HL incident on 2010-01-11 — TX

Operator
Nustar Logistics, L.p.
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Commodity
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$30,000
Incident datetime
2010-01-11 14:47
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On january 11, 2010, while flying a routine weekly areial patrol on the houston 12" products pipeline, the pilot observed a suspicious wet spot on the row and reported it to the area pipeline manager at 1134 hrs. A pipeline operator was sent to investigate and confirm if nustar's pipeline was invovled. At 1447 hrs. The pipeline operator concludes that the wet spot is due to a release in a common row with other pipeline operatiors and notifies the area pipeline manager. The pipeline was shut down and response personnel with equipment were called to the site. At 1447 hrs. Excavation activities were begun and the nrc and railroad commission were notified of a possible release on nustar's pipeline. At 1955 hrs. A small leak was discovered originating from nustar's pipeline. A plidco split sleeve clamp was applied and by 2208 hrs. The pipeline was restarted. January 12, 2010, remediation activities began and continued to completion on january 20, 2010. The leaking portion of the pipeline has been replaced and the pipe specimen is being shipped to kiefner and associates, inc. For third party analysis, after which, a laboratory report will be issued. At that time the cause of the leak will be known and a final 7000.1 form will be submitted. Update: cause of the release & sequence of events an outside consultant, kiefner & associates has investigated the source of the failure and concluded that the leak occurred as a result of crack propagation due to pressure-cycling fatigue. There was no evidence of disbondment or active corrosion between the aquawrap bonding material and the pipeline itself, indicating that an initial microscopic crack pre-existed the installtion of the aquawrap and propagated to failure. The times in part a questions 4 and 18a have been updated in this final report to accomodate PHMSA's electronic systems's time logic validation check. Specifically, nustar revised question 4 from 1715 to 1447. Additionally, question 18a was changed from 1715 to 1457. Nustar's maintains that its original report more accuarately depicts the sequence of events in regards to questions 4 and 18a of part a but has chosen to incorporate the listed changes in order to accomodate the agency's request.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2010-02-10 00:00:00
Iyear
2010
Report Number
20100262
Supplemental Number
15399
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Nustar Logistics, L.p.
Operator Street Address
410 South Padre Island Dr., Ste 200
Operator City Name
Corpus Christi
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
78405
Local Datetime
2010-01-11 14:47:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel
Unintentional Release Bbls
3
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
3
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 14:47:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2010-01-11 14:55:00
Restart Datetime
2010-01-11 22:08:00
On Site Datetime
2010-01-11 16:45:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2010-01-11 17:37:00
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
46p Houston 12" Refinded Products Pl
Segment Name
Midway To Greta
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78390
Onshore City Name
Taft
Onshore County Name
San Patrico
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
105394
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
52
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
12.75
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.203
Pipe Smys
42000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l-X42
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
Coal Tar
Installation Year
1969
Manufactured Year
1969
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
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
10000
Est Cost Gas Released
415
Est Cost Prop Damage
30000
Est Cost Emergency
7971
Est Cost Environmental
308883
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
357269
Accident Psig
645
Mop Psig
1050
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
44816
Internal Inspection 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
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Cpm In Place Ind
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
No
Cpm Conf Ind
No
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
The volume released was outside of the sensitivity of static model cpm currently in use. Additionally, logs and data reviewed immediately following shutdown of the pipeline gave no indication of a release during the time period nor were any unusually high or low pressures recorded during the period.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details
Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Metallurgical Ind
Yes
Failure Type
Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Fatigue Vibr Related
Yes
Failure Subtype
Pressure-Related
Additional Crack Ind
Yes
Collected Data Ind
Yes
Emat Ind
Yes
Emat Recent Year
2005
Other Recent Year
2008
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
B*** T*******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Specialist
Preparer Email
B*************@n***********.com
Preparer Telephone
(361) 249-9421
Preparer Fax
(210) 918-5524
Prepared Date
2010-09-16 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
M*** A********
Authorizer Telephone
(361) 249-9403
Authorizer Title
Sr. Mgr. Hse
Authorizer Email
M*************@n***********.com
Narrative
On january 11, 2010, while flying a routine weekly areial patrol on the houston 12" products pipeline, the pilot observed a suspicious wet spot on the row and reported it to the area pipeline manager at 1134 hrs. A pipeline operator was sent to investigate and confirm if nustar's pipeline was invovled. At 1447 hrs. The pipeline operator concludes that the wet spot is due to a release in a common row with other pipeline operatiors and notifies the area pipeline manager. The pipeline was shut down and response personnel with equipment were called to the site. At 1447 hrs. Excavation activities were begun and the nrc and railroad commission were notified of a possible release on nustar's pipeline. At 1955 hrs. A small leak was discovered originating from nustar's pipeline. A plidco split sleeve clamp was applied and by 2208 hrs. The pipeline was restarted. January 12, 2010, remediation activities began and continued to completion on january 20, 2010. The leaking portion of the pipeline has been replaced and the pipe specimen is being shipped to kiefner and associates, inc. For third party analysis, after which, a laboratory report will be issued. At that time the cause of the leak will be known and a final 7000.1 form will be submitted. Update: cause of the release & sequence of events an outside consultant, kiefner & associates has investigated the source of the failure and concluded that the leak occurred as a result of crack propagation due to pressure-cycling fatigue. There was no evidence of disbondment or active corrosion between the aquawrap bonding material and the pipeline itself, indicating that an initial microscopic crack pre-existed the installtion of the aquawrap and propagated to failure. The times in part a questions 4 and 18a have been updated in this final report to accomodate PHMSA's electronic systems's time logic validation check. Specifically, nustar revised question 4 from 1715 to 1447. Additionally, question 18a was changed from 1715 to 1457. Nustar's maintains that its original report more accuarately depicts the sequence of events in regards to questions 4 and 18a of part a but has chosen to incorporate the listed changes in order to accomodate the agency's request.
