HL incident on 2010-01-11 — TX

Operator
Targa Resources Operating Lp
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Commodity
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$29,360
Incident datetime
2010-01-11 14:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On the afternoon of monday 01/11/2010, a targa pipeline operator in the pipeline control room observed that a 6" normal butane line was not maintaining operational pressure. He then contacted the plant manager and the decision was made to contact the air patrol and have them fly the line and check for possible leaks. At 1430, the air patrol pilot contacted the plant manager and indicated he had located a leak on targa's normal butane line. He indicated the presence of a vapor cloud. Pipeline personnel were immediately dispatched to close the block valves on both sides of the incident/site. At 1445 both block valves were reported to be shut in. At 1500 the nrc was contacted, (incident #928272). At 1520 the la. Haz-mat. Was contacted,(incident # 10-00214). At 1610 the la. State pipeline safety division in baton rouge was contacted. The la deq and US coast guard were also notified of the incident. At approximately 1600 hrs. Personnel arrived at the leak site by boat. Personnel found that the leak was under ground in a marsh area, adjacent to the area that the pipe comes above ground onto pipe stanchions. It appeared that the majority of the product had been released as a vapor to the atmosphere. A large area surrounding the leak was frozen. The remaining product in the damaged section of the pipeline was depressured by 1900 on monday 01/11/10.(25 bbls vented to flare) weather conditions at the time pipeline personnel arrived on the scene: temperature 52� clear skies with frequent winds out of the north. 5-10 mph. No visible sheen was noticed. After excavating pipeline at leak site, investigation indicated that the release was the result of pipe failure. The failure occurred approximately 1/2 inch outside of bottom weld of an underground 90 degree fitting. The (cut-out) pipe was sent to a laboratory to determine cause of failure. After thorough examination and analysis from the meteorologists, it was determined that the cause of failure was due to stress fatigue. This line is part of our integrity management program and was pressure tested in 2007.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2010-03-05 00:00:00
Iyear
2010
Report Number
20100150
Supplemental Number
15205
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
Name
Targa Resources Operating Lp
Operator Street Address
811 Louisiana St Suite 2100
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2010-01-11 14:30:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Normal Butane
Unintentional Release Bbls
2237
Intentional Release Bbls
25
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Air Patrol
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Incident Identified Datetime
2010-01-11 14:30:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2010-01-11 14:45:00
Restart Datetime
2010-01-15 15:00:00
On Site Datetime
2010-01-11 14:30:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2010-01-11 15:00:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
N-4 Line (Normal Butane)
Segment Name
Valve # N-004-020
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70615
Onshore City Name
Lake Charles
Onshore County Name
Calcasieu
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
36
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
6.625
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.28
Pipe Smys
42000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Tex-Tube Co
Pipe Coating Type
Fusion Bonded Epoxy(Fbe)
Manufactured Year
2000
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Commercially Nav Ind
Yes
Commercially Nav Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Gas Released
136233
Est Cost Prop Damage
29360
Prpty
165593
Accident Psig
30
Mop Psig
220
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
21120
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
< 20% Smys Regulated Transmission
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Cpm In Place Ind
No
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Schedule Ind
Yes
Invest No Schedule Ind Details
Due To Rupture-Pipe-Crack
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind Details
Ruptured-Pipe-Crack Due To Stress Fatigue Of Pipe
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Cause Details
Temperature
Natural Force Type
Temperature
Temperature Subtype
Thermal Stress
Nf Extreme Weather Ind
Yes
Nf Other Ind
Yes
Nf Extreme Weather Details
Extreme Cold
Preparer Name
J** H P***
Preparer Title
Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
J****@t*************.com
Preparer Telephone
3374944407
Preparer Fax
3374944465
Prepared Date
2010-02-23 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
P****** H*******
Authorizer Telephone
3374944484
Authorizer Title
Area Manager
Authorizer Email
P**********@t*************.com
Narrative
On the afternoon of monday 01/11/2010, a targa pipeline operator in the pipeline control room observed that a 6" normal butane line was not maintaining operational pressure. He then contacted the plant manager and the decision was made to contact the air patrol and have them fly the line and check for possible leaks. At 1430, the air patrol pilot contacted the plant manager and indicated he had located a leak on targa's normal butane line. He indicated the presence of a vapor cloud. Pipeline personnel were immediately dispatched to close the block valves on both sides of the incident/site. At 1445 both block valves were reported to be shut in. At 1500 the nrc was contacted, (incident #928272). At 1520 the la. Haz-mat. Was contacted,(incident # 10-00214). At 1610 the la. State pipeline safety division in baton rouge was contacted. The la deq and US coast guard were also notified of the incident. At approximately 1600 hrs. Personnel arrived at the leak site by boat. Personnel found that the leak was under ground in a marsh area, adjacent to the area that the pipe comes above ground onto pipe stanchions. It appeared that the majority of the product had been released as a vapor to the atmosphere. A large area surrounding the leak was frozen. The remaining product in the damaged section of the pipeline was depressured by 1900 on monday 01/11/10.(25 bbls vented to flare) weather conditions at the time pipeline personnel arrived on the scene: temperature 52� clear skies with frequent winds out of the north. 5-10 mph. No visible sheen was noticed. After excavating pipeline at leak site, investigation indicated that the release was the result of pipe failure. The failure occurred approximately 1/2 inch outside of bottom weld of an underground 90 degree fitting. The (cut-out) pipe was sent to a laboratory to determine cause of failure. After thorough examination and analysis from the meteorologists, it was determined that the cause of failure was due to stress fatigue. This line is part of our integrity management program and was pressure tested in 2007.
