The leak was first reported on November 11. BP briefly restored one of the two pipelines east of Everett that had been shut to identify the source of the product discharge, but the line was shut down again shortly afterward, halting deliveries of refined products across the system.
“Over 200 feet of pipeline have been excavated to date. Crews are operating around the clock and will continue overnight operations tonight,” BP said in a statement. The company added that the timeline for fully restarting the pipeline remains uncertain, and the total volume of leaked product is still being assessed.
The 400-mile Olympic Pipeline transports refined petroleum products—including gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel—from northern Washington to Oregon. The system normally supplies more than 90% of Oregon’s transportation fuels to terminals in Portland for statewide distribution.
In response to the shutdown, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek declared a fuel emergency on Monday, activating the state’s emergency management plan in coordination with the energy and transportation departments. Last week, Washington Governor Bob Ferguson also declared an emergency due to the disruption, which has affected jet fuel supplies to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (Sea-Tac).
Despite the disruption, operations at Sea-Tac have largely remained smooth, with airlines implementing contingency measures. A spokesperson advised travelers to stay in contact with their airlines for updates on flights.
Major carriers including Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines have taken steps to limit any impact on operations. Delta has transported additional fuel via tanker trucks to Sea-Tac and added refueling stops for certain long-haul flights. Alaska Airlines has also increased trucking operations to bring in extra fuel and added fuel stops to about a dozen flights per day.
“We continue to minimize the impacts of the Olympic Pipeline fuel leak. We do not expect disruption to our operations at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport through the Thanksgiving travel week,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of regional fuel supply chains and highlights the coordinated efforts between authorities, pipeline operators, and airlines to maintain operations during critical travel periods.