Louisiana - Interstate 20 shut down because of pipeline fire

ksla.com ^ | December 14, 2007

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

DELHI, La. (AP) - Interstate 20, a major east-west route across north Louisiana was shut down Friday afternoon after a nearby oil pipeline erupted in flames.

Sgt. Markus Smith of the Louisiana State police says the explosion happened about 1 pm.

Details were sketchy, but Smith says the pipeline was burning just east of Delhi, a small town about 200 miles northwest of New Orleans. The dispatcher for the Richland Parish Sheriff's Department, who would not give his name, says the oil line is about 50 yards from the interstate. He says the four-mile stretch from Delhi to the Waverly exit will be closed in both directions indefinitely.

This is the second time in weeks an interstate highway has been shut down because of an oil line fire.

~ snip ~

[upchuck]

Anybody besides me having a case of deja vu over this? Sure sounds familiar. Maybe two weeks ago?

[WFTR]

The fire near I-10 was still burning last week when I went past on my way to Houston. Having a second one so soon is an odd coincidence. I'd like to know what the failure mode was.

Bill

[JustaDumbBlonde]

This explosion happened just across the bayou from our property. I was looking out my kitchen window when the house started to rumble and the fireball shot into the sky. I grabbed my camera and went out the back door and got photos of the fireball. All of the local stations are using my photos. If you’re interested, all upload them to photobucket and post them.

[Tall_Texan]

By all means - FR newsmakers...

[JustaDumbBlonde]

This photo was taken from my back porch at 1:03 central, about a minute after the explosion. The water in the foreground is the pond in my back yard. The bayou is on the other side of the treeline. My house is approximately 1 mile from the actual explosion. Our property runs all along the side of the interstate, which remains closed at this hour.

[HardStarboard]

>>>I'd like to know what the failure mode was.<<<

Security?....!

[cquiggy]

A state run by liberals. So of course it’s a security problem. The problem is they dont believe in security. Well with the exception of armed personal bodyguards.

[WFTR]

Actually, Louisiana isn’t really run by liberals. The state is largely run by corrupt Democrats, but they aren’t exactly liberals.

[WFTR]

Lacking evidence, I wouldn’t assume that security was the issue. Pipes corrode and fail occasionally.

[RightWhale]

Is that an oil pipeline or a product pipeline? Products could be gasoline or kerosene or diesel which might flame up like that.

[SE Mom]

Yikes! That’s an great photo- nice catch.

You ok? Safe?

[JustaDumbBlonde]

This pipeline exploded back in 2000, I believe it was. This time it blew about 50 yards south of I-20. Last time it was about 50 yards north of the freeway. Two blasts in virtually the same place is suspect.

[HAL9000]

Yikes! Stay safe down there.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

It is a natural gas pipeline, supplying the Northeast United States. Local natural gas service will experience no interruptions.

[deport]

Anybody besides me having a case of deja vu over this? Sure sounds familiar. Maybe two weeks ago?

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Yep.... I-10 was shut down east/west in the Atchafalaya basin [between Lafayatte and Baton Rouge, LA] for a couple weeks due to a gas well blow out that was located just north of the roadway something less than a 100 yards. I don’t remember the details but seems there was work been done on the well when it blew....

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Yes, we are safe. Two men from Alabama who were traveling east on I-20 were blown off of the freeway by the blast. One died at the hospital a short time later, the other is very badly burned and they don’t know if he will make it. I am getting my information first hand from law enforcement that were staging on our property.

[RightWhale]

Yes, indeed, natural gas is the most spectacular when it lets go. They can cut it off at the next valve and it gives out quickly.

[balch3]

jihadis?

[deport]

Two blasts in virtually the same place is suspect.

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Yep, makes one wonder about a critical failure in materials/oversite used during construction such as; a bad run of pipe, incompetent welding inspections, cathodic protection failure, or maintenance procedures used after completion, etc.