So much for "clean burning natural gas with high BTU output.." Well, except for smoke from 9 houses, the surrounding woods, and asphalt from a 15 foot deep pit that was Interstate 77 - all in flames near Charleston, WV yesterday afternoon..
SISSONVILLE, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- The wall of the natural gas pipeline that exploded in Sissonville, W.Va. on Tuesday had deteriorated to LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH THICK, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) revealed Wednesday evening.
The NTSB also said there was a sudden pressure drop in the pipeline just before the explosion but they still had not determined whether that caused the explosion.
The explosion and ensuing fire destroyed four homes, damaged at least five others and damaged an 800-foot stretch of I-77.
The 10-member NTSB team determined that the pipeline had lost SEVENTY PERCENT OF ITS THICKNESS in spots.
Pieces of the pipeline will be sent to Washington, D.C. for further examination.
LINK TO ARTICLE
