Refining NZ says the repair team has made good progress overnight in repairing the Marsden Point to Wiri fuel pipeline, and passed an important milestone. The replacement section has been welded into place and the initial weld inspections have passed. The second weld inspection will be carried out tonight.

Communications and external affairs manager Greg McNeill says they remain on track to deliver in the early part of the repair ‘window‘, between midday Sunday 24 and midday Tuesday 26 September. Settling, recertification and transport to the airport for use will take another 30 hours.

He says an inspection of the pipeline insulation along the two-kilometre length of the kauri swamp has confirmed the integrity of the pipeline insulation.

The jet fuel truck-loading facility trial was completed successfully yesterday evening and jet fuel ‘bridging‘ has now commenced in earnest.

The images provided by Refining NZ illustrate graphically the damage caused to RAP (pipeline) by a digger, at the site of the rupture.

Image 1 shows the digger bucket tooth indentation, as well as the scraping and gouging of the digger bucket‘s travel over the pipe.

Image 2 shows the rupture (tear of metal) that eventuated on Thursday last week, as a consequence of the earlier damage.

Both images indicate how the protective insulation was damaged.

Photos taken by Refining NZ.