A major fuel pipeline supplying jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has experienced a "release," prompting concerns about potential delivery disruptions. The partial owner and operator of the Olympic Pipeline, BP, confirmed that it successfully implemented a partial restart on Sunday but is still investigating the cause.
As a result, airlines operating at the airport were advised to conserve fuel and may need to "ferry" extra fuel into Seattle, where planes load more fuel at departure to ensure they have enough for their next flight without refueling. This measure aims to mitigate potential shortages in case of further disruptions.
However, according to law enforcement sources, a crack near Everett, Washington, is believed to be the cause behind delays in fuel deliveries to the airport. Excavation will be necessary to identify and fix the issue.
ABC News reported that a large amount of fuel was delivered to SeaTac via the pipeline on Sunday, easing concerns about a shortage. The pipeline company has called in drivers from neighboring states to ensure continued fuel supply, with the Washington State Patrol waiving driver-hour restrictions to expedite deliveries.
SeaTac officials said they are monitoring the situation closely and maintain that they have sufficient reserves, not anticipating any significant impacts on Monday. Airlines are prepared to implement contingency plans if needed.
The 400-mile Olympic Pipeline transports refined fuel products across Washington and Oregon and has experienced issues in the past, including a fatal explosion in Bellingham in 1999.
As a result, airlines operating at the airport were advised to conserve fuel and may need to "ferry" extra fuel into Seattle, where planes load more fuel at departure to ensure they have enough for their next flight without refueling. This measure aims to mitigate potential shortages in case of further disruptions.
However, according to law enforcement sources, a crack near Everett, Washington, is believed to be the cause behind delays in fuel deliveries to the airport. Excavation will be necessary to identify and fix the issue.
ABC News reported that a large amount of fuel was delivered to SeaTac via the pipeline on Sunday, easing concerns about a shortage. The pipeline company has called in drivers from neighboring states to ensure continued fuel supply, with the Washington State Patrol waiving driver-hour restrictions to expedite deliveries.
SeaTac officials said they are monitoring the situation closely and maintain that they have sufficient reserves, not anticipating any significant impacts on Monday. Airlines are prepared to implement contingency plans if needed.
The 400-mile Olympic Pipeline transports refined fuel products across Washington and Oregon and has experienced issues in the past, including a fatal explosion in Bellingham in 1999.
I don't get why they're still having issues with this pipeline after all these years... didn't we learn from that fatal explosion back in '99? 
Like, how many times do you have to fix the same problem before it just becomes a routine thing? 
And now they're telling airlines to ferry fuel around like it's no big deal? That's just gonna add more stress on everyone involved... and what about those drivers from neighboring states? I hope they get some good pay for putting in all that extra time and mileage 
. Can't we just have one pipeline run smoothly for once without all the drama? 
! Can't we just rely on good old-fashioned maintenance instead of fancy partial restarts? 
... I mean, have you seen how thin those cracks are? It's like they're just waiting for something to go wrong again 
. I don't think we should be relying on one major fuel pipeline like that, especially when there are so many other, more reliable options available. And what's with the airline having to "ferry" extra fuel into Seattle? That sounds like a recipe for disaster 
. Not to mention the fact that it's only been fixed partially - is it really safe to be flying around with partial capacity? 
I'm just waiting for someone to get hurt or, worse, have an accident because of this mess...
. I'm literally watching flights get delayed because of it and my mind is going "what if?" - what if this happens again? What if they can't fix it in time? 
My aunt has flights booked to Seattle soon and I just hope she won't get stuck waiting for fuel 
️. Anyway, I guess they're trying to send more fuel from other states to help out, that's a good move, right? 
Fingers crossed the excavation can fix this ASAP! 
It's like, can't they just get a spare pipeline or something? 
The whole thing is just so frustrating... and what if this thing happens again in the future? Will we ever have reliable fuel supply at SeaTac? I'm not even going to get into all the airlines that would literally lose their minds without this pipeline... 
. Anyways, can't wait for them to find and fix that crack in Everett... fingers crossed 
.
They're trying to figure out what happened but airlines are getting worried 'cause they might not get enough jet fuel for planes. This is gonna be a crazy day at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport if deliveries are messed up again 
... but nope, it seems like we're still stuck in the Stone Age 
.
. And what really gets me is how the police are saying it was just a crack... like, didn't they see it coming?