Auckland Airport fuel supply obliterated by digger

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Auckland Airport fuel supply obliterated by digger

Batman

Mad Scientist
30013 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 6217

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#223177 17-Sep-2017 15:52

The only way to supply fuel to AKL airport is via pipe which has been damaged by a digger.

Apparently they cannot supply fuel using tanker trucks ... not sure why ...

Apparently will take 10-14 days to fix. You know when they say it takes 10 days in NZ, it ends up taking weeks to months.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ... | 16

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1867549 17-Sep-2017 16:09

Batman:

Apparently they cannot supply fuel using tanker trucks ... not sure why ...

It's not so much they can't - but how many they'd need.

From memory I think a large fuel tanker holds about 15,000l of fuel. I'd need about 7-8 of those tankers just to fully fuel a 777 for a long-haul flight.

While nobody has said publically how much fuel Auckland airport uses you're realistically looking at hundreds, if not over 1000 tanker journeys per day from Whangarei to the airport just to meet demand.

To me the biggest issue would be Auckland running out of petrol. Nobody has quite tried to scare people yet but surely that must also be a possibility.

JaseNZ

2576 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1489

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#1867552 17-Sep-2017 16:14

Would not like to be the digger company as I am pretty sure the pipeline would be marked up the wazzoo.

Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding : Ice cream man , Ice cream man

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3317

Trusted

#1867553 17-Sep-2017 16:17

Well that's their liability insurance maxed to hell and back.

Stu

Hammered
8742 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2407

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1867555 17-Sep-2017 16:21

sbiddle:
Batman:

Apparently they cannot supply fuel using tanker trucks ... not sure why ...

It's not so much they can't - but how many they'd need.

From memory I think a large fuel tanker holds about 15,000l of fuel. I'd need about 7-8 of those tankers just to fully fuel a 777 for a long-haul flight.

While nobody has said publically how much fuel Auckland airport uses you're realistically looking at hundreds, if not over 1000 tanker journeys per day from Whangarei to the airport just to meet demand.

To me the biggest issue would be Auckland running out of petrol. Nobody has quite tried to scare people yet but surely that must also be a possibility.

The pipe only carried aviation fuel, so no problems with petrol supply.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

InstallerUFB

840 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 219

#1867557 17-Sep-2017 16:25

sbiddle:

Batman:

Apparently they cannot supply fuel using tanker trucks ... not sure why ...

It's not so much they can't - but how many they'd need.

From memory I think a large fuel tanker holds about 15,000l of fuel. I'd need about 7-8 of those tankers just to fully fuel a 777 for a long-haul flight.

While nobody has said publically how much fuel Auckland airport uses you're realistically looking at hundreds, if not over 1000 tanker journeys per day from Whangarei to the airport just to meet demand.

To me the biggest issue would be Auckland running out of petrol. Nobody has quite tried to scare people yet but surely that must also be a possibility.

For those who read previous reply please ignore as I have now read the artical that says its the main pipeline from Marsden Point to the Wiri Oil Terminal that has been damaged not the local one from the Wiri Terminal to the Airport

Yes it would be all fuels to Auckland that will be effected

They can feed the Wiri terminal from the Manukau Harbour but only with the small coastal tankers.

There is a higher storage of general fuels around Auckland than there are for avgas

Stu

Hammered
8742 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2407

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1867560 17-Sep-2017 16:32

InstallerUFB:
I think its the pipe line from the Wiri Oil terminal to the airport that's been damaged

From the link above:

A helicopter was put up to survey the pipeline and the leak was identified on farmland at Ruakaka, about 8km from the Marsden Point refinery.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1867562 17-Sep-2017 16:32

Stu:
sbiddle:

Batman:

Apparently they cannot supply fuel using tanker trucks ... not sure why ...

It's not so much they can't - but how many they'd need.

From memory I think a large fuel tanker holds about 15,000l of fuel. I'd need about 7-8 of those tankers just to fully fuel a 777 for a long-haul flight.

While nobody has said publically how much fuel Auckland airport uses you're realistically looking at hundreds, if not over 1000 tanker journeys per day from Whangarei to the airport just to meet demand.

To me the biggest issue would be Auckland running out of petrol. Nobody has quite tried to scare people yet but surely that must also be a possibility.

The pipe only carried aviation fuel, so no problems with petrol supply.

Media have said the pipeline carries aviation fuel, petrol and diesel.

Stu

Hammered
8742 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2407

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1867564 17-Sep-2017 16:36

Not what I've been reading, Steve. Above link also says only aviation fuel affected. Perhaps the other pipes follow the same route, but haven't been damaged?

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

DarthKermit

5346 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3317

Trusted

#1867566 17-Sep-2017 16:44

Logically, there would be different pipes for different fuels.

coffeebaron

6304 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3567

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1867569 17-Sep-2017 16:47

DarthKermit:
Logically, there would be different pipes for different fuels.

