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Louisiana carbon pipeline rupture renews safety concerns

Clouds of water vapor and carbon dioxide gas escape from a CO2 pipeline near Sulphur in southwest Louisiana on April 3, 2024. The harmful gas prompted a shelter-in-place advisory and concerns about pipeline safety and warning systems.
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Ward 6 Fire Protection District
Clouds of water vapor and carbon dioxide gas escape from a CO2 pipeline near Sulphur in southwest Louisiana on April 3, 2024. The harmful gas prompted a shelter-in-place advisory and concerns about pipeline safety and warning systems.

A carbon pipeline rupture in Louisiana is highlighting concern about pipeline safety as a similar potential project in South Dakota continues to face pushback from landowners.

The rupture occurred on a pipeline operated by a company partnered with fuel giant ExxonMobil. According to New Orleans Public Radio, the rupture released over 100,000 gallons of carbon dioxide before it was repaired over an hour later.

No injuries or serious illness were reported. Citizens in the area said their largest concern was that there was no alarm alerting them of the rupture. ExxonMobil representatives said they will learn from the rupture.

The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration records say this was not the first carbon rupture in this location.

This comes as a different company – Summit Carbon Solutions – is working to bring a carbon pipeline to South Dakota. Summit is not involved with either of the companies in the Louisiana incident.

Evan Walton is an SDPB reporter based in Sioux Falls. Evan holds a Master’s in English Literature from Southern New Hampshire University and was honorably discharged from the United States Army in 2015, where he served for five years as an infantryman.