Ruptured line held 250,000 gallons of gasoline

TEXAS CITY — Crews worked through the night to clean up what could be up to 250,000 gallons of gasoline that spilled when a pipeline ruptured in Texas City early Thursday morning.

The spill forced the evacuation of about 30 homes and closed state Highway 146, as well as the city’s municipal golf course, for about 12 hours.

“This is long from over,” Bruce Clawson, the homeland security coordinator for Texas City, said. “We are really just entering the next phase.”

A pipeline carrying gasoline ruptured about 3 a.m. Thursday.

There were no reports of an explosion or fire related to the incident. There also were no reports of injuries.

Into Bayou Pierre

As much as 250,000 gallons of gasoline might have leaked into Bayou Pierre before the pipeline was shut down, the line’s owner said at a news conference.

Company officials expected to revise those figures as crews got to the damaged pipeline.

Magellan Midstream Partners LP, the owners of the line, said the company received a leak detection alarm on the line about 1 a.m. After shutting the line down, crews confirmed the leak about 3 a.m.

Magellan spokesman Bruce Heine said the underground line is an 18-inch supply line from Texas City to its Pasadena Products Pipeline. The line transports refined products to shippers along the company’s Texas City to Houston pipeline, he said.

“We don’t know what caused the release in the pipeline,” Heine said. The company was removing the failed section to help in the investigation.

The company was able to isolate the section of the rupture and stopped the flow.

Precautions Taken

As a precaution, state Highway 146 between FM 1764 and FM 517 was closed. About 30 homes, a day care center and a couple of businesses were evacuated.

The 25th Avenue extension between state Highway 3 and state Highway 146 also was closed, which meant the Bayou Golf Course was shut down for the day.

The roads reopened, and people were able to go home by 3 p.m.

Some of the evacuated residents stayed at the Nessler Center in Texas City until the all-clear was sounded.

Myra Myles was one of those who took advantage of the city’s accommodations. She said she already was up and helping her 15-year-old daughter get ready for school when police knocked at her door.

“I was scared and nervous, of course,” she said. “I have children and my cat.”

The kids were at school, but Jamaica, her cat, joined Myles at the Nessler Center.

Line In Compliance

Heine said the line was in “compliance with all laws and regulations” but would not confirm when it was last inspected. Regulations require pipelines be inspected every five years.

Since it ships refined products, the line falls under the jurisdiction of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, which was coordinating the state’s response.

Records show there were no previous investigations conducted at the pipeline, and staff members were not aware of any recent problems, agency spokesman Terry Clawson said.

The rupture occurred near a drainage canal that connects to Bayou Pierre on the city’s north side.

Bruce Clawson credited prompt response by Magellan and the Texas City Fire Department for keeping most of the spilled fuel from spreading.

“The goal was to keep it from getting into Moses Lake, and the quick thinking from a veteran Texas City Fire captain who knew exactly where to send the booms did just that,” he said.