Mountain Valley Pipeline fails test due to manufacturing defect, not corrosion

A recent report commissioned by the developers of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in response to a test failure in May concluded that the rupture was caused by a manufacturer’s defect rather than corrosion. The independent report, conducted by DNV GL USA, determined that the breach on May 1 was due to a defect in an elbow joint along the 303-mile pipeline. This rupture was the sole failure during the hydrostatic testing of the pipeline, as stated in a letter to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration by EQT Midstream Vice President Justin Trettel.

The construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline spanned approximately ten years before it began transporting gas at high pressure in late June. Despite objections from environmental groups, landowners, and some officials, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved the project, which runs through rugged terrain in West Virginia and Virginia.

In his letter, Trettel highlighted that hydrostatic pressure testing is a standard method used to confirm the durability of pipeline systems post-installation. Fortunately, there were no reports of injuries resulting from the rupture, which occurred in Roanoke County, Virginia.