The Moomba gas field operation in the Cooper Basin.
Source: News Limited
THOUSANDS of properties in Port Pirie and Whyalla are likely to be without gas supply for five days after a leak in a major supply line.
Police and emergency services were called to the significant leak in a spur of the Moomba to Adelaide gas line, between the towns of Gladstone and Caltowie, about 5.30pm on Sunday.
Police said there was minimal risk to public safety because of the isolated area of the gas leak.
The leak is expected to significantly disrupt gas supplies in the area for some time.
APA Group, which operates and manages the SA natural gas supply, said about 5500 consumers in Port Pirie were without mains gas supplies and the problem had extended to Whyalla.
Epic Energy SA, which owns the pipeline, said customers should expect to be without gas for the next five days.
Its crews were working around the clock to restore supplies, it said.
“Port Pirie and Whyalla are served by the same lateral pipeline that runs off the Moomba to Adelaide gas pipeline, which is owned by Epic Energy,” it said.
“A section of that lateral line was closed following last night’s incident as a safety precaution.
“Our engineers and staff’s assessment of the site began at first light this morning and road closures remain in place.
“While we can confirm that it is a full pipeline rupture, we are still unable to speculate on the exact cause or exactly when gas supply will resume.”
Epic Energy chief executive Clive D’Cruz said the company had sent excavation equipment to the site of the rupture.
“We have mobilised the equipment needed to further assess and rectify the situation, which will require digging back from the incident point approximately 40 metres each side to ensure there are no further issues,” he said.
“We anticipate this will take approximately 48 hours.
“Assuming there are no issues, we will then require another 48 hours to repair the pipe and restore the gas flow to the Port Pirie and Whyalla townships.”
Mr D’Cruz said Epic Energy wanted to assure customers it was “working around the clock to rectify the issue in a safe and controlled manner as soon as possible”.
APA Group networks group executive John Ferguson said priority was being given to Whyalla Hospital to supply it for as long as possible.
“The APA Group … is working to minimise the interruption and maintain supply to the Whyalla Hospital for as long as possible,” he said.
“All gas consumers are asked to turn off their gas supply valve at their meter.
“For the safety of the general public and APA workers, during this interruption it is stressed that gas consumers do not attempt to connect natural gas appliances to alternative gas supplies such as LPG bottled gas.
“To do so may result in a fire or explosion.”
Geoscience Australia data shows there was a 2.1 magnitude earth tremor with an epicentre about 10km from where the leak was reported about 5.20am on Friday.
It is not yet clear if this might have caused or contributed to the leak.
Operations at Nyrstar at Port Pirie have also been affected by the incident.
A Nyrstar spokeswoman said about 75 per cent of the site was already wound down for scheduled plant maintenance prior to the gas leak, but now all production had ceased.
She said there had been no impact on employment as workers had been tasked with maintenance duties.
It is not yet known when supplies will be restored.
APA Group representatives will be visiting all gas-connected properties to ensure gas meters are turned off prior to re-establishing supply and re-lighting appliances.
Anyone who finds themselves without gas should leave their gas meter turned off until an APA Group representative calls to turn gas back on.
For further information, residents can be make inquiries through the APA Group Natural Gas Emergency Hotline on 1800 898 220.
Ruptured pipeline cuts gas supplies to Whyalla, Port Pirie
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