Texas Pipeline Explosion Caused By Drilling Crew Hitting Gas Pipe
There was a massive Texas pipeline explosion on Thursday, after a construction crew accidentally drilled into a gas line. It caused an emergency evacuation of people nearby. Fortunately, no injuries were reported
Tom Hemrick, the director of Hill County Emergency Management told reports that all of the company’s workers were accounted for: “The fire is definitely getting smaller,” he said during an impromptu meeting in a field in Milford, home to some 700 residents.
A 14-inch line which runs alongside the line which caused the Texas pipeline explosion was still flowing: “It is still flowing because the flow cools the line,” Hemrick said.
Chevron, apparently for their own reasons, declined to specify which pipe it was which was hit. A state regulator said it was part of the West Texas LPG Pipeline Limited Partnership, which transfers natural gas liquids from New Mexico and Texas to Mont Belvieu for treatment.
A CBS-TV affiliate filmed and broadcast spectacular footage of the massive flames rising from the Texas pipeline explosion, engulfing a drilling rig and setting ablaze a number of nearby trucks.
Pipeline explosions are not so uncommon in the U.S. Over thirty such events have occurred this year. Only last month the following explosions occurred:
On October 7, a gas pipeline burst in Howard County, Texas. There was no fire, but, dangerous hydrogen sulfide in the gas forced evacuations of nearby residents. There were no injuries.
On October 7, authorities were notified of a Lion Oil Trading and Transportation crude oil pipeline leak in Columbia County, Arkansas. It was estimated that the leak started on September 21. Oil spread into a Horsehead Creek tributary.
A 30 inch Northern Natural Gas pipeline exploded and burned in Harper County, Oklahoma on October 8. Flames were seen for a number of miles, and some residents nearby were evacuated. There were no injuries.
On October 29, a Koch Industries 8 inch pipeline spilled about 400 barrels of crude oil near Smithville, Texas. The oil polluted a private stock pond and two overflow reservoirs.
