Massive Natural Gas Pipeline Explodes In Texas Town, Causing Evacuation Of 800 Residents

[kristopher]

A massive explosion of a 10-inch Chevron natural gas pipeline near a drilling rig in Milford, Texas, led the company to ask law enforcement to evacuate the entire town on Thursday. Milford, in rural Ellis County, is about halfway between Dallas and Waco. The cause is still unknown, and the fire is expected to rage for another day.

At 9:30 a.m. CST, huge gouts of flame shot into the air at a what appeared to be a drilling rig, according to local affiliate FOX 4. Black smoke was visible for at least 20 miles around. Some vehicles at the worksite appeared to be seriously damaged. No injuries have been reported so far.

Chevron’s statement simply describes an “incident at a Chevron pipeline” and offered no further details....



Ellis County officials also asked people on FM 308 from Milford back toward Italy and Maypearl to leave because a second line was reportedly in danger of another explosion. Chevron is expected to let the highly-pressurized gas leak out through the inferno until there is no more gas left in the pipeline segment.

Students and school staff were evacuated...

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/11/14/2942781/massive-pipeline-explosion-texas-evacuation/

[Demeter]

1. JHC! What kind of regulation do they have in Texas?

Rubber-band laws?

[mindwalker_i]

2. Deregulate Taco Bell!

Pre-emptive apology issued. I hope people are ok.

[Nihil]

3. Good luck at getting compensation out of Chevron folks!

Take your place in the queue behind the citizens of Ecuador, Nigeria, ...

[kristopher]

4. Someone drilled into the pipeline

Remember that neighborhood that was flooded with crude recently and no one had a clue that a pipeline was anywhere in the area? Perhaps it's time for Federal legislation requiring the existence of all gas and oil pipelines to be clearly marked above ground along their entire length.

[Nihil]

5. Thanks for the update! (n/t)

[Champion Jack]

6. Safe and clean..... Yeah....right

Another natural gas pipeline exploded in Poland yesterday,
And a refinery blew up in Mississippi last night