Ruptured
oil pipeline wreaks havoc in Woodland
PORT SPAIN
Petroleumworldtt.com
02 24 08
Five
men who were liming on the road were splashed
with oil when a 16-inch oil transfer line ruptured
yesterday.
And a family were evacuated when three barrels
of the oil spilled into their home causing an unbearable
stench.
Mitchell Chance said his 60-year-old mother, who
suffered a stroke several years ago, fell ill and
was taken out of the village.
"We couldn't take the smell so we had to
leave the house. My mother said she was feeling
sick and we had to take her away," he said.
Arnold Corneal, corporate communications manager
at State-owned energy company Petrotrin, said although
the family were staying at a relative's house company
officials would continue speaking with them to
determine whether they needed alternative accommodation.
Shane Mungroo, another resident, said many people
began packing up to flee the village.
"We were frightened that there might be an
explosion so we began to pack. But shortly afterwards
officials from the company came and told us that
we were safe and did not have to move," he
said.
The oil spill happened around 10.30 a.m. along
Pluck Road, La Fortune, Woodland, near Evergreen
Recreation Ground.
Corneal said a few homes were affected by the
spill.
He said the leak was discovered on the line that
carries crude oil from Forest Reserve to the Pointe-a-Pierre
refinery.
A statement from Petrotrin said that company officials
closed up the flow of crude and immediately began
mopping up the spill.
It was discovered that about 30 barrels of oil
had escaped to the surface and some houses were
affected, Petrotrin said.
Corneal said the pipelines in the area were more
than 50 years old and needed to be replaced.
"We are aware that the lines are porous and
are now in a process of replacing them, but that
takes time because we have a procedure to go through," he
said.
The Environmental Management Authority and Ministry
of Energy and Energy Industries were notified.
Corneal said clean up operations continued throughout
the evening.
Story
by Carolyn
Kissoon from
Trinidad Express, South Bureau
Trinidad
Express
Wednesday, February 20th 2008
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