During maintenance work on the Longhorn pipeline system for Magellan Midstream Partners, a contractor punctured the pipeline causing approximately 50,000 gallons of Permian Basin crude oil to spill. The incident occurred about four miles southwest of Bastrop Texas.
The Longhorn pipeline, which is responsible for carrying crude oil from the Permian Basin in West Texas to the Houston area – the nation’s biggest refining center, will be out of service for an unknown period of time. Andy Lipow, president of Lipow Oil Associates in Houston, said “If it’s down for a substantial period of time, it’s going to impact crude oil available in the Houston Market. If it was a significant problem, some refiners might have to reduce their runs.”
Magellan released a statement saying “Efforts are in progress to contain the crude oil release to minimize environmental impact and to ensure public safety. The oil has been contained in a small area around the pipeline release and no crude oil has reached any water.”
As a precaution, residents living within a mile of the spill were temporarily evacuated. Thankfully, everyone was permitted to return to their homes later that evening. Magellan said they would reimburse those residents for any costs incurred during the evacuation.
Pipeline rupture spills 50,000 gallons of Permian Basin crude oil in Bastrop County
