The state oil company detected a break of approximately 3 millimeters that generated the problem. The arrangements would be completed on Friday.
The National Administration of Fuel, Alcohol and Portland (Ancap) is already working on repairs to the damaged pipeline that generated a oil spill at kilometer 56 of the Interspa Route.
The break in the pipe that transports oil from José Ignacio to the refinery The Tile It is approximately 3 millimeters. As reported Ancap, Repair tasks are already being carried out, which included the excavation of two meters of soil, while the pipeline was buried at that depth.
Likewise, sources from the state oil company informed Channel 5 that thickness measurements in a 6-meter section of the pipe, obtaining satisfactory results in the majority of the analyzed segment. Despite the pipeline being more than 40 years old, the wall thicknesses remain in factory conditions in the majority of the evaluated section. However, in a section of approximately 80 centimeters, located just at the edge of the entrance and at the height of a concrete post, the analyzes did not yield optimal results.
Among the hypotheses that explain the rupture, the corrosion, although Ancap indicated that there were no indications that the place was at risk of loss; a mechanical issue such as, for example, breakage by heavy machinery; or “a combination of both in this case, due to the location where the break is suspected.”
The best form of repair in these cases is the placement of a healthy envelope, a pipe that is placed on the outside to contain the damaged part of the pipeline. All tasks are expected to be completed by Friday.
No pollution of waterways
From the Ministry of Environment They assured that the loss in the pipeline did not contaminate nearby waterways.
According to the portfolio led by Robert Bouvier, “No hydrocarbon was detected in liquid form,” although “a strong odor was perceived.” Although the oil was channeled into a “rain canal,” Ancap placed absorbent material to prevent the spill from continuing.
“The stormwater channel, approximately 400 meters long, does not flow into a watercourse, but is lost in the countryside,” stated the Ministry of the Environment, which also inspected the Sarandí stream, at about 1,200 meters, “without finding signs of contamination.”
“The presence of groundwater wells at a certain distance from the affected place, immediately notifying OSE,” adds the official report from the portfolio, although it points out in that sense that the wells “have not shown any damage.”
Despite these findings, Ambiente assured that it “will continue to monitor” the situation “closely”, together with Ancap and other institutions to “mitigate environmental impact” at ground level.
Source: Ambito
