Alliance to Improve Emergency Repairs to Deepwater Pipelines

Two US pipeline operators Enterprise Products Partners and Enbridge have joined forces with BP Exploration & Production and Eni to improve access to enable emergency repairs to water depths of up to 10,000ft.

As part of the cooperative arrangement – known as Deep Water Response to Underwater Pipeline Emergencies (DW RUPE) – $12m worth of specialised pipeline repair systems and equipment will be stored in the Gulf of Mexico, making it possible for the co-owners to access readily available repair systems for the first time.

It is hoped the programme will enable rapid deployment of systems and equipment to make deepwater pipeline repairs in the aftermath of interruptions caused by hurricanes and other such events.