BP Olympic Pipeline leak discovered in gasoline line, not line carrying SEA jet fuel
EVERETT, Wash. — The line whose leakage triggered a week-long shutdown of the entire Olympic Pipeline system was carrying gasoline, not jet fuel as initially feared, according to Senator Maria Cantwell.
Cantwell said in a news release Tuesday that British Petroleum (BP) confirmed the leak originated in the gasoline line, the larger of the two pipelines in the Olympic system.
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The leak was discovered by a blueberry farmer on Nov. 11, who then alerted BP. Aerial shots from the KOMO News drone reveal a 200-foot section of the two pipelines partially unearthed in the middle of a blueberry field in Snohomish County, south of Everett.
The section was excavated throughout the week as crews attempted to find the source of the leak.
The gasoline pipeline is 20 inches in diameter, and the jet fuel pipeline is 16 inches in diameter, running parallel to one another. In the images, a section of the gas line is marked, possibly indicating the leak’s location. The soil near appears stained, and under the marked section of the pipeline is a giant absorption pad.
Details on the extent of the spill and repair timeline remain unclear, but BP confirmed Tuesday morning that the smaller pipeline has restarted. Cantwell said it could take a couple of days to replenish the fuel reserves at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA).
The leak has raised significant concerns, according to Cantwell.
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The pipeline has caused disruptions in air travel during the holiday week after both lines were shut down to locate the source of the problem, sparking anxiety over refueling delays and shortages right before Thanksgiving.
Airlines launched contingency plans during the full shutdown phase, relying on tankers to deliver fuel to the Port of Seattle and adding fuel stops on some of their long-haul flights.
On Monday, passengers told KOMO News, they were heading to Atlanta but learned via a text message from Delta that they were landing in Salt Lake City first to refuel. Passengers heading to Boston experienced the same change.
Alaska Airlines also began re-fueling stops, but on Tuesday, both airlines said they were back to normal operations and would no longer make stops for fuel.
BP initiated a partial restart of the jet fuel line Monday night, and a full restart Tuesday morning after the leak was confirmed to be in the gas pipe, providing relief to airlines and passengers.
However, Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for Gas Buddy, warned that holiday travel could still be affected.
“There’s a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel in this situation,” DeHaan said, noting that while gasoline demand is low, the holiday could impact supply.
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“You’d need over 1,000 tanker trucks every day to replace this pipeline,” DeHaan said, though he does not anticipate a rise in gas prices. He expects prices to decrease by 10 cents or more by Christmas in Seattle. However, smaller stations might face supply issues as priorities shift to larger travel stops.
Gov. Bob Ferguson confirmed the jet fuel pipeline’s operational status and stated that while there has been no significant change in gas prices, the state is closely monitoring the situation.
Sen. Cantwell continues to call for accountability, stating, “BP has a responsibility to operate this pipeline through our communities safely.”