Newly released images from Enbridge Energy show damage sustained to the Line 5 oil pipelines from an anchor strike last April.
The video and photos given to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation show a gash across the east pipeline, and several dents and scrapes on the west pipeline. In written testimony Enbridge identifies three dents on the pipelines caused by the anchor strike, the longest was more than 23 inches.
Enbridge also provided all this information to the U.S. Coast Guard who is investigating the strike.
In testimony to the commitee, Enbridge Vice President David Bryson said they consider this evidence “confidential,” and didn't want it published. But U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) released the information this week after the Coast Guard said it would not undermine their investigation.
In the testimony, Enbridge Energy says the company conducted hands-on inspections of the pipelines after they were hit, but Enbridge did not say how long it took them to do that.
The testimony says Enbridge found no integrity or safety issues from the strike, but they decreased the pressure on the pipelines as a precaution.
Enbridge spokesman Ryan Duffy says the damage was safely dealt with.
“I know it’s all been repaired at this point, with a composite sleeve that went on over those areas," Duffy says. "Everything’s fixed and operating.”
In their testimony Enbridge says the coating was completed after delays from the Army Corps of Engineers. It was finished on July 29, 2018, nearly four months after the anchor strike.
Below is video of the damage to the pipelines that Enbridge provided to the Senate Committee.
Editor's note: Enbridge Energy is a corporate sponsor of Michigan Radio.
