Nord Stream pipes leaked ‘enormous’ amount of methane into atmosphere

Nord Stream pipes leaked ‘enormous’ amount of methane into atmosphere

By Matthew Sparkes, New Scientist (Oct. 4, 2022)

Bill Caram at the independent watchdog Pipeline Safety Trust says he has seen minor sabotage of pipelines at protests and accidental damage involving stray bullets, but nothing on the scale of the Nord Stream leaks. He says the damaged pipes could be fixed. “It’s very specialised and some high-tech engineering, but they can cut out the damaged section, install a new section and do underwater welding.”

Having more valves at periodic intervals along the pipeline could have limited the leak, says Caram. “The biggest thing here is the climate impact of this massive amount of methane,” he says. “It seems like there are no valves in this pipeline through its entirety underwater, and I was floored when I saw that. I’ve never heard of a section of pipeline like this without valves.”