Study: Hurricanes can snap pipelines

A study by scientists at the Naval Research Laboratory at Stennis Space Center, Miss., shows currents from hurricanes can reach deep underwater and rupture oil and natural gas pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico. Results of the study will be published next month by the American Geophysical Union. Researchers found that currents became so strong that they triggered mudslides big enough to break pipelines or other underwater equipment, and the stress can persist up to a week. Disruption of the seafloor, including mudslides, can reach depths of 300 feet. They came up with the findings after installing six sensors on the seafloor to record changes induced by hurricanes. The sensors looked at 2004’s Hurricane Ivan, which disrupted several underwater pipelines in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. Ivan damaged or destroyed 22 platforms and damaged and disrupted 13 undersea oil and natural gas pipelines. Researchers found that even storms far weaker than Ivan could disrupt the ocean floor, and that some breaks can go undetected. (Sources: Reuters, BBC, Discovery, 05/27/10) The Gulf of Mexico is already trying to cope with the oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon, and hurricane season begins next month.