System-wide pipeline review ordered after Rama III leak found beneath protective sleeve
A 6.6-centimetre defect in the fuel pipeline beneath Chuea Phloeng Road in Bangkok’s Rama III area has triggered a full system integrity review by the Thailand Department of Energy Business. The damage — 7 millimetres deep — was identified under a pipe sleeve too tightly bonded to remove, forcing engineers to strip the cover section by section for inspection.
How inspectors discovered the leak
Using ultrasonic testing (UT) equipment, technicians located the flaw 1.2 metres inside the 1.8-metre sleeve on 20 September 2026. The defect, invisible from the surface, had allowed fuel to seep through. The Thailand-based company Bangchak Group, through its pipeline operator BFPL, is now using a wrapping technique to seal the breach.
Once the repair material dries, the site will undergo at least three confirmation scans — including another UT test and two additional non-destructive checks — before pressure testing begins. Only then will road surface restoration proceed.
Mandatory full network scan begins
The Department has ordered a full intelligent pigging test across 32 kilometres of pipeline, a procedure using sensor-equipped devices that travel through the pipe to map wall thickness and detect hidden corrosion or cracks. This is not routine: it follows emergency protocol for systems where surface inspections reveal hidden damage.
If the inspection finds additional weak points, Bangchak must submit a replacement plan for entire pipeline segments, not just the damaged area. Engineers will also revise the alignment near bridge piers where soil movement may stress the pipe.
Accountability through records and oversight
The company must now submit complete maintenance records for all pipe sleeves installed along the 32-km route, including dates, materials, and prior inspections. The Department will cross-check these against past incident reports to determine if similar sleeves elsewhere carry unaddressed risk.
The Ministry of Energy will supervise all repair work, testing, and future modifications. No public reopening of the road will occur until the entire system passes pressure tests.
Standards, not shortcuts
Thailand’s regulations require compliance with ASME B31.4 for liquid pipeline systems and API 1160 for integrity management. The current response follows protocol for systems with concealed damage, emphasizing comprehensive inspection and repair to reduce the risk of future incidents.
