HL incident on 2011-10-12 — TX

Operator
Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$12,000
Incident datetime
2011-10-12 12:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Tank 1607 was taken out of service in order to perform an API 653 inspection. The tank valve was removed and a blind flange was installed (on the tank side end of the piping assembly). Tank line had a clamp (dresser coupling) within the tank line pipe assembly. On octoboer 12, 2011 the dresser coupling connection failed and approximately 398 barrels of oil was released from the pipe coupling connection into the berm area. Tank inspection work at the hartsdale terminal was halted and crews commenced clean up and temporary repairs on the failed section. An incident investigation commenced and is ongoing to determine the root cause and potential contributing factors. Clean up of the site has been completed. Update aug 2012 there are two primary causes for this incident: -lack of adequate longitudinal anchorage: the lack of sufficient anchorage allowed the blind flange pipe piece to slip out of the dresser coupling which resulted in a release of crude oil when the line was pressurized. The anchorage provided to the dresser coupling was two chains, which spanned across the coupling and were welded to pipes on each side. These chains were not capable of resisting the end cap force generated by pressure up to the rated capacity of the fill line piping (182 psi). -failure to isolate the out-of-service tank line :the desired double block and bleed condition was compromised by leaving the isolation valve that was connected to the terminal manifold partially open for thermal relief, while executing a maneuver that pressurized the manifold. Update may 2013 approximately 512 tons of contaminated soil was removed from the site and disposed of at an approved location.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2011-11-11 00:00:00
Iyear
2011
Report Number
20110419
Supplemental Number
20678
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership
Operator Street Address
915 N Eldridge Parkway, Suite 1100
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Local Datetime
2011-10-12 12:30:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
398
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
398
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-10-12 12:30:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Tank Was Out Of Service For Api 653 Inspection
On Site Datetime
2011-10-12 12:30:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-10-12 13:50:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Tank 1607
Segment Name
Tank Fill Line
Onshore State Abbreviation
In
Onshore Postal Code
46375
Onshore City Name
Schererville
Onshore County Name
Lake
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
75.31
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Repair Sleeve Or Clamp
Installation Year
1957
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
3500
Est Cost Prop Damage
12000
Est Cost Emergency
102000
Est Cost Environmental
177500
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
295000
Accident Psig
75
Mop Psig
182
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction 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
No
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Other Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind Details
A Critical Review Of Cco-Field Communications Related To Pipeline Maintenance And Repair Activities. This Review Will Identify Gaps That May Exist In The Communications Between The Control Center Operators, Control Center Engineers, And Field Maintenance Personnel With Respect To Having A Clear And Common Understand Concerning All Potential Line Pressure Conditions, And Any Features (Such As Partially Open Valves) That Could Impose Operating Limitations.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Num Contractors Tested
9
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Eq Failure Type
Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Other Stripped Ind
Mechanical Coupling
Additional Overpressure Ind
Yes
Additional Installation Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
S**** S****
Preparer Title
Compliance Analyst
Preparer Email
S**********@e*******.com
Preparer Telephone
715-395-3620
Preparer Fax
715-394-1564
Prepared Date
2015-08-19 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
R** C*******
Authorizer Telephone
715-395-3619
Authorizer Title
Manager Us Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email
R***********@e*******.com
Narrative
Tank 1607 was taken out of service in order to perform an API 653 inspection. The tank valve was removed and a blind flange was installed (on the tank side end of the piping assembly). Tank line had a clamp (dresser coupling) within the tank line pipe assembly. On octoboer 12, 2011 the dresser coupling connection failed and approximately 398 barrels of oil was released from the pipe coupling connection into the berm area. Tank inspection work at the hartsdale terminal was halted and crews commenced clean up and temporary repairs on the failed section. An incident investigation commenced and is ongoing to determine the root cause and potential contributing factors. Clean up of the site has been completed. Update aug 2012 there are two primary causes for this incident: -lack of adequate longitudinal anchorage: the lack of sufficient anchorage allowed the blind flange pipe piece to slip out of the dresser coupling which resulted in a release of crude oil when the line was pressurized. The anchorage provided to the dresser coupling was two chains, which spanned across the coupling and were welded to pipes on each side. These chains were not capable of resisting the end cap force generated by pressure up to the rated capacity of the fill line piping (182 psi). -failure to isolate the out-of-service tank line :the desired double block and bleed condition was compromised by leaving the isolation valve that was connected to the terminal manifold partially open for thermal relief, while executing a maneuver that pressurized the manifold. Update may 2013 approximately 512 tons of contaminated soil was removed from the site and disposed of at an approved location.
