INCREASING media speculation over the cause of the gas pipeline explosions at Apache Energy’s Varanus Island facility has prompted a former engineering consultant to talk about common causes of such incidents.
According to former Western Power chairman and engineering consultant Stuart Morgan, corrosion is a common factor in gas pipeline ruptures. This can be caused by a change in the make-up of the gas flowing through the pipes, or by general wear and tear.
He also claims steel and welding defects were other potential causes of gas pipe explosions.
Similarly, a malfunction during the shut-down or start-up of a gas plant, or a mechanical issue such as the gas pipe being crushed or moved, could cause explosions.
The new round of media speculation was triggered by leaked photographs from the site of the explosion, which were accompanied by an email which claimed the burst pipe had been corroded down to the “thickness of a match stick”.
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