Investigators have identified the source of a leak in the Olympic pipeline, two weeks after fuel was first spotted in a ditch near a blueberry farm in Everett, Washington. The pipeline, operated by BP, carries gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products to Washington and Oregon, supplying 90% of Oregon's transportation fuel and much of the fuel for Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
BP confirmed that the leak originated from a 20-inch pipeline, allowing the adjacent 16-inch pipeline to be restarted. Repair plans for the damaged segment are being developed, with a timeline to be announced later. The leak was first reported on 11 November between Everett and Snohomish, Washington, and was found to contain a mix of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel.
The disruption prompted the governors of Washington and Oregon to declare states of emergency, waiving regulations to allow longer driving hours for commercial vehicles transporting jet fuel to Seattle-Tacoma airport. Airlines including Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines implemented contingencies, such as bringing extra fuel on inbound flights and adding refueling stops, to avoid disruptions during the Thanksgiving travel period.
BP has excavated over 200 feet of pipeline to locate the leak. The company faces a $3.8 million fine from Washington state's ecology department for a 2023 gasoline spill from the same pipeline. The Olympic pipeline has leaked at least 13 times since 1999, including three incidents in 2025, causing over $100 million in property damage, according to the Pipeline Safety Trust.
