Sorry, my bad. Podnuh had said air. So you're saying we don't know if ultrasonic testing has been done on this particular line. Just that the WH revealed that the guage testing has not been done. Edit: Did some further reading after you mentioned ultrasonic testing. BP apparently tried to run a "pig" through the line in 1998, but it was blocked by sludge. They have relied on the ultrasonic testing.
Starting to look like BP might have been negligent in not keeping this pipeline in good shape. A 2004 report indicate some employees and contractors expressed concerns about the pipeline. One of the better articles I've read on this issue ... Bloomberg
I think you got it right with "kooks who actually chain themselves to trees." :grin: Its the same kooks who protest the manufacture of PVC and ask you to sign their petition using a Bic pen.:hihi: Whether these guys are current elected officials, former elected officials (Al Gore comes to mind), or just "kooks who actually chain themselves to trees", be sure to inspect your writing utensil prior to signing the petition.
BP admitted yesterday that the pipe in question had NEVER been inspected since it was built in 1977! $Billions in windfall profits and they won't keep their infrastructure in proper compliance and let the biggest oil field in America get shut down during an oil crisis.
It's not limited to this pipeline either. Reference their safety record at their facilities in the Houston area, including a catastrophic and preventable explosion fairly recently. Pretty pathetic...and an even worse business practice.
Sure. But is that actually happening? I read recently in the paper that refineries' profit margins had also increased with the recent surge in gas prices, indicating that the increased pump price was not solely attributed to the worldwide price of crude oil.
