A two-foot section of a PG&E natural gas pipeline in Woodside burst during a safety test yesterday. Luckily for PG&E, whose public image is falling apart faster than its aging pipes these days, the explosion occurred during a hydrostatic pressure test, meaning the pipe was flooded with water rather than something more flammable.
No injuries occurred after the pipe ruptured around 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon, but the flood of water caused a mudslide that briefly closed down the northbound side of Interstate 280 near Redwood City.
According to a PG&E spokesperson, the pipeline is part of line 132 — a different section of the same line that ruptured in San Bruno last September. The hydrostatic tests are being performed around the system to determine any weak spots before the company increases the pressure in anticipation of wintertime gas needs. Ruptures like this, while not exactly confidence-inspiring, are part of the the safety precautions.
And here's CBS5's Mark Sayre with the nightly news report:
