Sable Offshore has asked Santa Barbara County for approval to conduct exploratory digs to check anomalies at seven points along onshore Segment 324 of the Santa Ynez Unit pipeline system. This 10.86 mile segment runs from the Los Flores Canyon Processing Facility to the Gaviota Pump Station (map below).
According to the Emergency Special Permit issued by PHMSA, Sable is required to conduct in-line inspections (ILIs) with metal loss tools every 6 months for the first 2 years of operation.
Where metal loss is identified, immediate repair is required if the remaining strength of pipe shows a predicted failure pressure <1.39 times the maximum operating pressure (MOP).
Where direct field examinations indicate pipe wall loss of 40% or more, permanent repairs are required.
Comments:
- On the plus side, it appears that the ILIs identified anomalies as intended.
- The number of anomalies that have been identified is concerning. (Per PHMSA, the last ILI was on 12/10/2022, several years prior to the restart of production.)
- Note that external corrosion caused the failure leading to the 2015 Refugio spill. The followup excavations should be effective in confirming such corrosion.
- Are the mitigations specified in the Refugio investigation report sufficient?
- If the County releases a high-profile applicant’s letter to local media and NGOs, they should also post the letter on the County website so that other interested parties have access.
- “The county did not inform the Coastal Commission about the excavation request until Wednesday afternoon at the EDC’s request.” Is it appropriate for the Environmental Defense Center to be directing the County in this manner?
