Pipeline failure in northern Alberta

[marty007]

Link

This appears to be a modern pipeline installed in northern Alberta. It will be interesting to learn exactly what the failure mode was, because this is certainly going to have implications for proposed oil export pipelines across northern Canada (east or west).

I'm not involved in pipeline design, but does anyone have any theories?

Cheers,

 

[LittleInch]

There don't seem to be any pictures our too much technical data other than it was transporting a high temperature (100c) emulsion also containing sand. It looks like a pipe in pipe system to insulate it, but other than size, 20 inch, no other details are out there.

Theories... Could be corrosion, erosion or thermal stress failure, very difficult to tell from a distance with nothing to go on.

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[LittleInch]

Further details in the pipelines forum

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=391580

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.