HL incident on 2011-06-12 — TX

Operator
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$1,200,000
Incident datetime
2011-06-12 06:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Droplets of oil from a 750 foot deep subsea flange surfaced approx. 300 feet east of the gc-19 platform. Seas were calm, no wind. The pipeline flow was re-directed to another pipeline on 6/12. The platform operator shell e&p notified the nrc, 979447. The boemre was contacted to allow testing of the pipeline to determine which flange was in question. Following testing on 6/13 the line was isolated. There are four incoming and three outgoing pipelines on this platform. A rov and boat were contracted to investigate the location of the droplets and was verified on the flange located on the sea floor. The nrc was updated on 6/14 nrc report number 979611 was initiated to take responsibility and supply an estimated volume of 1 gallon from the droplets of crude oil from the subsea flange. A plan is being developed to repair the flange. Update 8 4 11 final - week of 7/21/11 vessel and divers which were prepared to make repairs at 750 feet water depth, exchanged the studs and nuts on the 12 inch ansi 900 flange, tensioned them to specification and added support to both sides of the flange set. A nearby sea floor flange set was also inspected and found to specification. The pipeline was stand up tested successfully. Pipeline was returned to service.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2011-07-01 00:00:00
Iyear
2011
Report Number
20110220
Supplemental Number
15961
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Operator Street Address
777 Walker, P.o. Box 2648 (Two Shell Plaza)
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77252-2648
Local Datetime
2011-06-12 06:30:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.02
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0.02
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-06-12 06:30:00
System Part Involved
Offshore Pipeline, Including Riser And Riser Bend
On Off Shore
Offshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2011-06-12 12:30:00
Restart Datetime
2011-07-27 16:15:00
On Site Datetime
2011-06-12 06:31:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-06-12 16:01:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Check Valve
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Off Water Depth
750
Off Accident Origin
On The Outer Continental Shelf (Ocs)
Off Ocs Area
Green Canyon
Off Ocs Block
19
Off Area Accident Type
Below Water, Pipe On Or Above Seabed
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
1997
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Ocean Seawater Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.02
Rel Water Name
Gulf Of Mexico
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
1200000
Est Cost Emergency
150000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
1050000
Est Cost Other Details
F Divers Desat Rate 8 Days C Repairs Vessel Mob-Demb, Eng. Insp., Supply Boat
Prpty
2400000
Accident Psig
1315
Mop Psig
2160
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
39885
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
12" Pipeline Connects To A 20" Mainline Pipeline Of Another Operator Through A Subsea Connection.
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
12" Pipeline Subsea Tie In To 20" Main
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
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
Droplets of oil from the pipeline are not detected. This is an undetectable quantity.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind
Other
Other Non Threaded Details
Ansi 900 Flange Ring Joint Gasket - Found Several Studs And Nuts Loose & 45 Foot Span Unsupported.
Additional Support Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
R****** K*****
Preparer Title
Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email
R*************@s****.com
Preparer Telephone
7132411064
Preparer Fax
7132412596
Prepared Date
2011-08-04 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B**** S*******
Authorizer Telephone
7132413620
Authorizer Title
Integrity Regulatory Services Manager
Authorizer Email
B*************@s****.com
Narrative
Droplets of oil from a 750 foot deep subsea flange surfaced approx. 300 feet east of the gc-19 platform. Seas were calm, no wind. The pipeline flow was re-directed to another pipeline on 6/12. The platform operator shell e&p notified the nrc, 979447. The boemre was contacted to allow testing of the pipeline to determine which flange was in question. Following testing on 6/13 the line was isolated. There are four incoming and three outgoing pipelines on this platform. A rov and boat were contracted to investigate the location of the droplets and was verified on the flange located on the sea floor. The nrc was updated on 6/14 nrc report number 979611 was initiated to take responsibility and supply an estimated volume of 1 gallon from the droplets of crude oil from the subsea flange. A plan is being developed to repair the flange. Update 8 4 11 final - week of 7/21/11 vessel and divers which were prepared to make repairs at 750 feet water depth, exchanged the studs and nuts on the 12 inch ansi 900 flange, tensioned them to specification and added support to both sides of the flange set. A nearby sea floor flange set was also inspected and found to specification. The pipeline was stand up tested successfully. Pipeline was returned to service.
