Texas pipeline rupture forces evacuations, shut down of Magellan pipeline

Texas pipeline rupture forced the closure of a nearby roadway on Thursday morning. Crews are onsite cleaning up after the 1,200 barrel leak. Statesman.com photo.

Texas pipeline rupture near Bastrop

A Texas pipeline rupture near the city of Bastrop on Thursday morning spilled about 1,200 barrels of oil and forced the evacuation of nearby residents.

The Longhorn pipeline is operated by Magellan Midstream Partners and transports crude from Crane, Texas to Houston. The line ruptured about 4 miles southwest of the city of about 7,200 people.

The company shut down the 275,000 barrel per day pipeline and has isolated the site of the breach.

People living within a one mile radius of the rupture were evacuated and those within a two-mile radius were advised to stay indoors, according to the sheriff’s department and local emergency officials. Part of a nearby road was also closed.

According to Magellan, the pipeline was in service at the time of the incident which occurred when a contractor doing maintenance work hit a fitting.

The clean up is underway and an inspector from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration has been dispatched to the site.

Reuters reports crude oil prices in West Texas fell to about $1.45 a barrel discount, off around 15 cents a barrel from Wednesday’s price following the rupture.