Colonial Pipeline Shuts Key Gasoline Line After Georgia Spill

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Colonial Pipeline Shuts Key Gasoline Line After Georgia Spill

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Logo of Colonial Pipeline Co. (© Colonial Pipeline Co.)
Logo of Colonial Pipeline Co. (© Colonial Pipeline Co.)

Colonial Pipeline, the largest U.S. fuel pipeline operator, said Tuesday that a major gasoline pipeline from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast has been shut since Monday night due to a potential spill in Paulding County, Georgia.

Line 1, which carries approximately 1.5 million barrels of gasoline daily from Houston to Greensboro, North Carolina, was temporarily closed as the company responded to a potential gasoline leak, a company spokesperson said. 

The incident prompted the crew to rush to the scene in Paulding County to coordinate response efforts. The Paulding County Sheriff’s Office said it received no 911 notifications regarding a gasoline leak.

The pipeline is one of the two mainlines in the more than 5,500-mile Colonial pipeline system. From Greensboro, the fuel is usually distributed locally or pumped to other Northeastern markets, including the New York Harbor. 

U.S. gasoline traders widely expected Line 1 to restart Tuesday night, lessening concerns of a significant fuel supply disruption.

“The timeline sounds on par with a best-case outcome,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy told Reuters News, suggesting a minor leak and minimal environmental impact. However, the colonial Pipeline has yet to provide a restart timeline.

The incident caused gasoline futures to rise 0.43 cents, settling at $2.1046 a gallon on Tuesday, contrasting with weakness in the broader oil market.