Gas Pipeline Ruptures in Arkansas River

The U.S. Coast Guard is responding to a ruptured pipeline on the Arkansas River that occurred over the weekend. The rupture is estimated to have released around four million cubic feet of natural gas, enough to fuel about 65 homes for a year.

The Arkansas Times reports that Arkansas consumed about 282.8 billion cubic feet of natural gas in 2013, approximately 774.8 million cubic feet per day.

Watchstanders with Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River received a report from Jeffery Sand Company on Monday highlighting the incident at mile marker 117.3 of the Arkansas River. The company also reported damage to the port side of the towboat Chris M.

It is not yet known whether the pipeline was struck by the Chris M or if it exploded for a different reason, reports local media. 

Sector Lower Mississippi River responded by deploying two pollution investigators. No visible pollution on the water was found at the time of the on scene investigation.

The river is currently closed from mile marker 116 to 118.

The pipeline will be reopened after the operator of the Texas Eastern pipeline, Spectra Energy, repairs the leak. It is anticipated that the gas in the line would bubble to the surface and dissipate into the atmosphere quickly.