Enbridge shuts down Lakehead Pipeline 6B again

Enbridge Energy Partners has shut the Lakehead Pipeline 6B due to anomalies found in the line in Ingham county. The shut down came Wednesday night about 9 p.m., a spokesperson tells Michigan Messenger.

This is the same pipeline that ruptured in late July in Marshall, spewing an estimated one million gallons of crude oil into the Kalamazoo River and a tributary, Talmadge Creek. The EPA says the spill was the largest in Midwest history.

Mike Smith, a spokesperson for Enbridge, says the company agreed as part of its return to operations agreement with the Pipeline Hazardous Material Safety Administration, to conduct electronic internal monitoring of the line looking for any anomalies which could lead to a future rupture or leak on the line. Smith says results from an inline inspection showed four anomalies in the line in southern Ingham county. Those anomalous readings were significant enough the company decided to shut down flow in the line, and conduct dig and inspect operations on the line.

Under dig and inspection operations, Enbridge contractors and staff literally excavate the line, and examine the exterior for corrosion, dents or other issues which could lead to the pipeline’s failure. Smith says the company is currently conducting digs at three sites along the line, to examine the four identified anomalies. Smith said one of the digs was located about five and a half miles outside the village of Stockbridge. Enbridge has a pumping station in the small village that is the next station on the line from Marshall on its way to Sarnia, Ontario.

The Marshall line, Congressional hearings revealed in September, had small anomaly readings prior to the rupture but those readings were considered insignificant at the time.

Smith said excavations on the line began this afternoon after the company obtained the necessary permits from Ingham County officials. The dig will continue through the night and into the day Friday. Smith said the company notified PHMSA Thursday. The notification, Smith said, was not required but was a courtesy. He said he was unsure if Ingham County emergency management officials were notified.