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Natech Accident
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Type
Natech Accident
Date
1998/02/27
Natural Hazard
Landslide, Ecuador, 1998
Site
Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline, Ecuador
Status
Published

Units Involved

  1. Name
    Pipeline
    Type
    Transport: Pipeline
    Description
    The pipeline was located at 12 km from an oil terminal transporting oil from Amazonia to the pacific coast.
  2. Name
    Port wharfs
    Type
    Storage: Warehouse

Event Sequences

  1. Name
    Pipeline spill
    Unit
    1. Pipeline
    Substances Involved
    1. Name
      Oil
      Involved Quantity
      2500 m³
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Component (Structural): Pipeline break / damage
    The landslide caused the rupture of the pipeline.
    Release: Liquid release to water body
    Ca. 2500 m3 of oil spilled out of the broken pipeline
    Event Sequence: Explosion and Fire
    Dispersion: Substance in / on water
    Oil contaminated rivers and the ocean.
  2. Name
    Explosion and Fire
    Unit
    2. Port wharfs
    Initiating EventCritical EventMajor Event
    Event Sequence: Pipeline spill
    		-
    Fire: Unknown
    The fire spread to the wharfs of the port but spared the refinery and the gas pipeline. Walls of fire as high as 10 m were observed.
    Explosion: Unknown
    According to testimony by witnesses, the explosion happened when the fire engulfed a propane canister shop, thereby igniting a fireball.
    Contributing Factors
    Measure: Emergency water systems: Unavailable
    The rescue operations were hampered by a water shortage following the rupture of pipelines.

Emergency Response

Response to the Natech Event
The rescue operations lasted 6 hours and were complicated by water shortage following the rupture of pipelines.

Consequences

On-site Fatalities
7
On-site Injured
110
Human Health Impacts
40 people injured suffered 50% burns. Another 40 people were reported missing and 600 people were evacuated.
Community Disruption
624 people were rendered homeless.

Lessons Learned

Lessons Learned on Organisational Aspects
The laying of pipelines in areas with potentially unstable soil should be avoided, where possible.
Lessons Learned on Mitigation Measures
In general, pipelines should be fitted with adequate mechanical protection coupled with stress monitoring to mitigate the impact of slow landslides. No mitigation measures for the impact of rapid, catastrophic landslides on pipelines exist. In this case, only costly pipeline relocation or slope stabilisation can mitigate the risk.
ID: 38, Created: Bogdan DORNEANU, 2014-02-17 10:43:09 – Last Updated: Amos NECCI, 2021-01-04 18:28:27

Attachments

NoDescriptionFile Size
1.Aria 12507, French Ministry of Sustainable Development 537.60KB
2.Los Angeles Times 62.71KB
Last update: 2024/04/17 | Top