On May 1, 2003, Williams Northwest Pipeline experienced a rupture in a line near Lake Tapps, Washington. Following that incident, the federal Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) issued a corrective action order directing the operator to lower the 26-inch pipeline's operating pressure by 20 percent until the root cause of the incident was determined.

On Dec. 13, the same pipeline ruptured again near Toledo, Washington. Fortunately, there were no injuries resulting from these incidents. However, the 268-mile pipeline was idled immediately after the Toledo rupture.

OPS ordered that Williams remove from service the 26-inch pipeline running between Sumas and Washougal and submit a plan for replacing the line within next 10 years. Williams does not have to plan to replace the whole line. It may satisfy the requirement by constructing a new pipeline that meets future capacity needs and is allowed to abandon all or some of sections of the current 26-inch.

Williams was allowed to return to service temporarily segments of the pipeline that meet pressure tests. As a result of hydrostatic testing conducting during the spring and summer of 2004, Williams was able to re-open portions of the 26-inch pipeline which is intertied with its parallel 30-inch pipeline.

The company has submitted and is implementing a plan to retire the line in favor of adding new capacity.

Williams website on this topic.