[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by SebC

I would also agree that mandatory automatic leak detection, being not that expensive, is probably a good idea (at least on new pipelines, even though they're the ones that need it the least). Having said that, I don't see 42 hectares as reason to freak out.

Problem is leak detection isn't 100% effective.
If it's a minor leak, on a long line, it's not going to show up in any sort of pressure data, so it could possibly go undetected for quite some time, meaning a low rate leak can eventually turn into a large volume spill, which is exactly what seems to have happened here.