Investigators are assessing whether latent damage from recent hurricanes contributed to the Eugene Island pipeline leak in July, a federal pipeline agency spokesman said Tuesday.
Damon Hill, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 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 oil fields 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 (RDSa.L), which has said it expects to have the line repaired and back in operation by late September, declined comment on potential causes.
"The incident remains under investigation and it would be premature to speculate on a cause," a spokesman said.
A leak in the pipeline, which stretches southwestward offshore of Houma, Louisiana, was discovered 33 miles (48 km) off the coast July 25, and Shell shut down the key Gulf Coast crude supply link.
An estimated 1,500 barrels of oil spilled but was cleaned up before reaching shore. The line was carrying 100,000 barrels per day at the time of the leak.
Shell has said divers found a crack in the line but has not provided additional details. Nearly all of the oil flowing through the line was rerouted to other pipelines, Shell said.
Ray Ayers, who runs a pipeline repair cooperative for the industry, said latent damage is unlikely since pipelines are protectively coated, flexible and not easily damaged.
"I believe that if there is damage caused by a hurricane, it is something that is learned about pretty quickly after a hurricane," Ayers said.
Regulators require both routine inspections and checks of pipelines after storms.
Neither is age necessarily an issue, industry veterans said. The Eugene Island line is 33 years old but properly maintained could be kept in very good shape, they said.
Pipeline incidents onshore and offshore have been on the rise -- 430 in 2008 versus 339 in 1999 -- but serious incidents have dropped to 42 from 66 over the same period, Hill said.
Damon Hill, spokesman for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 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 oil fields 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 (RDSa.L), which has said it expects to have the line repaired and back in operation by late September, declined comment on potential causes.
"The incident remains under investigation and it would be premature to speculate on a cause," a spokesman said.
A leak in the pipeline, which stretches southwestward offshore of Houma, Louisiana, was discovered 33 miles (48 km) off the coast July 25, and Shell shut down the key Gulf Coast crude supply link.
An estimated 1,500 barrels of oil spilled but was cleaned up before reaching shore. The line was carrying 100,000 barrels per day at the time of the leak.
Shell has said divers found a crack in the line but has not provided additional details. Nearly all of the oil flowing through the line was rerouted to other pipelines, Shell said.
Ray Ayers, who runs a pipeline repair cooperative for the industry, said latent damage is unlikely since pipelines are protectively coated, flexible and not easily damaged.
"I believe that if there is damage caused by a hurricane, it is something that is learned about pretty quickly after a hurricane," Ayers said.
Regulators require both routine inspections and checks of pipelines after storms.
Neither is age necessarily an issue, industry veterans said. The Eugene Island line is 33 years old but properly maintained could be kept in very good shape, they said.
Pipeline incidents onshore and offshore have been on the rise -- 430 in 2008 versus 339 in 1999 -- but serious incidents have dropped to 42 from 66 over the same period, Hill said.
