Oil pipeline inspectors need to be checking the viscosity of the substance in the pipeline.

There are regulations that control the viscosity of the substance in any pipeline. Why? Because otherwise the pipeline will rupture. If there are no overt reasons for a pipeline rupture, the viscosity of the substance has to fall into suspicion.

If the Canadian crud is making it's way into any pipelines in the USA there is a real problem with two issues primarily surrounding the chemical naphtha. Naphtha on two counts is an egregious chemical in pipelines. It is known to be corrosive to pipelines and with Canadian crud there is at least four times higher amounts of naphtha in the substance. 

The other aspect to the Canadian crud mixture of bitumen and naphtha is the fact naphtha on a global basis can be limited at any one time. So, there are shortage problems with naphtha. The cost of obtaining the naphtha can change the ratio mixture making the substance thicker and ultimately will cause rupture. The other aspect is that the production process isn't correctly mixing the naphtha and bitumen to create a safe viscosity for the pipeline. 

There is also a human health problem with this mess, too. No one ever wants to talk about the fact naphtha carries carcinogens into the human environment when spills occur. That is with any oil spill. But, the significantly higher naphtha levels mixed with bitumen makes the danger of carcinogen exposure that much higher with any spill. 

As of significant concern, the workers cleaning up the mess need to be protected from exposure and their personal protection equipment should be tested for effectiveness of the higher naphtha levels mixed with bitumen. This is NOT crude oil.

By Bowdeya Tweh
Cincinnati Enquirer and Brenna R. Kelly
Cincinnati Enquirer 3:37 p.m. EDT 
March 24, 2014

A broken pipeline (click here) that spilled thousands of gallons of crude oil into a Colerain Township nature preserve has been fixed and is flowing again, officials said Monday.

Pipeline safety investigators have not yet determined what caused the interstate pipeline to burst, but a temporary repair was made Sunday and the pipeline began carrying oil again about 5 p.m., said Colerain Township Fire Department Capt. Steve Conn.

The clean up from the spill that was discovered March 17 continued Monday with 35,000 gallons of an oil-water mixture recovered from the Hamilton County-owned Oak Glen Nature Preserve, at 7584 Thompson Road. Officials now say that 17,000 gallons of oil spilled from the line in an area about 500 feet from the Great Miami River. Initial estimates put the spill at 10,000 gallons.