Bangchak says no leaks found in Bangkok fuel pipeline

Further inspections planned to address possible causes of oil-contaminated wastewater

Bangchak Group said no leaks were found in a fuel pipeline along Chuea Phloeng Road in Klong Toey district of Bangkok following an inspection after thousands of litres of oil-contaminated wastewater were reported in the area.

Inspections using several engineering techniques produced “no abnormal results”, the SET-listed energy conglomerate said in a statement on Saturday.

Bangchak owns Bangkok Fuel Pipeline and Logistics Co (BFPL), which operates the pipeline owned by BAFS Pipeline Transportation Co, a subsidiary of Bangkok Aviation Fuel Services Plc (BAFS). The pipeline connects the Bangchak refinery to depots and major airports including Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi.

Personnel from the company were first deployed to the site, under the Rama III elevated bridge at the boundary between Klong Toey and Yannawa districts, on Monday to work with the relevant agencies, including the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Ministry of Energy.

Pipeline operations were suspended on Tuesday morning to allow a thorough inspection, Bangchak said.

Energy ministry officials reported a possible leak in Klong Toey a day later after an initial inspection. Deputy Prime Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn subsequently sought to reassure residents, saying the oil contamination was “caused by seepage from a pipeline rather than a major leak”. The seepage was expected to be repaired and sealed afterwards.

In its statement on Saturday, Bangchak said a technique called direct current voltage gradient (DCVG) was first used to detect anomalies in the external coating of the pipeline.

Water mixed with oil was found at one location, but its source could not be determined, it said.

Pressure test normal

A pressure test was subsequently conducted within a controlled area to verify the pipeline’s integrity and identify any leaks that might not have been visible during excavation.

According to the test results, the pressure inside the pipeline was increased in stages from 10 barg to 28 barg, the normal operating pressure, and maintained continuously for one hour.

A barg is a unit measuring internal pipeline pressure relative to atmospheric pressure.

“If the pipeline had been leaking, an abnormal pressure drop or liquid seepage would have been detected,” the statement said. “The test results confirmed that there were no leakages in the fuel pipeline.”

All readings were consistent both at the site and in the control room, it said.

Further inspections will be conducted, including short- and long-range ultrasonic testing, radar scanning and an intelligent pigging inspection.

Pigging involves sending a specialised device called a “pig” (pipeline inspection gauge) through a pipe to clean, measure or evaluate internal conditions without stopping the flow.

If the investigation confirms any damage or impact resulting from BFPL’s operations, the company said it was prepared to take full responsibility and provide appropriate and fair compensation to those affected.