Equitrans Midstream Corp. has updated the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) on the root cause investigation and analysis related to the Rager Mountain Storage facility incident that took place last year, according to an Aug. 24 press release.
The incident, in which Rager well #2244 started leaking natural gas in November 2022, was caused by water- and oxygen-induced corrosion on the outside diameter of the top joint of the well, and the infiltration of organic and/or inorganic matter into the annulus, resulting in the well casing failing, according to the release.
Based on the results of an inventory verification test, the company’s initial gas loss estimate for well #2244 was approximately 1.29 Bcf. Following the root cause analysis, that number increased to 1.164 Bcf. The analysis indicates that approximately 1.037 Bcf was vented to the atmosphere, while the remaining 0.127 Bcf was diverted and contained within an underground formation.
It has been confirmed through extensive field and laboratory soil and water well testing that no gas migrated to nearby residential areas.
In an effort to mitigate this incident, the company says it has worked with a variety of third-party experts to ensure that all causes and/or contributors have been identified and addressed. The casing on well #2244 has been replaced, and the well has been plugged—whether this plugging will be permanent or temporary is to be determined at a later date.
Recommended Reading
Baker Hughes Awarded Saudi Pipeline Technology Contract
2024-04-23 - Baker Hughes will supply centrifugal compressors for Saudi Arabia’s new pipeline system, which aims to increase gas distribution across the kingdom and reduce carbon emissions
President: Financial Debt for Mexico's Pemex Totaled $106.8B End of 2023
2024-02-21 - President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador revealed the debt data in a chart from a presentation on Pemex at a government press conference.
Green Swan Seeks US Financing for Global Decarbonization Projects
2024-02-21 - Green Swan, an investment platform seeking to provide capital to countries signed on to the Paris Agreement, is courting U.S. investors to fund decarbonization projects in countries including Iran and Venezuela, its executives told Hart Energy.
Sunoco’s $7B Acquisition of NuStar Evades Further FTC Scrutiny
2024-04-09 - The waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act for Sunoco’s pending acquisition of NuStar Energy has expired, bringing the deal one step closer to completion.
TotalEnergies to Invest $400MM in LPG
2024-05-14 - TotalEnergies is investing more than $400 million into LPG to provide more than 100 million people in Africa and Asia access to clean cooking methods by 2030.