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City disputes Longhorn's successful test
City disputes Longhorn's successful test
The City of Austin is disputing Longhorn's claim that their "Proof of Concept" leak test was a success. Three separate tests were performed in a tightly controlled environment, and none were entirely successful.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has requested a sealed trench over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge and Contributing Zones, and this test was to demonstrate whether or not Longhorn's method would be sufficient. Longhorn sealed a 30 foot test trench with a mixture of cement, sand and water, and simulated a pipeline leak with a mixture of dye and water.
The City claims that the test trench failed with the first two tests, after which Longhorn added an epoxy concrete bonding agent and a flexible, polyurethane coating to improve the seal between the wall and floor of the trench. Longhorn also appeared to "have gone to extremes to conduct the tests under conditions that will not be or cannot be duplicated during construction of the actual trench." The "successful" report was delivered by Longhorn even before the 30 days had elapsed in which the last test was to be monitored.
According to the City's response, the test trenched failed to simulate actual pipeline operational conditions, and Longhorn never intended to test the trench in a worst-case spill event.
Click here to download the original response in MS Word format.
Click here to view an html-converted version of the document.
The City of Austin is disputing Longhorn's claim that their "Proof of Concept" leak test was a success. Three separate tests were performed in a tightly controlled environment, and none were entirely successful.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has requested a sealed trench over the Edwards Aquifer Recharge and Contributing Zones, and this test was to demonstrate whether or not Longhorn's method would be sufficient. Longhorn sealed a 30 foot test trench with a mixture of cement, sand and water, and simulated a pipeline leak with a mixture of dye and water.
The City claims that the test trench failed with the first two tests, after which Longhorn added an epoxy concrete bonding agent and a flexible, polyurethane coating to improve the seal between the wall and floor of the trench. Longhorn also appeared to "have gone to extremes to conduct the tests under conditions that will not be or cannot be duplicated during construction of the actual trench." The "successful" report was delivered by Longhorn even before the 30 days had elapsed in which the last test was to be monitored.
According to the City's response, the test trenched failed to simulate actual pipeline operational conditions, and Longhorn never intended to test the trench in a worst-case spill event.
Click here to download the original response in MS Word format.
Click here to view an html-converted version of the document.
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