Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2012-04-10 — TX
Operator
Exxonmobil Pipeline Co
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$40,000
Incident datetime
2012-04-10 17:17
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Operator employee investigated station after smelling crude and discovered fresh crude oil in a previously excavated hole near the mainline p-2 suction valve. The station was shut down by a power surge at the time of discovery. An estimated 5.5 bbls. Of crude oil was released to soil from two internal corrosion pits in a valve body drain connection pipe at the st. James-north pump station. The release was discovered and reported to empco supervision by an empco employee on 4/10/12 at 5:17 pm after an unexpected commercial power failure which shut down the pump station. The northline pipeline and st. James-north pump station was immediately isolated and emergency response personnel and equipment were mobilized to the site. Agency notifications were made. The entire crude oil release was contained within empco station and oil reclaimed via vacuum truck within 3 hours of the release discovery. A review of scada system pipeline surveillance data (level 1) did not indicate any abnormal conditions due to the presumed slow release rate. Suspected internal corrosion was discovered in a valve body bleed pipe detail. The reconditioned valve was installed in 2003 as part of a project to construct the pump station. The valve was removed and blind flange installed to enable re-commissioning of the pipeline using an adjacent similar pump unit. Drain piping of three identical pump station isolation valves were pressure tested prior to station re-commissioning. A loss investigation is in-progress and mitigation strategies are being developed to quickly address three similar remaining valves in the pump station. The original nrc report # 1008304 showed the release amount to be 11 bbls. That volume was determined to be incorrect; the correct volume was determined by the amount recovered in the vacuum truck. Procedures were revised to periodically drain the valve to discourage development of conditions that can possibly lead to valve damage or impair the operation of the valve.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2012-05-09 00:00:00
Iyear
2012
Report Number
20120145
Supplemental Number
18341
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
4906
Name
Exxonmobil Pipeline Co
Operator Street Address
22777 Springwoods Village Parkway E2.2b-Emp
Operator City Name
Spring
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77389
Local Datetime
2012-04-10 17:17:00
Location Latitude
30.010536
Location Longitude
-90.861846
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
5.5
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
5.5
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-04-10 17:17:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2012-04-10 17:17:00
Restart Datetime
2012-04-11 16:00:00
On Site Datetime
2012-04-10 17:25:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-04-10 18:40:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1008304
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
St James Station North
Segment Name
St James To Anchorage Terminal
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70086
Onshore City Name
St. James
Onshore County Name
St. James
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
00+00
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Auxiliary Or Other Valve
Installation Year
2003
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Internal Corrosion In The Pump's Suction Valve's Drain Line.
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
Yes
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
100
Est Cost Prop Damage
40000
Est Cost Emergency
1500
Est Cost Environmental
40000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
81600
Accident Psig
150
Mop Psig
1117
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
15
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
Suction Side Of Pump
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
Failed pump suction valve
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Cause Details
Internal Corrosion
Internal External
Internal Corrosion
Int Visual Exam Results
Localized Pitting
Int Microbiological Ind
Yes
Int Field Exam Basis Ind
Yes
Int Low Point Pipe Loc Ind
Yes
Corrosion Inhibitors
Yes
Corrosion Lining
No
Cleaning Dewatering
Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe
Corrosion Coupons
Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe
Preparer Name
K***** L Y****
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Compliance Advisor
Preparer Email
K*************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone
337-269-5221
Preparer Fax
337-662-5950
Prepared Date
2012-05-09 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
G*** W H*******
Authorizer Telephone
713-656-0227
Authorizer Title
Ess And H Manager
Authorizer Email
G**************@e*********.com
Narrative
Operator employee investigated station after smelling crude and discovered fresh crude oil in a previously excavated hole near the mainline p-2 suction valve. The station was shut down by a power surge at the time of discovery. An estimated 5.5 bbls. Of crude oil was released to soil from two internal corrosion pits in a valve body drain connection pipe at the st. James-north pump station. The release was discovered and reported to empco supervision by an empco employee on 4/10/12 at 5:17 pm after an unexpected commercial power failure which shut down the pump station. The northline pipeline and st. James-north pump station was immediately isolated and emergency response personnel and equipment were mobilized to the site. Agency notifications were made. The entire crude oil release was contained within empco station and oil reclaimed via vacuum truck within 3 hours of the release discovery. A review of scada system pipeline surveillance data (level 1) did not indicate any abnormal conditions due to the presumed slow release rate. Suspected internal corrosion was discovered in a valve body bleed pipe detail. The reconditioned valve was installed in 2003 as part of a project to construct the pump station. The valve was removed and blind flange installed to enable re-commissioning of the pipeline using an adjacent similar pump unit. Drain piping of three identical pump station isolation valves were pressure tested prior to station re-commissioning. A loss investigation is in-progress and mitigation strategies are being developed to quickly address three similar remaining valves in the pump station. The original nrc report # 1008304 showed the release amount to be 11 bbls. That volume was determined to be incorrect; the correct volume was determined by the amount recovered in the vacuum truck. Procedures were revised to periodically drain the valve to discourage development of conditions that can possibly lead to valve damage or impair the operation of the valve.
