Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2012-07-16 — TX
Operator
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$500,000
Incident datetime
2012-07-16 09:33
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Ethylene pump station unit #2 outboard seal failed immediately upon starting the unit. The control of the pump station was with the local operations personnel. The pump unit #2 had not been run since may 2012. The pump seal had been replaced. The pump unit #2 was started and immediately the operator heard an abnormal sound. Operator looked and saw the pump was on fire. Operator immediately shut down the unit and began isolation of the pump station from the mainline pipeline. Notified the control center who shut down the mainline pipeline as a precaution and isolated by closing the mainline valves. Local fire response was activated through 911, along with contract fire response personnel. The fire was allowed to burn off in a controlled process. No injuries to any personnel or responders. The station was isolated and the mainline block valves were opened and operated without the pump station. The pump unit was removed and sent ot the manufacturer for inspection of the pump seal and overall pump inspection. It was determined through the pump inspection that the seal had moved along the pump shaft, at the colar, allowing contact with the seal faces. When the pump unit started the seal immediately failed. An effort is in place with the pump and seal manufacturer to re-design the pump seals for this style of pump in ethylene service. 3/13/2013 - updated e5f per PHMSA request.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2012-08-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2012
Report Number
20120234
Supplemental Number
17501
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31174
Name
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Operator Street Address
150 North Dairy Ashford Road Wck Bldg. A
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Local Datetime
2012-07-16 09:33:00
Location Latitude
30.1571
Location Longitude
-93.0463
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Ethylene
Unintentional Release Bbls
15.67
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-07-16 09:33:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2012-07-16 09:35:00
Restart Datetime
2012-07-16 13:00:00
On Site Datetime
2012-07-16 09:33:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-07-16 10:36:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1017897
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Iowa Pump Station
Segment Name
Tx-La Ethylene Pipeline
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70606
Onshore City Name
Lake Charles
Onshore County Name
Calcasieu
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Iowa Pump Sta
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
Pump
Installation Year
1991
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Pump Seal Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
850
Est Cost Prop Damage
500000
Est Cost Emergency
5000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
505850
Accident Psig
1218
Mop Psig
1440
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
Yes
Cpm In Place Ind
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
No
Cpm Conf 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
Controllers actions followed procedure. Local operations had control of the pump station when the pump seal failed.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment
Other Pump Ind
Seal/packing Failure
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Seal Shifted On Pump Shaft Following Filling The Pump Case.
Preparer Name
R****** K*****
Preparer Title
Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email
R*************@s****.com
Preparer Telephone
7132411064
Preparer Fax
7132412596
Prepared Date
2013-03-13 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B**** S*******
Authorizer Telephone
7132413620
Authorizer Title
Integrity Regulatory Services Manager
Authorizer Email
B*************@s****.com
Narrative
Ethylene pump station unit #2 outboard seal failed immediately upon starting the unit. The control of the pump station was with the local operations personnel. The pump unit #2 had not been run since may 2012. The pump seal had been replaced. The pump unit #2 was started and immediately the operator heard an abnormal sound. Operator looked and saw the pump was on fire. Operator immediately shut down the unit and began isolation of the pump station from the mainline pipeline. Notified the control center who shut down the mainline pipeline as a precaution and isolated by closing the mainline valves. Local fire response was activated through 911, along with contract fire response personnel. The fire was allowed to burn off in a controlled process. No injuries to any personnel or responders. The station was isolated and the mainline block valves were opened and operated without the pump station. The pump unit was removed and sent ot the manufacturer for inspection of the pump seal and overall pump inspection. It was determined through the pump inspection that the seal had moved along the pump shaft, at the colar, allowing contact with the seal faces. When the pump unit started the seal immediately failed. An effort is in place with the pump and seal manufacturer to re-design the pump seals for this style of pump in ethylene service. 3/13/2013 - updated e5f per PHMSA request.
| Report Received Date | 2012-08-13 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2012 |
| Report Number | 20120234 |
| Supplemental Number | 17501 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31174 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Shell Pipeline Co., L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 150 North Dairy Ashford Road Wck Bldg. A |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77079 |
| Local Datetime | 2012-07-16 09:33:00 |
| Location Latitude | 30.1571 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -93.0463 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Other Hvl |
| Commodity Details | Ethylene |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 15.67 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-07-16 09:33:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2012-07-16 09:35:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2012-07-16 13:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-07-16 09:33:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-07-16 10:36:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1017897 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Iowa Pump Station |
| Segment Name | Tx-La Ethylene Pipeline |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70606 |
| Onshore City Name | Lake Charles |
| Onshore County Name | Calcasieu |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | Iowa Pump Sta |
| 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 | Pump |
| Installation Year | 1991 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Pump Seal Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 850 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 500000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 505850 |
| Accident Psig | 1218 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Cpm In Place Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Operating Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Functional Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Detection Ind | No |
| Cpm Conf 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 | Controllers actions followed procedure. Local operations had control of the pump station when the pump seal failed. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment |
| Other Pump Ind | Seal/packing Failure |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Seal Shifted On Pump Shaft Following Filling The Pump Case. |
| Preparer Name | R****** K***** |
| Preparer Title | Regulatory Specialist |
| Preparer Email | R*************@s****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7132411064 |
| Preparer Fax | 7132412596 |
| Prepared Date | 2013-03-13 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | B**** S******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7132413620 |
| Authorizer Title | Integrity Regulatory Services Manager |
| Authorizer Email | B*************@s****.com |
| Narrative | Ethylene pump station unit #2 outboard seal failed immediately upon starting the unit. The control of the pump station was with the local operations personnel. The pump unit #2 had not been run since may 2012. The pump seal had been replaced. The pump unit #2 was started and immediately the operator heard an abnormal sound. Operator looked and saw the pump was on fire. Operator immediately shut down the unit and began isolation of the pump station from the mainline pipeline. Notified the control center who shut down the mainline pipeline as a precaution and isolated by closing the mainline valves. Local fire response was activated through 911, along with contract fire response personnel. The fire was allowed to burn off in a controlled process. No injuries to any personnel or responders. The station was isolated and the mainline block valves were opened and operated without the pump station. The pump unit was removed and sent ot the manufacturer for inspection of the pump seal and overall pump inspection. It was determined through the pump inspection that the seal had moved along the pump shaft, at the colar, allowing contact with the seal faces. When the pump unit started the seal immediately failed. An effort is in place with the pump and seal manufacturer to re-design the pump seals for this style of pump in ethylene service. 3/13/2013 - updated e5f per PHMSA request. |
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