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| Arabia |
| Death Toll From Aramco Pipeline Blast Jumps to 38 |
| 2007-11-20 |
| The death toll from SundayÂ’s natural gas pipeline explosion in the Eastern Province rose to 38 as a special technical panel set up by Saudi Aramco continued its probe yesterday to determine the reason for the blast and the subsequent fire, informed sources said. Dr. Abdul Mohsen Al-Mulhim, director of King Fahd Hospital in Hofouf, said his hospital received seven Pakistanis injured as a result of the explosion. They were carrying out maintenance work at the Haradh-Othmaniya gas pipeline, 30 km from Hawiyah Gas Plant. At least 60 people were injured in the accident. Abdallah JumÂ’ah, CEO of Saudi Aramco, accompanied by a number of his aides, visited the site of the accident to know the reasons for the explosion. Most bodies could not be recognized and required DNA tests to identify them. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #2 This was not out in the 'empty quarter' but rather at either a compressor station or processing facility. As it occurred during a welding operation - probably either a cut-in or cut-out - I go with poor inerting and ventilation of a un-purged section of the line. Having so many people around a transit section doesn't sound as feasible as having a larger crew around a facility of some kind with lots of valving, compressors, spools-a-plenty, etc. |
| Posted by: Jack is Back! 2007-11-20 09:46 |
| #1 Presumably 'just' a tragic industrial accident (they happen), but ..... Interesting that they have not made the typical US statement of 'this was not a terrorist incident' before they can possibly have any idea. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2007-11-20 08:12 |