Officials find source of leak in Olympic Pipeline two weeks after first report | US news
Investigators have identified the source of the Olympic Pipeline leak two weeks after fuel was first spotted in a ditch near a blueberry farm in Everett, Washington.
Oil and gas company BP, the operator of the pipeline, shared the following: in a statement He stated that he determined that the leak was occurring in a 20-inch pipeline, not a neighboring 16-inch pipeline, and allowed that pipeline to be restarted.
“Repair plans for the 20-inch segment are being developed and a timeline for repair and restart will be shared when possible,” BP said.
The news follows announcements by Washington and Oregon governors Bob Ferguson and Tina Kotek, respectively, declaring a state of emergency due to fuel supply disruptions. The Olympic Pipeline carries gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products to both states, including 90% of Oregon’s transportation fuel and the bulk of Seattle-Tacoma international airport’s jet fuel.
The spill was first reported on November 11 between the Washington towns of Everett and Snohomish. State Ministry of Ecology determined The leak consisted of a combination of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel. BP shut down two adjacent pipelines in the Olympic Pipeline system (a 16-inch or 20-inch pipeline) to determine the source of the leak.
The statement said the company restarted the 16-inch pipeline on November 16, but was shut down again after “an observed increase in product at a collection point.”
Later that week, on November 19, Ferguson declared a state of emergency in Washington. waiver of state regulations allowing commercial vehicle operators to drive longer to transport jet fuel to the Seattle-Tacoma airport.
Kotek followed suit in Oregon on Monday, declaring a similar state of emergency and waiving commercial driving regulations.
In the comments Reuters On Monday, Seattle-Tacoma and major airlines operating through the airport said they were developing contingencies to avoid disruptions to holiday travel.
“We do not anticipate disruption to our operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport during the Thanksgiving travel week,” Alaska Airlines said, adding that it is bringing extra fuel to Seattle on inbound flights and additional trucking and adding fuel stops on select flights.
Delta Air Lines similarly said it is transporting additional fuel to the airport and adding refueling stops to some long-haul flights.
BP said Monday it had dug “more than 60 meters of pipeline” and was expected to “continue operations tonight.” On Tuesday morning, the company found the source of the leak.
In updated statements Reuters On Tuesday, Delta said it was “operating our entire Seattle hub program and discontinuing fuel stops on select long-haul flights.” Alaska added that it has “paused all planned fuel stops but will continue to load additional fuel by tankers and trucks on a reduced basis as the pipeline increases to normal capacity.”
Repairs to 20-inch pipeline come as Washington state’s ecology department does BP fined $3.8 million For the 2023 gasoline leak from the Olympic Pipeline. The Olympic Pipeline has leaked at least 13 times since 1999, when a leak near Bellingham caused major damage. explosion He killed a teenager and two young children. Accordingly Pipeline Safety FoundationThe pipeline, a Washington state-based nonprofit, leaked three times in 2025.
“These incidents resulted in over $100 million in property damage,” said Pipeline Safety Foundation spokesman Kenneth Clarkson. Statement to the Associated Press. “The Olympic Pipeline must explain what has changed and what they are doing to stop it.”
