There's no way in Hell Russia can even afford to fix all the leaks and even if they could, repairs would be well nigh impossible in certain parts of the country, or if performed, would not hold through one change of seasons.
Ask any pipeline worker how long a repair lasts in climates where 50 below zero is normal.
This almost makes the point that just maybe drilling and pipelines in the Arctic are not a great idea!
These wells and pipeline need to be shut down if they cannot be maintained without creating destructive climate change emissions.
TAT
They can definitely be repaired however in most cases a repaired section fixed in minus 50 degree weather might bust wide open again when the temp his 45 above, or 70, or whatever.
Even the SPACE SHUTTLE suffered disastrous fuel leaks when it took off in 30 degree weather because they didn't follow the advice of Morton-Thiokol & Parker Hannifin to wait for warmer weather, and that's the Space Shuttle...this is just a section of pipeline, maybe not quite built to precision tolerances of a NASA rocket.
Russia doesn't give a flying ****, and I still say even if they did, it's something built not to "Russian" standards but more likely to DRUNKEN Russian standards. And they probably would bankrupt themselves trying to keep it fixed.