Report Received Date 2011-11-11 00:00:00
Iyear 2011
Report Number 20110419
Supplemental Number 20678
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 11169 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership
Operator Street Address 915 N Eldridge Parkway, Suite 1100
Operator City Name Houston
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77079
Local Datetime 2011-10-12 12:30:00
Location Latitude 41.50506 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -87.4543 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Commodity Released Type Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls 398
Intentional Release Bbls 0
Recovered Bbls 398
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Contractor Working For The Operator
Incident Identified Datetime 2011-10-12 12:30:00
System Part Involved Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind No
Shutdown Explain Tank Was Out Of Service For Api 653 Inspection
On Site Datetime 2011-10-12 12:30:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2011-10-12 13:50:00
Nrc Rpt Num 992312 NRC Report How to search
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Pipe Fac Name Tank 1607
Segment Name Tank Fill Line
Onshore State Abbreviation In
Onshore Postal Code 46375
Onshore City Name Schererville
Onshore County Name Lake
Designated Location Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name 75.31
Federal No
Location Type Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Interstate
Item Involved Repair Sleeve Or Clamp
Installation Year 1957
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind No
Soil Contamination Yes
Long Term Assessment No
Remediation Ind No
Water Contam Ind No
Could Be Hca Yes
Commodity Reached Hca Yes
Other Pop Ind Yes
Other Pop Yes No Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Gas Released 3500
Est Cost Prop Damage 12000
Est Cost Emergency 102000
Est Cost Environmental 177500
Est Cost Other 0
Prpty 295000
Accident Psig 75
Mop Psig 182
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction 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 No
Investigation Status Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Other Ind Yes
Invest Other Ind Details A Critical Review Of Cco-Field Communications Related To Pipeline Maintenance And Repair Activities. This Review Will Identify Gaps That May Exist In The Communications Between The Control Center Operators, Control Center Engineers, And Field Maintenance Personnel With Respect To Having A Clear And Common Understand Concerning All Potential Line Pressure Conditions, And Any Features (Such As Partially Open Valves) That Could Impose Operating Limitations.
Employee Drug Test Ind Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Employees Tested 1
Num Employees Failed 0
Num Contractors Tested 9
Num Contractors Failed 0
Cause Equipment Failure
Cause Details Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Eq Failure Type Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Other Stripped Ind Mechanical Coupling
Additional Overpressure Ind Yes
Additional Installation Ind Yes
Preparer Name S**** S****
Preparer Title Compliance Analyst
Preparer Email S**********@e*******.com
Preparer Telephone 715-395-3620
Preparer Fax 715-394-1564
Prepared Date 2015-08-19 00:00:00
Authorizer Name R** C*******
Authorizer Telephone 715-395-3619
Authorizer Title Manager Us Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email R***********@e*******.com
Narrative Tank 1607 was taken out of service in order to perform an API 653 inspection. The tank valve was removed and a blind flange was installed (on the tank side end of the piping assembly). Tank line had a clamp (dresser coupling) within the tank line pipe assembly. On octoboer 12, 2011 the dresser coupling connection failed and approximately 398 barrels of oil was released from the pipe coupling connection into the berm area. Tank inspection work at the hartsdale terminal was halted and crews commenced clean up and temporary repairs on the failed section. An incident investigation commenced and is ongoing to determine the root cause and potential contributing factors. Clean up of the site has been completed. Update aug 2012 there are two primary causes for this incident: -lack of adequate longitudinal anchorage: the lack of sufficient anchorage allowed the blind flange pipe piece to slip out of the dresser coupling which resulted in a release of crude oil when the line was pressurized. The anchorage provided to the dresser coupling was two chains, which spanned across the coupling and were welded to pipes on each side. These chains were not capable of resisting the end cap force generated by pressure up to the rated capacity of the fill line piping (182 psi). -failure to isolate the out-of-service tank line :the desired double block and bleed condition was compromised by leaving the isolation valve that was connected to the terminal manifold partially open for thermal relief, while executing a maneuver that pressurized the manifold. Update may 2013 approximately 512 tons of contaminated soil was removed from the site and disposed of at an approved location.

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