A critical artery of the U.S. gasoline supply chain, Colonial Pipeline's Line 1, is expected to remain shut down until at least Friday, raising concerns about potential fuel disruptions along the East Coast. The pipeline, which carries 1.5 million barrels of gasoline daily from Texas to North Carolina, was taken offline Monday night following reports of a suspected gasoline leak in Paulding County, Georgia.

The continued outage is drawing comparisons to the 2021 cyberattack that forced a week-long shutdown of the entire Colonial network, causing widespread fuel shortages and price hikes. While the current situation has not yet resulted in similar market turmoil, the extended downtime is prompting vigilance among industry experts and consumers.

Colonial Pipeline crews are still working to pinpoint the source of the suspected leak. The company initially anticipated resuming operations on Tuesday night, but the ongoing investigation has pushed the estimated restart to Friday. A company spokesperson stated that they are working with customers to facilitate limited gasoline deliveries through other parts of their extensive pipeline network.

“We will provide further updates as information becomes available,” the company said in a statement.

Line 1 plays a vital role in supplying approximately half of the East Coast's daily gasoline demand. The pipeline delivers fuel from Houston, Texas, to storage facilities in Greensboro, North Carolina, from where it is distributed to local markets and shipped further north, including the New York Harbor.

Despite the significant disruption, fuel markets have remained relatively stable so far. This stability is attributed to several factors, including decreased gasoline demand due to severe winter weather and healthy inventory levels.

Mansfield Energy, a U.S. fuel distributor, noted that while current inventories are sufficient to manage a short-term disruption, a prolonged shutdown could strain supply.

The situation is being closely monitored by industry stakeholders and government agencies. The extended shutdown of Line 1 underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure and the potential for disruptions to ripple through the economy. While current conditions remain manageable, the focus is on a swift resolution to the leak and the prompt resumption of pipeline operations to prevent any significant impact on consumers and businesses.

Colonial Pipeline operates the largest refined product pipeline system in the U.S., transporting gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel primarily from the Gulf Coast to the East Coast. Its Line 1 is a crucial artery for gasoline supply, making it a vital component of the nation's energy infrastructure.