Report Received Date 2011-07-01 00:00:00
Iyear 2011
Report Number 20110220
Supplemental Number 15961
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 31174 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Operator Street Address 777 Walker, P.o. Box 2648 (Two Shell Plaza)
Operator City Name Houston
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77252-2648
Local Datetime 2011-06-12 06:30:00
Location Latitude 27.943 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -90.998 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Commodity Released Type Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls 0.02
Intentional Release Bbls 0
Recovered Bbls 0.02
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime 2011-06-12 06:30:00
System Part Involved Offshore Pipeline, Including Riser And Riser Bend
On Off Shore Offshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind Yes
Shutdown Datetime 2011-06-12 12:30:00
Restart Datetime 2011-07-27 16:15:00
On Site Datetime 2011-06-12 06:31:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2011-06-12 16:01:00
Nrc Rpt Num 979447 NRC Report How to search
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Upstream Valve Type Ind Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind Check Valve
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Off Water Depth 750
Off Accident Origin On The Outer Continental Shelf (Ocs)
Off Ocs Area Green Canyon
Off Ocs Block 19
Off Area Accident Type Below Water, Pipe On Or Above Seabed
Pipe Facility Type Interstate
Item Involved Flange Assembly
Installation Year 1997
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind No
Soil Contamination No
Long Term Assessment No
Remediation Ind No
Water Contam Ind Yes
Ocean Seawater Ind Yes
Amount Released 0.02
Rel Water Name Gulf Of Mexico
Could Be Hca No
Commodity Reached Hca No
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Gas Released 0
Est Cost Prop Damage 1200000
Est Cost Emergency 150000
Est Cost Environmental 0
Est Cost Other 1050000
Est Cost Other Details F Divers Desat Rate 8 Days C Repairs Vessel Mob-Demb, Eng. Insp., Supply Boat
Prpty 2400000
Accident Psig 1315
Mop Psig 2160
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Length Segment Isolated 39885
Internal Inspection Ind No
Other Inspection Ind Yes
Internal Inspection Details 12" Pipeline Connects To A 20" Mainline Pipeline Of Another Operator Through A Subsea Connection.
Operation Complications Ind Yes
Other Complications Ind Yes
Inspect Comp Details 12" Pipeline Subsea Tie In To 20" Main
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 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 Droplets of oil from the pipeline are not detected. This is an undetectable quantity.
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Equipment Failure
Cause Details Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind Other
Other Non Threaded Details Ansi 900 Flange Ring Joint Gasket - Found Several Studs And Nuts Loose & 45 Foot Span Unsupported.
Additional Support Ind Yes
Preparer Name R****** K*****
Preparer Title Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email R*************@s****.com
Preparer Telephone 7132411064
Preparer Fax 7132412596
Prepared Date 2011-08-04 00:00:00
Authorizer Name B**** S*******
Authorizer Telephone 7132413620
Authorizer Title Integrity Regulatory Services Manager
Authorizer Email B*************@s****.com
Narrative Droplets of oil from a 750 foot deep subsea flange surfaced approx. 300 feet east of the gc-19 platform. Seas were calm, no wind. The pipeline flow was re-directed to another pipeline on 6/12. The platform operator shell e&p notified the nrc, 979447. The boemre was contacted to allow testing of the pipeline to determine which flange was in question. Following testing on 6/13 the line was isolated. There are four incoming and three outgoing pipelines on this platform. A rov and boat were contracted to investigate the location of the droplets and was verified on the flange located on the sea floor. The nrc was updated on 6/14 nrc report number 979611 was initiated to take responsibility and supply an estimated volume of 1 gallon from the droplets of crude oil from the subsea flange. A plan is being developed to repair the flange. Update 8 4 11 final - week of 7/21/11 vessel and divers which were prepared to make repairs at 750 feet water depth, exchanged the studs and nuts on the 12 inch ansi 900 flange, tensioned them to specification and added support to both sides of the flange set. A nearby sea floor flange set was also inspected and found to specification. The pipeline was stand up tested successfully. Pipeline was returned to service.

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