A pipeline managed by Energy Transfer LP has leaked jet fuel for over 16 months, leading to the contamination of residential water wells in Pennsylvania. A preliminary investigation by regulators indicates that the pipeline may be susceptible to additional leaks. Residents of Upper Makefield Township, located approximately 30 miles northeast of Philadelphia, reported odor issues to the company as early as September 2023, but the company did not detect a leak at that time, according to a report from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The leak was traced back to a sleeve installed in the mid-1990s, and PHMSA noted that 44 similar sleeves on the pipeline could also be at risk of leaking.
This report follows the company’s recent repair of a damaged section of the Twin Oaks pipeline and the initiation of testing on residential water wells, some of which have shown contamination with hydrocarbons. PHMSA has permitted the pipeline to operate at a reduced pressure of 20% while remediation efforts are underway, which includes submitting a plan within 90 days to replace sleeves that cannot be deemed “reasonably assured” in terms of integrity. Bryan Lethcoe, director of PHMSA’s southwest region office of pipeline safety, stated that the “apparent inability to effectively detect the leak has potentially exacerbated the impacts of the release over an extended period.” He emphasized the need for corrective measures to mitigate the integrity risks of the pipeline system to safeguard public safety, property, and the environment.
Energy Transfer has stated that it is reviewing the order and intends to respond within 30 days, expressing its commitment to collaborate with PHMSA, relevant regulatory agencies, Upper Makefield Township, and affected landowners to resolve the situation promptly and safely.