Report Received Date 2010-03-05 00:00:00
Iyear 2010
Report Number 20100150
Supplemental Number 15205
Report Type Original Final
Operator Id 32296 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Targa Resources Operating Lp
Operator Street Address 811 Louisiana St Suite 2100
Operator City Name Houston
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77002
Local Datetime 2010-01-11 14:30:00
Location Latitude 30.25989 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -93.20991 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Commodity Released Type Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype Other Hvl
Commodity Details Normal Butane
Unintentional Release Bbls 2237
Intentional Release Bbls 25
Recovered Bbls 0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Accident Identifier Air Patrol
Operator Type Contractor Working For The Operator
Incident Identified Datetime 2010-01-11 14:30:00
System Part Involved Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind Yes
Shutdown Datetime 2010-01-11 14:45:00
Restart Datetime 2010-01-15 15:00:00
On Site Datetime 2010-01-11 14:30:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2010-01-11 15:00:00
Nrc Rpt Num 928272 NRC Report How to search
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Upstream Valve Type Ind Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind Manual
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Pipe Fac Name N-4 Line (Normal Butane)
Segment Name Valve # N-004-020
Onshore State Abbreviation La
Onshore Postal Code 70615
Onshore City Name Lake Charles
Onshore County Name Calcasieu
Designated Location Milepost/valve Station
Federal No
Location Type Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type Underground
Incident Area Subtype Under Soil
Depth Of Cover 36
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Intrastate
Item Involved Pipe
Pipe Type Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter 6.625
Pipe Wall Thickness 0.28
Pipe Smys 42000
Pipe Specification Api 5l
Pipe Seam Type Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer Tex-Tube Co
Pipe Coating Type Fusion Bonded Epoxy(Fbe)
Manufactured Year 2000
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Crack
Wildlife Impact Ind No
Soil Contamination No
Long Term Assessment No
Remediation Ind No
Water Contam Ind No
Could Be Hca Yes
Commodity Reached Hca Yes
Commercially Nav Ind Yes
Commercially Nav Yes No Yes
Est Cost Gas Released 136233
Est Cost Prop Damage 29360
Prpty 165593
Accident Psig 30
Mop Psig 220
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Length Segment Isolated 21120
Internal Inspection Ind No
Other Restrictions Ind Yes
Operation Complications Ind No
Pipeline Function < 20% Smys Regulated Transmission
Scada In Place Ind Yes
Scada Operating Ind Yes
Scada Functional Ind Yes
Scada Detection Ind Yes
Scada Conf Ind Yes
Cpm In Place Ind No
Investigation Status Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Schedule Ind Yes
Invest No Schedule Ind Details Due To Rupture-Pipe-Crack
Invest No Control Room Ind Yes
Invest No Controller Ind Yes
Invest Other Ind Yes
Invest Other Ind Details Ruptured-Pipe-Crack Due To Stress Fatigue Of Pipe
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Natural Force Damage
Cause Details Temperature
Natural Force Type Temperature
Temperature Subtype Thermal Stress
Nf Extreme Weather Ind Yes
Nf Other Ind Yes
Nf Extreme Weather Details Extreme Cold
Preparer Name J** H P***
Preparer Title Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email J****@t*************.com
Preparer Telephone 3374944407
Preparer Fax 3374944465
Prepared Date 2010-02-23 00:00:00
Authorizer Name P****** H*******
Authorizer Telephone 3374944484
Authorizer Title Area Manager
Authorizer Email P**********@t*************.com
Narrative On the afternoon of monday 01/11/2010, a targa pipeline operator in the pipeline control room observed that a 6" normal butane line was not maintaining operational pressure. He then contacted the plant manager and the decision was made to contact the air patrol and have them fly the line and check for possible leaks. At 1430, the air patrol pilot contacted the plant manager and indicated he had located a leak on targa's normal butane line. He indicated the presence of a vapor cloud. Pipeline personnel were immediately dispatched to close the block valves on both sides of the incident/site. At 1445 both block valves were reported to be shut in. At 1500 the nrc was contacted, (incident #928272). At 1520 the la. Haz-mat. Was contacted,(incident # 10-00214). At 1610 the la. State pipeline safety division in baton rouge was contacted. The la deq and US coast guard were also notified of the incident. At approximately 1600 hrs. Personnel arrived at the leak site by boat. Personnel found that the leak was under ground in a marsh area, adjacent to the area that the pipe comes above ground onto pipe stanchions. It appeared that the majority of the product had been released as a vapor to the atmosphere. A large area surrounding the leak was frozen. The remaining product in the damaged section of the pipeline was depressured by 1900 on monday 01/11/10.(25 bbls vented to flare) weather conditions at the time pipeline personnel arrived on the scene: temperature 52� clear skies with frequent winds out of the north. 5-10 mph. No visible sheen was noticed. After excavating pipeline at leak site, investigation indicated that the release was the result of pipe failure. The failure occurred approximately 1/2 inch outside of bottom weld of an underground 90 degree fitting. The (cut-out) pipe was sent to a laboratory to determine cause of failure. After thorough examination and analysis from the meteorologists, it was determined that the cause of failure was due to stress fatigue. This line is part of our integrity management program and was pressure tested in 2007.

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