Oil and gas company BP, the operator of the Olympic pipeline, announced that investigators have identified the source of a recent fuel leak near Everett, Washington, as a 20-inch pipeline segment. 

“Testing conducted [Monday] found no indications of a leak in the 16-inch segment, allowing it to be safely restarted [Tuesday] morning. Testing also confirmed a leak in the 20-inch segment,” BP stated. 

This finding comes two weeks after fuel was first spotted in a ditch near a blueberry farm, triggering fuel supply disruptions across the Pacific Northwest. 

According to an earlier report by Pipeline Technology Journal (ptj), the BP crew restored the flow of product in the lines east of Everett early last week before shutting down again, disrupting the supply flow through the entire system, with the source of the leak still unknown then. 

The identification allowed the company to restart a neighboring 16-inch pipeline, which had been shut off alongside the 20-inch line to determine the leak's origin. 

“Repair plans for the 20-inch segment are being developed, and a timeline for repair and restart will be shared when available,” BP stated.

The Olympic pipeline carries gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel, providing 90% of Oregon's transportation fuel and a significant portion of the jet fuel for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). 

The leak, first reported on Nov. 11, prompted Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson and Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek declared states of emergency last week.

Both governors waived state regulations to allow commercial vehicle operators to drive longer hours to transport fuel, mitigating potential shortages during the busy Thanksgiving travel week.

Major airlines, including Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines, told Reuters on Monday that they had developed contingency plans, such as bringing in extra fuel on inbound flights and adding refueling stops to some long-haul flights. 

Following the pipeline restart, Delta and Alaska announced Tuesday that they had largely discontinued these mitigation efforts.

The company’s announcement follows a turbulent period for the pipeline, which has leaked at least 13 times since a 1999 explosion killed three children. Recently, the Washington State Department of Ecology fined BP $3.8 million for a separate 2023 spill. 

According to the non-profit Pipeline Safety Trust, the pipeline has leaked three times this year, raising concerns over the pipeline system’s safety. 

 “Olympic Pipeline must explain what has changed and what they’re doing to stop it,” said Kenneth Clarkson, a spokesperson for the trust.