Report Received Date 2010-02-10 00:00:00
Iyear 2010
Report Number 20100262
Supplemental Number 15399
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 31454 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Nustar Logistics, L.p.
Operator Street Address 410 South Padre Island Dr., Ste 200
Operator City Name Corpus Christi
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 78405
Local Datetime 2010-01-11 14:47:00
Location Latitude 28.05529 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -97.32797 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Commodity Released Type Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel
Unintentional Release Bbls 3
Intentional Release Bbls 0
Recovered Bbls 3
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 14:47:00
System Part Involved Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind Yes
Shutdown Datetime 2010-01-11 14:55:00
Restart Datetime 2010-01-11 22:08:00
On Site Datetime 2010-01-11 16:45:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2010-01-11 17:37:00
Nrc Rpt Num 928286 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 46p Houston 12" Refinded Products Pl
Segment Name Midway To Greta
Onshore State Abbreviation Tx
Onshore Postal Code 78390
Onshore City Name Taft
Onshore County Name San Patrico
Designated Location Survey Station No.
Designated Name 105394
Federal No
Location Type Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type Underground
Incident Area Subtype Under Soil
Depth Of Cover 52
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Intrastate
Item Involved Pipe
Pipe Type Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter 12.75
Pipe Wall Thickness 0.203
Pipe Smys 42000
Pipe Specification Api 5l-X42
Pipe Seam Type Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer Unknown
Pipe Coating Type Coal Tar
Installation Year 1969
Manufactured Year 1969
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 No
Commodity Reached Hca No
Est Cost Oper Paid 10000
Est Cost Gas Released 415
Est Cost Prop Damage 30000
Est Cost Emergency 7971
Est Cost Environmental 308883
Est Cost Other 0
Prpty 357269
Accident Psig 645
Mop Psig 1050
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Length Segment Isolated 44816
Internal Inspection 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 No
Scada Conf Ind No
Cpm In Place Ind Yes
Cpm Operating Ind Yes
Cpm Functional Ind Yes
Cpm Detection Ind No
Cpm Conf Ind No
Investigation Status No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details The volume released was outside of the sensitivity of static model cpm currently in use. Additionally, logs and data reviewed immediately following shutdown of the pipeline gave no indication of a release during the time period nor were any unusually high or low pressures recorded during the period.
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Metallurgical Ind Yes
Failure Type Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Fatigue Vibr Related Yes
Failure Subtype Pressure-Related
Additional Crack Ind Yes
Collected Data Ind Yes
Emat Ind Yes
Emat Recent Year 2005
Other Recent Year 2008
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind No
Direct Asmnt Conducted No
Non Destructive Exam Ind No
Preparer Name B*** T*******
Preparer Title Pipeline Safety Specialist
Preparer Email B*************@n***********.com
Preparer Telephone (361) 249-9421
Preparer Fax (210) 918-5524
Prepared Date 2010-09-16 00:00:00
Authorizer Name M*** A********
Authorizer Telephone (361) 249-9403
Authorizer Title Sr. Mgr. Hse
Authorizer Email M*************@n***********.com
Narrative On january 11, 2010, while flying a routine weekly areial patrol on the houston 12" products pipeline, the pilot observed a suspicious wet spot on the row and reported it to the area pipeline manager at 1134 hrs. A pipeline operator was sent to investigate and confirm if nustar's pipeline was invovled. At 1447 hrs. The pipeline operator concludes that the wet spot is due to a release in a common row with other pipeline operatiors and notifies the area pipeline manager. The pipeline was shut down and response personnel with equipment were called to the site. At 1447 hrs. Excavation activities were begun and the nrc and railroad commission were notified of a possible release on nustar's pipeline. At 1955 hrs. A small leak was discovered originating from nustar's pipeline. A plidco split sleeve clamp was applied and by 2208 hrs. The pipeline was restarted. January 12, 2010, remediation activities began and continued to completion on january 20, 2010. The leaking portion of the pipeline has been replaced and the pipe specimen is being shipped to kiefner and associates, inc. For third party analysis, after which, a laboratory report will be issued. At that time the cause of the leak will be known and a final 7000.1 form will be submitted. Update: cause of the release & sequence of events an outside consultant, kiefner & associates has investigated the source of the failure and concluded that the leak occurred as a result of crack propagation due to pressure-cycling fatigue. There was no evidence of disbondment or active corrosion between the aquawrap bonding material and the pipeline itself, indicating that an initial microscopic crack pre-existed the installtion of the aquawrap and propagated to failure. The times in part a questions 4 and 18a have been updated in this final report to accomodate PHMSA's electronic systems's time logic validation check. Specifically, nustar revised question 4 from 1715 to 1447. Additionally, question 18a was changed from 1715 to 1457. Nustar's maintains that its original report more accuarately depicts the sequence of events in regards to questions 4 and 18a of part a but has chosen to incorporate the listed changes in order to accomodate the agency's request.

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