On about April 2, 2019, a surface leak of oil condensate was detected near a residence in Colorado. The plume of contaminated soil eventually enveloped the nearby residence, resulting in the total loss of the home and all contents. Mitigation included the demolition of the home, removal of contaminated soil, and loss of ranch buildings. The owners lost use of the property and suffered adverse heath effects as well. Suit was filed in County and Federal court, resulting in an eventual settlement. GES Tech Group was part of a team of experts retained to evaluate the root cause of the pipe line failure.
It was determined that a convert cut off wall had been installed in close proximity to the older buried pipe line. Loads applied to the concrete wall, due to traffic and the unique geometry of the convert, applied cyclic stresses to the pipe resulting in formation of a fatigue crack. Leakage accumulated over an extended time frame and resulted in an extensive plume of contaminated soil.
