HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.—The ruptured pipeline that released thousands of gallons of oil into the ocean near Huntington Beach was shut down more than three hours after the damage occurred after operators received a low-pressure alarm early Saturday morning, and it appears a ship’s anchor may have hooked the pipe and caused the leak, according to preliminary findings by federal investigators.
Meanwhile, divers contracted to investigate the source of the massive oil leak off the coast of Orange County confirmed that a large section of the 17.7-mile pipeline was moved out of place by as much as 105 feet, and a 13-inch “split” in the line was detected in the displaced section 4 1/2 miles offshore.
