Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2012-07-31 — TX
Operator
Northern Border Pipeline Company
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$500
Incident datetime
2012-07-31 18:52
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At 1728 on july 31, 2012, the station lost utility power when a thunderstorm went through the area. The facility apu attempted to start at which time the lead acid batteries exhibited a catastrophic failure leaving the compressor station without 480 vac power. At 1742 the unit shut down due to the lack of lube oil cooling fans which operate on 480 vac. At 1747, without operating air compressors due to the lack of 480 vac, the compressed air pressure decreased to a level where the unit normal vent valve (fail open, spring actuator) failed its closed position and began to open. The unit emergency vent valve opened (as designed and configured in the unit plc) as a result of the unit normal vent valve being out of a position. The unit suction and discharge valves utilize electric operators (480 vac) and remained open in their pre-existing position. The station suction and discharge valves remained open as the existing control logic did not attempt close them. At 1900 the station suction and discharge valves were closed on command by the responding technician. The apu battery issue was addressed and auxiliary power was restored to the station. At 2350 the station was returned to operational status. Utility power was restored to the station.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2012-10-26 00:00:00
Iyear
2012
Report Number
20120109
Supplemental Number
15934
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
13769
Name
Northern Border Pipeline Company
Operator Street Address
700 Louisiana Street Suite 700
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2012-07-31 18:52:00
Location Latitude
46.821623
Location Longitude
-101.75984
Nrc Rpt Num
1019579
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-07-31 20:55:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
19500
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2012-07-31 18:52:00
Restart Datetime
2012-07-31 23:50:00
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-07-31 18:52:00
On Site Datetime
2012-07-31 18:52:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Nd
Onshore Postal Code
58631
Onshore City Name
Glen Ullin
Onshore County Name
Morton
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
149.5
Pipe Fac Name
Glen Ullin Compressor Station
Segment Name
Northern Border Mainline Valve 23
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Auxiliary Or Other Valve
Installation Year
1982
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Uncontrolled Opening Of Valve
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
1098
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
79560
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
500
Est Cost Emergency
900
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
80960
Accident Psig
1210
Mop Psig
1435
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
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Accident Identifier
Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations)
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Power Failure Ind
Yes
Additional Electricity Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
K*** S****
Preparer Title
Pipe Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email
K*********@t**********.com
Preparer Telephone
509 546-8865
Preparer Fax
509 546-8825
Authorizer Name
K*** A* S****
Authorizer Title
Pipe Regulatory Specialist
Authorizer Telephone
509 546-8865
Authorizer Email
K*********@t**********.com
Narrative
At 1728 on july 31, 2012, the station lost utility power when a thunderstorm went through the area. The facility apu attempted to start at which time the lead acid batteries exhibited a catastrophic failure leaving the compressor station without 480 vac power. At 1742 the unit shut down due to the lack of lube oil cooling fans which operate on 480 vac. At 1747, without operating air compressors due to the lack of 480 vac, the compressed air pressure decreased to a level where the unit normal vent valve (fail open, spring actuator) failed its closed position and began to open. The unit emergency vent valve opened (as designed and configured in the unit plc) as a result of the unit normal vent valve being out of a position. The unit suction and discharge valves utilize electric operators (480 vac) and remained open in their pre-existing position. The station suction and discharge valves remained open as the existing control logic did not attempt close them. At 1900 the station suction and discharge valves were closed on command by the responding technician. The apu battery issue was addressed and auxiliary power was restored to the station. At 2350 the station was returned to operational status. Utility power was restored to the station.
| Report Received Date | 2012-10-26 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2012 |
| Report Number | 20120109 |
| Supplemental Number | 15934 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 13769 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Northern Border Pipeline Company |
| Operator Street Address | 700 Louisiana Street Suite 700 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2012-07-31 18:52:00 |
| Location Latitude | 46.821623 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -101.75984 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1019579 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-07-31 20:55:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 19500 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2012-07-31 18:52:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2012-07-31 23:50:00 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-07-31 18:52:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-07-31 18:52:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Nd |
| Onshore Postal Code | 58631 |
| Onshore City Name | Glen Ullin |
| Onshore County Name | Morton |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 149.5 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Glen Ullin Compressor Station |
| Segment Name | Northern Border Mainline Valve 23 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Auxiliary Or Other Valve |
| Installation Year | 1982 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Uncontrolled Opening Of Valve |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 1098 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 79560 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 500 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 900 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 80960 |
| Accident Psig | 1210 |
| Mop Psig | 1435 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| Accident Identifier | Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations) |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Power Failure Ind | Yes |
| Additional Electricity Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | K*** S**** |
| Preparer Title | Pipe Regulatory Specialist |
| Preparer Email | K*********@t**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 509 546-8865 |
| Preparer Fax | 509 546-8825 |
| Authorizer Name | K*** A* S**** |
| Authorizer Title | Pipe Regulatory Specialist |
| Authorizer Telephone | 509 546-8865 |
| Authorizer Email | K*********@t**********.com |
| Narrative | At 1728 on july 31, 2012, the station lost utility power when a thunderstorm went through the area. The facility apu attempted to start at which time the lead acid batteries exhibited a catastrophic failure leaving the compressor station without 480 vac power. At 1742 the unit shut down due to the lack of lube oil cooling fans which operate on 480 vac. At 1747, without operating air compressors due to the lack of 480 vac, the compressed air pressure decreased to a level where the unit normal vent valve (fail open, spring actuator) failed its closed position and began to open. The unit emergency vent valve opened (as designed and configured in the unit plc) as a result of the unit normal vent valve being out of a position. The unit suction and discharge valves utilize electric operators (480 vac) and remained open in their pre-existing position. The station suction and discharge valves remained open as the existing control logic did not attempt close them. At 1900 the station suction and discharge valves were closed on command by the responding technician. The apu battery issue was addressed and auxiliary power was restored to the station. At 2350 the station was returned to operational status. Utility power was restored to the station. |
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