Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2012-12-05 — 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)
$25,000
Incident datetime
2012-12-05 17:00
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Insulating gasket on the downstream side of a mainline block valve at iowa pump station began leaking following the connection of a bypass line just downstream of the block valve. The leak was first noticed as small enough to tighten the flange studs and nuts which stopped the release for over one hour. The release began again. The pipeline was segmented by closing other mainline block valve which isolated a 7 mile long segment of pipeline while ethylene pipeline was shut down. The isolated segment was blown down through several flares. The flange gasket continued to leak until the pressure dropped to approx. 550 psi. At which time it stopped. The isolated pipeline segment continued to be blown down until it was safe to remove and replace the gasket. The gasket was replaced on 12/8 and restarted on 12/9. The gasket was a micarta insulating gasket used to isolate the pipeline segments. This type of insulating gasket was commonly utilized. It was found to be in good condition. An investigation determined the cause of the release was due to the loss of support of the aboveground flange set while connecting the temporary bypass piping downstream of the flange set. 3/13/2013 - verified e5f per request from PHMSA. 11/12/13 - spoke with blaine keener, PHMSA - requested the recovered volume be removed for the amount of the intentional volume.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2012-12-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2012
Report Number
20120359
Supplemental Number
18718
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
2012-12-05 17:00:00
Location Latitude
30.15735228
Location Longitude
-93.04560277
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
329
Intentional Release Bbls
4925
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
2012-12-05 17:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2012-12-05 17:00:00
Restart Datetime
2012-12-09 07:30:00
On Site Datetime
2012-12-05 17:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-12-05 17:47:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1032428
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Iowa Pump Station Ml Bv
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70647
Onshore City Name
Iowa
Onshore County Name
Calcasieu
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
121
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
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
1990
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Insulating Gasket
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection 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
218500
Est Cost Prop Damage
25000
Est Cost Emergency
250000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
493500
Accident Psig
1163
Mop Psig
1440
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
36960
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications 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
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
The release was immediately identified by field personnel and the system was shut down in a safe and efficient manner.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind
Gasket
Additional Support Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
R****** K*****
Preparer Title
Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email
R*************@s****.com
Preparer Telephone
7132411064
Prepared Date
2013-11-12 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B**** S*******
Authorizer Telephone
7132413620
Authorizer Title
Integrity And Regulatory Services Manager
Authorizer Email
B*************@s****.com
Narrative
Insulating gasket on the downstream side of a mainline block valve at iowa pump station began leaking following the connection of a bypass line just downstream of the block valve. The leak was first noticed as small enough to tighten the flange studs and nuts which stopped the release for over one hour. The release began again. The pipeline was segmented by closing other mainline block valve which isolated a 7 mile long segment of pipeline while ethylene pipeline was shut down. The isolated segment was blown down through several flares. The flange gasket continued to leak until the pressure dropped to approx. 550 psi. At which time it stopped. The isolated pipeline segment continued to be blown down until it was safe to remove and replace the gasket. The gasket was replaced on 12/8 and restarted on 12/9. The gasket was a micarta insulating gasket used to isolate the pipeline segments. This type of insulating gasket was commonly utilized. It was found to be in good condition. An investigation determined the cause of the release was due to the loss of support of the aboveground flange set while connecting the temporary bypass piping downstream of the flange set. 3/13/2013 - verified e5f per request from PHMSA. 11/12/13 - spoke with blaine keener, PHMSA - requested the recovered volume be removed for the amount of the intentional volume.
| Report Received Date | 2012-12-13 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2012 |
| Report Number | 20120359 |
| Supplemental Number | 18718 |
| 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 | 2012-12-05 17:00:00 |
| Location Latitude | 30.15735228 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -93.04560277 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 | 329 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 4925 |
| 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 | 2012-12-05 17:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2012-12-05 17:00:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2012-12-09 07:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-12-05 17:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-12-05 17:47:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1032428 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Iowa Pump Station Ml Bv |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70647 |
| Onshore City Name | Iowa |
| Onshore County Name | Calcasieu |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 121 |
| 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 | Flange Assembly |
| Installation Year | 1990 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Insulating Gasket |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection 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 | 218500 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 25000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 250000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 493500 |
| Accident Psig | 1163 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 36960 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications 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 | 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 | The release was immediately identified by field personnel and the system was shut down in a safe and efficient manner. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Non-Threaded Connection Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Non-Threaded Connection Failure |
| Other Non Threaded Ind | Gasket |
| Additional Support Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | R****** K***** |
| Preparer Title | Regulatory Specialist |
| Preparer Email | R*************@s****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7132411064 |
| Prepared Date | 2013-11-12 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | B**** S******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7132413620 |
| Authorizer Title | Integrity And Regulatory Services Manager |
| Authorizer Email | B*************@s****.com |
| Narrative | Insulating gasket on the downstream side of a mainline block valve at iowa pump station began leaking following the connection of a bypass line just downstream of the block valve. The leak was first noticed as small enough to tighten the flange studs and nuts which stopped the release for over one hour. The release began again. The pipeline was segmented by closing other mainline block valve which isolated a 7 mile long segment of pipeline while ethylene pipeline was shut down. The isolated segment was blown down through several flares. The flange gasket continued to leak until the pressure dropped to approx. 550 psi. At which time it stopped. The isolated pipeline segment continued to be blown down until it was safe to remove and replace the gasket. The gasket was replaced on 12/8 and restarted on 12/9. The gasket was a micarta insulating gasket used to isolate the pipeline segments. This type of insulating gasket was commonly utilized. It was found to be in good condition. An investigation determined the cause of the release was due to the loss of support of the aboveground flange set while connecting the temporary bypass piping downstream of the flange set. 3/13/2013 - verified e5f per request from PHMSA. 11/12/13 - spoke with blaine keener, PHMSA - requested the recovered volume be removed for the amount of the intentional volume. |
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