Oil Pipelines : Carrying Crude Below The Valleys

The rupture of an oil pipeline during the Northridge earthquake has prompted some residents and public officials to call for extra safeguards on the lines that cross underneath the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

When the Jan. 17 quake fractured an Arco pipeline on Wolfskill Street in San Fernando, the crude caught fire, seriously burned a man and charred 17 cars and a house. The line passes below O’Melveny Street School, but officials in San Fernando,, Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Unified School District are divided on how-and if-the line can be relocated.

Two of the lines crossing the Valley are owned by Arco Oil and its subsidiaries. A pipeline owned by Mobil Oil, known as the M-70 line, was installed three years ago to replace an aging-and leaky-pipeline that was installed in 1929. Existing Lines

Line 1 Line 63 Owner Arco Arco Material crude oil crude oil Length 130 miles 117.9 miles Initial Line 1925 1950 Installation Starting Point Taft, Wheeler Ridge, Kern County Kern County Ending Point Los Angeles Carson Crude Refinery, Terminal, Carson Carson Line size 10-inch diameter 14-inch diameter (Primary sections) 8-inch Varies from diameter 4-18-inch (Other sections) diameter Daily 134,000 barrels 122,000 barrels volume Operating 250 to 350 psi 650 to 800 psi pressure Temperatures 70 to 90 degrees 70 to 100 degrees

Line M-70 Owner Mobil Material crude oil Length 92 miles Initial Line 1991 Installation Starting Point Lebec Kern County Ending Point Mobil Refinery, Torrance Line size 16-inch diameter 18-inch diameter Daily 95,000 barrels volume Operating Less than 1,000 psi pressure Temperatures 160 to 170 degrees

Spills Line 1

Date: Jan. 17, 1994 Gallons: 147,000 Location: San Fernando Valley, (Nine locations) Reason: Northridge earthquake *Date: July 23, 1990 Gallons: 8,400 Location: Kern County Reason: Farm equipment hit line *Date: Nov. 18, 1988 Gallons: 2,520 Location: Near Pyramid Lake Reason: Clamp failed *Date: Jan 2, 1988 Gallons: 29,400 Location: 10 miles west of Metter, Kern County Reason: Farm equipment hit line

*Date: Dec. 26, 1986 Gallons:15,960 Location: Kern County Reason: Weld cracked *Line 63

Date: Jan. 22, 1994 Gallons: 67,200 Location: Castaic Reason: Line burst during a pressure test because a valve, closed as a precaution after the Jan. 17 quake,was accidentally left shut.

*Date: April 6, 1993 Gallons: 252,000 Location: Fort Tejon Reason: Earth moved in heavy rain, crushing pipes

*Date: Aug. 30, 1991 Gallons: 126 Location: Burbank Reason: Internal corrosion

*Date: Aug. 18, 1986 Gallons: 77,490 Location: Castaic Reason: Farm equipment hit line

*Old Mobil Pipeline Failures

Before it was taken out of commission in 1990, a 61-year-old Mobil pipeline burst several times in recent years. All breaks were caused by corrosion.

Year Gallons Location January, 1991 74,634 Valencia May, 1990 10,080 Valencia September, 1988 132,000 Encino June, 1987 105,000 Lebec June, 1986 6,300 Torrance Aril, 1986 28,980 Granada Hills November, 1985 2,520

Source: Arco; State Fire Marshal; Pacific Pipeline System, Inc.; Researched by CHAU LAM / Los Angeles Times