Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2011-08-16 — TX
Operator
Natural Gas Pipeline Co Of America (Kmi)
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$1,318,206
Incident datetime
2011-08-16 09:53
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
A crew performed maintenance on compressor unit #5 to repair an oil leak below the turbocharger. To repair the leak, the crew intended to support the turbocharger stand with a hydraulic jack, cut the two legs off with a portable grinder, install a gasket under each leg, and then replace each leg to its original position by welding at the location of the cut. The crew completed all of these tasks up to the point of welding the second leg. The incident occurred when the crew was welding the second leg. In order to have sufficient room to perform work on the second leg, the crew had removed the crankcase breather. The crew had used portable gas detectors in and around the work area, but they failed to position the portable gas detectors inside the crankcase, so the crew was not aware that there was combustible gas in the crankcase. After performing a post-incident investigation, it is believed that there was excessive leakage of the packing gland seals, which resulted in the gas migrating to the crankcase.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2011-09-15 00:00:00
Iyear
2011
Report Number
20110343
Supplemental Number
16089
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
13120
Name
Natural Gas Pipeline Co Of America (Kmi)
Operator Street Address
1001 Louisiana St, Ste 1000
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2011-08-16 09:53:00
Location Latitude
41.03423
Location Longitude
-88.08837
Nrc Rpt Num
986120
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-08-16 11:10:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
0.01
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
1
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2011-08-16 09:54:00
Restart Datetime
2011-08-20 08:23:00
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-08-16 09:53:00
On Site Datetime
2011-08-16 09:53:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Il
Onshore Postal Code
60941
Onshore City Name
Herscher
Onshore County Name
Kankakee
Pipe Fac Name
Herscher Storage Facility Station 201
Segment Name
Herscher Storage Facility
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Inside A Building
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping
Item Involved
Compressor
Installation Year
1952
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel Or Plastic
Material Details
Compressor Engine Crankcase
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Crankcase Explosion
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
606
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
1
Est Cost Intentional Release
250
Est Cost Prop Damage
1318206
Est Cost Emergency
2612
Est Cost Other
92910
Est Cost Other Details
Incident Investigation Costs
Prpty
1413979
Accident Psig
0
Mop Psig
858
Mop Cfr Section
Not On Omb-Approved Form When Submitted
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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
Unit 5 was offline at the time of the incident and therefore was not monitored by the contoller
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Num Employees Tested
3
Num Employees Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
The Crew Did Not Identify Whether There May Have Been A Combustible Mixture Inside The Crankcase, Which Was A Potential Hazard. The Crew Also Did Not Use The Portable Gas Detector Inside The Crankcase And Did Not Cover And/or Adequately Cover The Opening To The Crankcase.
Related Other Ind
Yes
Operation Related Details
See The Investigation Report Submitted To Phmsa And Dated June 18, 2012
Category Type
Other Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
M***** M*****
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
M************@k***********.com
Preparer Telephone
2053253863
Preparer Fax
2053253508
Authorizer Name
R*** G*****
Authorizer Title
Director Compliance Codes And Standards
Authorizer Telephone
7134205433
Authorizer Email
R**********@k***********.com
Narrative
A crew performed maintenance on compressor unit #5 to repair an oil leak below the turbocharger. To repair the leak, the crew intended to support the turbocharger stand with a hydraulic jack, cut the two legs off with a portable grinder, install a gasket under each leg, and then replace each leg to its original position by welding at the location of the cut. The crew completed all of these tasks up to the point of welding the second leg. The incident occurred when the crew was welding the second leg. In order to have sufficient room to perform work on the second leg, the crew had removed the crankcase breather. The crew had used portable gas detectors in and around the work area, but they failed to position the portable gas detectors inside the crankcase, so the crew was not aware that there was combustible gas in the crankcase. After performing a post-incident investigation, it is believed that there was excessive leakage of the packing gland seals, which resulted in the gas migrating to the crankcase.
| Report Received Date | 2011-09-15 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2011 |
| Report Number | 20110343 |
| Supplemental Number | 16089 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 13120 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Natural Gas Pipeline Co Of America (Kmi) |
| Operator Street Address | 1001 Louisiana St, Ste 1000 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-08-16 09:53:00 |
| Location Latitude | 41.03423 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -88.08837 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 986120 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-08-16 11:10:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 0.01 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 1 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 1 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2011-08-16 09:54:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2011-08-20 08:23:00 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-08-16 09:53:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-08-16 09:53:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Il |
| Onshore Postal Code | 60941 |
| Onshore City Name | Herscher |
| Onshore County Name | Kankakee |
| Pipe Fac Name | Herscher Storage Facility Station 201 |
| Segment Name | Herscher Storage Facility |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Inside A Building |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping |
| Item Involved | Compressor |
| Installation Year | 1952 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel Or Plastic |
| Material Details | Compressor Engine Crankcase |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Crankcase Explosion |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 606 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 1 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 250 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1318206 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 2612 |
| Est Cost Other | 92910 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Incident Investigation Costs |
| Prpty | 1413979 |
| Accident Psig | 0 |
| Mop Psig | 858 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Not On Omb-Approved Form When Submitted View CFR 49 §192 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| 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 | Unit 5 was offline at the time of the incident and therefore was not monitored by the contoller |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Num Employees Tested | 3 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | The Crew Did Not Identify Whether There May Have Been A Combustible Mixture Inside The Crankcase, Which Was A Potential Hazard. The Crew Also Did Not Use The Portable Gas Detector Inside The Crankcase And Did Not Cover And/or Adequately Cover The Opening To The Crankcase. |
| Related Other Ind | Yes |
| Operation Related Details | See The Investigation Report Submitted To Phmsa And Dated June 18, 2012 |
| Category Type | Other Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | M***** M***** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | M************@k***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2053253863 |
| Preparer Fax | 2053253508 |
| Authorizer Name | R*** G***** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Compliance Codes And Standards |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7134205433 |
| Authorizer Email | R**********@k***********.com |
| Narrative | A crew performed maintenance on compressor unit #5 to repair an oil leak below the turbocharger. To repair the leak, the crew intended to support the turbocharger stand with a hydraulic jack, cut the two legs off with a portable grinder, install a gasket under each leg, and then replace each leg to its original position by welding at the location of the cut. The crew completed all of these tasks up to the point of welding the second leg. The incident occurred when the crew was welding the second leg. In order to have sufficient room to perform work on the second leg, the crew had removed the crankcase breather. The crew had used portable gas detectors in and around the work area, but they failed to position the portable gas detectors inside the crankcase, so the crew was not aware that there was combustible gas in the crankcase. After performing a post-incident investigation, it is believed that there was excessive leakage of the packing gland seals, which resulted in the gas migrating to the crankcase. |
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