrosion

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Spectra blazeThere was an explosion and fire in Spectra Energy’s Texas Eastern Transmission’s (TETCO) “Delmont Line 27” pipeline last Friday (see Texas Eastern Pipeline Explodes near Pittsburgh, Antis Celebrate). The explosion occurred in Salem Township in Westmoreland County, PA, about 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. Although the cause of the explosion is still not known for sure, investigators do have a working theory–corrosion along welded seams in the pipeline. Investigators from the U.S Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) still say, officially, that the cause is “unknown” and the investigation “ongoing.” However, those same investigators have said they found evidence of corrosion and they’ve ordered another section of the pipeline in the area to be dug up, removed, and sent for analysis. Here’s the latest on the situation, along with an estimate of when service might be returned on this very important pipeline…

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