SC inspects FPIC pipeline

MANILA, Philippines -  The Supreme Court (SC) conducted yesterday an ocular inspection of two segments of the 117-kilometer oil pipeline of the First Philippine Industrial Corp. (FPIC) to verify claims made by residents of the West Tower condominium that new leaks have sprung even if the pipeline was shut down.

However, no new leaks were found after Justice Presbitero Velasco checked the two segments near the West Tower condominium in Barangay Bangkal, Makati City.

Architect Bobby Dimayuga, president of the West Tower Homeowners’ Association, showed a video during the preliminary hearing for the issuance of a writ of kalikasan filed by the condominium residents against FPIC. The video allegedly showed new leaks in the pipeline sections near the condominium.

“If you are going to ask me now, there is no leak today. But there were leaks, as shown in the video,” Dimayuga said.

FPIC operations manager Erineo Raulle said there are no new leaks in the pipeline and the alleged leaks reported by the condominium residents could have just been fuel flowing out of the pipeline’s casing.

Raulle said the casing wraps around the pipeline with a space of about two to three inches between the casing and the pipeline. He said what the residents have seen is actually fuel that filled the space between the pipeline and the casing.

Experts from the University of the Philippines Civil Engineering Department, the UP National Institute for Geological Sciences (NIGS) and the Department of Energy (DOE) accompanied Velasco during the inspection.

Expert: Safe to reopen pipeline

Meanwhile, Dr. Carlos Arcilla of the UP-NIGS said it is safe to reopen the 117-kilometer pipeline and perform repairs on it at the same time.

“In some countries, it is possible to repair pipelines even if it is leaking,” he said.

Arcilla also proposed that monitoring wells be placed along the stretch of the pipeline at 50-meter intervals. He said leaks in the pipeline can be identified through monitoring the pressure levels in these wells.

“If there is no drop in the pressure level, there is no leak,” he said.

DOE Undersecretary Jose Layug urged the High Court to allow FPIC to reopen the pipeline for at least 24 hours and perform one last test to determine if there are new leaks in the pipeline. The DOE has supervision over the pipeline repair.

Layug said the FPIC has already performed a segmented pressure test and a bore-hole test. He asked if there could be a final test, which involves pressurized testing with the use of an intelligent “pig” or a pipeline inspection gauge.

An intelligent pig is a sensor used to detect holes in a pipeline. It is propelled through the pipeline by pressure from the product – in the case of the FPIC pipeline, the gasoline and oil products being transported. The pig collects data along the pipeline for later analysis.

Layug also stressed the need to reopen the pipeline as it is contributing to the rising cost of fuel in Metro Manila.

At the end of the consultation that followed the inspection, Velasco ordered all parties concerned to submit their respective position papers and proposals which the SC will use in determining whether or not to allow FPIC to conduct its pressurized testing.

The FPIC expressed confidence that there are no more leaks in the pipeline, contrary to the claim of the West Tower condominium and Barangay Bangkal residents.

“While we are confident that there are no more leaks in our pipeline, we welcome the court resolution and are glad to participate in the inspection of the pipeline. We see this as another opportunity to ascertain the safety of the Bangkal community,” FPIC president Anthony Mabasa said.