| Report Received Date | 2012-05-09 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2012 |
| Report Number | 20120145 |
| Supplemental Number | 18341 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 4906 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Exxonmobil Pipeline Co |
| Operator Street Address | 22777 Springwoods Village Parkway E2.2b-Emp |
| Operator City Name | Spring |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77389 |
| Local Datetime | 2012-04-10 17:17:00 |
| Location Latitude | 30.010536 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -90.861846 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 5.5 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 5.5 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-04-10 17:17:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2012-04-10 17:17:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2012-04-11 16:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-04-10 17:25:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-04-10 18:40:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1008304 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | St James Station North |
| Segment Name | St James To Anchorage Terminal |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70086 |
| Onshore City Name | St. James |
| Onshore County Name | St. James |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 00+00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Auxiliary Or Other Valve |
| Installation Year | 2003 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Internal Corrosion In The Pump's Suction Valve's Drain Line. |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | Yes |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 100 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 40000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 1500 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 40000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 81600 |
| Accident Psig | 150 |
| Mop Psig | 1117 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 15 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Other Restrictions Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Other Complications Ind | Yes |
| Inspect Comp Details | Suction Side Of Pump |
| 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 | Failed pump suction valve |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Corrosion Failure |
| Cause Details | Internal Corrosion |
| Internal External | Internal Corrosion |
| Int Visual Exam Results | Localized Pitting |
| Int Microbiological Ind | Yes |
| Int Field Exam Basis Ind | Yes |
| Int Low Point Pipe Loc Ind | Yes |
| Corrosion Inhibitors | Yes |
| Corrosion Lining | No |
| Cleaning Dewatering | Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe |
| Corrosion Coupons | Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe |
| Preparer Name | K***** L Y**** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Safety Compliance Advisor |
| Preparer Email | K*************@e*********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 337-269-5221 |
| Preparer Fax | 337-662-5950 |
| Prepared Date | 2012-05-09 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | G*** W H******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-656-0227 |
| Authorizer Title | Ess And H Manager |
| Authorizer Email | G**************@e*********.com |
| Narrative | Operator employee investigated station after smelling crude and discovered fresh crude oil in a previously excavated hole near the mainline p-2 suction valve. The station was shut down by a power surge at the time of discovery. An estimated 5.5 bbls. Of crude oil was released to soil from two internal corrosion pits in a valve body drain connection pipe at the st. James-north pump station. The release was discovered and reported to empco supervision by an empco employee on 4/10/12 at 5:17 pm after an unexpected commercial power failure which shut down the pump station. The northline pipeline and st. James-north pump station was immediately isolated and emergency response personnel and equipment were mobilized to the site. Agency notifications were made. The entire crude oil release was contained within empco station and oil reclaimed via vacuum truck within 3 hours of the release discovery. A review of scada system pipeline surveillance data (level 1) did not indicate any abnormal conditions due to the presumed slow release rate. Suspected internal corrosion was discovered in a valve body bleed pipe detail. The reconditioned valve was installed in 2003 as part of a project to construct the pump station. The valve was removed and blind flange installed to enable re-commissioning of the pipeline using an adjacent similar pump unit. Drain piping of three identical pump station isolation valves were pressure tested prior to station re-commissioning. A loss investigation is in-progress and mitigation strategies are being developed to quickly address three similar remaining valves in the pump station. The original nrc report # 1008304 showed the release amount to be 11 bbls. That volume was determined to be incorrect; the correct volume was determined by the amount recovered in the vacuum truck. Procedures were revised to periodically drain the valve to discourage development of conditions that can possibly lead to valve damage or impair the operation of the valve. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA