Arkansas: Exxon Pipeline Ruptures Befouling Small Town
B. McPherson This could come to your neighbourhood too. An old oil pipeline threading through a small town in Arkansas ruptured Friday spewing thousands of barrels of diluted bitumen(dilbit) on houses and yards. Twenty-two homes had to be evacuated with no word as to when it is safe for the people to return. The Exxon Pegasus pipeline was installed in the 1940s. Originally it carried refined oil but had been converted to carry oil sands product south for refining. Critics of the plans by oil companies to carry dilbit in pipelines, point out that the flow under pressure acts much like sandpaper would on the interior of the pipes, continuously scouring the metal. The continuing corrosive action of the product is expected to cause more pipeline ruptures. While Exxon has declined to give a figure as to how much product had leaked from the broken pipe, they have stated that 12 000 barrels of oil and water have been recovered. Exxon spokesperson has stated that the air...