Exxon Pegasus Pipeline Cracks May Have Worsened Before Rupture
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Exxon Mobil Corp.’s Pegasus pipeline failed because of original manufacturing defects that may have worsened, according to a report paid for by Exxon and released by regulators today.
“It is highly probable that some micro-cracking within the upset/heat-affected zones might have occurred immediately following the pipe manufacturing,” Hurst Metallurgical Research Laboratory of Euless, Texas, said in the report. “The micro-cracks then likely would have merged by further cracking through the adjacent areas” during service.