Nope

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

Sidestep

1019 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 567

Lifetime subscriber

#1867573 17-Sep-2017 16:52

sbiddle:

Media have said the pipeline carries aviation fuel, petrol and diesel.

It's an aviation fuel line. (Edit: looks like petrol/diesel too)

This does showcase the fact that we're completely dependent on one choke point – Marsden point refinery – for most of the county's liquid fuels.
What happens if it stops working? Fires, explosions at refineries are relatively common.

New Zealand's in a relatively precarious fuels situation.
Our liquid energy mostly comes via long and brittle import routes, and about three quarters of it's refined from oil at Marsden Point.

Heavier oil - refined at Marsden Point to supply NZ's jet fuel, 80% of our diesel & roading bitumen, 50% of NZ's petrol - is imported.
Bulk pre-refined fuel imports fill the remainder of our tanks.

We can't refine locally produced oil, because that's mainly light waxy stuff and is exported.

Marsden Point itself's a leftover product of the Muldoon 'think big' era, and brought on by NZ's last Liquid fuels crisis – a worldwide one in the 70's.
My parents experienced 'carless days', expensive LPG conversions and forced ride sharing.

Anything goes wrong at Marsden Point, at a minimum petrol & diesel would go up in price.
If we can't buy and ship refined fuel in fast enough maybe we'd see carless days again.

I'd like to see our cities & highways full of zero emission vehicles, and reckon NZ should embrace EV's, upgrade our electrical grid, investigate bulk energy storage systems, and move as much generation as possible to renewables - for another reason than emissions: our Energy Security.

Moving to EV's will do little to reduce our our Jet fuel - or diesel use, over half of which goes to commercial road transport, most of the rest to Agriculture and construction.
But with our personal transportation powered renewably (and locally) we could turn our attention to alternative heavy transport, industrial and commercial energy options.

Geekzone support

Support Geekzone with one-off or recurring donations Donate via PressPatron.

wellygary

8810 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 5287

#1867576 17-Sep-2017 16:55

http://www.refiningnz.com/visitors--learning/classroom--learning-resources/learning-centre/how-it-works---the-refining-process/refinery-auckland-pipeline.aspx

The pipeline is a single pipe from the refinery to Auckland, So ALL fuel types are impacted

I'm Guessing that they figures there is enough local storage to keep Auckland running for the next week or so,

RunningMan

9186 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4840

#1867577 17-Sep-2017 16:59

Sidestep: [snip]

It's an aviation fuel line.

Along with petrol and diesel.

http://www.refiningnz.com/environment--community/environmental-protection/pipeline/rap-facts.aspx

firefuze

510 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 85

#1867578 17-Sep-2017 17:03

I got this from Z today;

Refinery pipeline disruption

We want to bring you up to date with a fuel supply issue that the industry is currently managing. This is an issue that is currently of high national interest and I wanted you to hear about this from me as soon as possible.

Refining New Zealand has informed us that there is a fault with the 170-kilometre-long Refinery to Auckland pipeline (RAP). On Thursday afternoon the location of a leak in the pipeline was located close to the refinery and the pipeline has been shut down to enable repairs.

Refining New Zealand owns and operates the pipeline which supplies jet fuel, petrol and diesel into Auckland. While we are waiting for precise confirmation on exactly how long this fault will take to fix, it is currently predicted to be up to 10-14 days - longer than the industry’s available supply of fuel without the pipeline running.

National fuel stocks in New Zealand are healthy and the refinery is still operating, meaning fuel is still being manufactured and shipped to ports around New Zealand. Fuel import vessels are also scheduled for further deliveries as per usual. The industry is now doing everything it can to move fuel by ship and truck around the country to ensure continuity of petrol and diesel stocks in and around Auckland, including through Whangarei and Mount Maunganui.

We will post updates on this issue, including the Refinery’s expected repair times, on a daily basis to the following website www.z.co.nz/RAPoutage.

Again, I want to reiterate Z’s commitment to managing this issue as effectively as possible and with as little disruption to our customers as possible.

Stu

Hammered
8742 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2407

Moderator

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1867579 17-Sep-2017 17:04

wellygary:
http://www.refiningnz.com/visitors--learning/classroom--learning-resources/learning-centre/how-it-works---the-refining-process/refinery-auckland-pipeline.aspx

The pipeline is a single pipe from the refinery to Auckland, So ALL fuel types are impacted

I'm Guessing that they figures there is enough local storage to keep Auckland running for the next week or so,

I think that's it. The reason petrol and diesel aren't affected is due to stock on hand expected to be sufficient to lady until the repair is completed.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

Referral Links: Sharesies -

Are you happy with what you get from Geekzone? If so, please consider supporting us by subscribing.

No matter where you go, there you are.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ... | 16