Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2013-03-29 — TX
Operator
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$1,830,000
Incident datetime
2013-03-29 10:04
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Cause determined by metallurgical inspection. The crack is attibuted to a bending load in the presence of an incomplete weld. Backfilling by 3rd party contractor. The pipeline failed due to forces applied to the top of the pipeline during the backfilling of the site. The quality of the weld also played a role in the incident. The weld was confirmed by analysis that it was fit-for-service. The weld did not fail due to pipeline operating pressures. Further confirmed that the weld was strong enough to withstand the maximum operating pressure (mop), hydrotest pressures and typical loads associated with the construction and maintenance of the pipeline. Locating the release - due to the recent backfilling and loose uncompacted soils at the site, the released crude oil was not discovered until the isolated section of pipeline was filled with dyed water to determine location. This was april 3rd. This added water to the uncompacted soils which displaced the crude oil to the surface and nearby bayou which was discoverd by pipeline operator crews later that day.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2013-04-26 00:00:00
Iyear
2013
Report Number
20130149
Supplemental Number
18747
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
2013-03-29 10:04:00
Location Latitude
29.716111
Location Longitude
-95.2219583
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
940
Recovered Bbls
525
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Cpm Leak Detection System Or Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Calculations)
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-03-29 10:04:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2013-03-29 10:04:00
Restart Datetime
2013-05-30 14:00:00
On Site Datetime
2013-03-29 11:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-03-30 13:04:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1042526
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
East Houston To West Columbia 16"
Segment Name
East Houston To Shaver Junction 16"
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77502
Onshore City Name
Pasadena
Onshore County Name
Harris
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
491+18
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
96
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Weld, Including Heat-Affected Zone
Pipe Diameter
16
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.281
Pipe Smys
46000
Pipe Specification
5l-X
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - Low Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Youngstown
Pipe Coating Type
Coal Tar
Weld Subtype
Pipe Girth Weld
Installation Year
1949
Manufactured Year
1948
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Wildlife Impact Ind
Yes
Fish Aquatic Impact Ind
Yes
Birds Impact Ind
Yes
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
Yes
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
66
Rel Water Name
Vince Bayou
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Commercially Nav Ind
Yes
Commercially Nav Yes No
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
60000
Est Cost Prop Damage
1830000
Est Cost Emergency
3110000
Est Cost Environmental
5000000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
10000000
Accident Psig
0
Mop Psig
720
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
3469
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
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Cpm In Place Ind
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
Yes
Cpm Conf Ind
Yes
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 detected by cpm tools upon startup of the pipeline. The controller's actions could not have contributed to the release because there were no actions taken to cause a surge, overpressure or abnormal condition. The controller executed a type 1 shutdown. The controller's response to the line balance alarm was timely and the shutdown was executed per procedure.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Private Row Ind
Yes
Private Subtype
Private Easement
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Liquid Pipeline
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
1354383689
One Call Center Name
Lonestar
Locator Type
Utility Owner
Visible Marks
Yes
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
1440
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Backfilling Practices
Preparer Name
R****** K*****
Preparer Title
Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email
R*************@s****.com
Preparer Telephone
713 241 1064
Prepared Date
2013-11-20 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B**** S*******
Authorizer Telephone
713 241 3620
Authorizer Title
Integrity And Regulatory Manager
Authorizer Email
B*************@s****.com
Narrative
Cause determined by metallurgical inspection. The crack is attibuted to a bending load in the presence of an incomplete weld. Backfilling by 3rd party contractor. The pipeline failed due to forces applied to the top of the pipeline during the backfilling of the site. The quality of the weld also played a role in the incident. The weld was confirmed by analysis that it was fit-for-service. The weld did not fail due to pipeline operating pressures. Further confirmed that the weld was strong enough to withstand the maximum operating pressure (mop), hydrotest pressures and typical loads associated with the construction and maintenance of the pipeline. Locating the release - due to the recent backfilling and loose uncompacted soils at the site, the released crude oil was not discovered until the isolated section of pipeline was filled with dyed water to determine location. This was april 3rd. This added water to the uncompacted soils which displaced the crude oil to the surface and nearby bayou which was discoverd by pipeline operator crews later that day.
| Report Received Date | 2013-04-26 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2013 |
| Report Number | 20130149 |
| Supplemental Number | 18747 |
| 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 | 2013-03-29 10:04:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.716111 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.2219583 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 940 |
| Recovered Bbls | 525 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Cpm Leak Detection System Or Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Calculations) |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-03-29 10:04:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2013-03-29 10:04:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2013-05-30 14:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-03-29 11:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-03-30 13:04:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1042526 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | East Houston To West Columbia 16" |
| Segment Name | East Houston To Shaver Junction 16" |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77502 |
| Onshore City Name | Pasadena |
| Onshore County Name | Harris |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 491+18 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 96 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Weld, Including Heat-Affected Zone |
| Pipe Diameter | 16 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.281 |
| Pipe Smys | 46000 |
| Pipe Specification | 5l-X |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - Low Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Youngstown |
| Pipe Coating Type | Coal Tar |
| Weld Subtype | Pipe Girth Weld |
| Installation Year | 1949 |
| Manufactured Year | 1948 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | Yes |
| Fish Aquatic Impact Ind | Yes |
| Birds Impact Ind | Yes |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | Yes |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 66 |
| Rel Water Name | Vince Bayou |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Ind | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Yes No | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 60000 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1830000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 3110000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 5000000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 10000000 |
| Accident Psig | 0 |
| Mop Psig | 720 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 3469 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| Cpm In Place Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Operating Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Functional Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Detection Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Conf Ind | Yes |
| 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 detected by cpm tools upon startup of the pipeline. The controller's actions could not have contributed to the release because there were no actions taken to cause a surge, overpressure or abnormal condition. The controller executed a type 1 shutdown. The controller's response to the line balance alarm was timely and the shutdown was executed per procedure. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Private Row Ind | Yes |
| Private Subtype | Private Easement |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Liquid Pipeline |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| One Call Ticket Num | 1354383689 |
| One Call Center Name | Lonestar |
| Locator Type | Utility Owner |
| Visible Marks | Yes |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 1440 |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Improper Backfilling Practices |
| Preparer Name | R****** K***** |
| Preparer Title | Regulatory Specialist |
| Preparer Email | R*************@s****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713 241 1064 |
| Prepared Date | 2013-11-20 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | B**** S******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713 241 3620 |
| Authorizer Title | Integrity And Regulatory Manager |
| Authorizer Email | B*************@s****.com |
| Narrative | Cause determined by metallurgical inspection. The crack is attibuted to a bending load in the presence of an incomplete weld. Backfilling by 3rd party contractor. The pipeline failed due to forces applied to the top of the pipeline during the backfilling of the site. The quality of the weld also played a role in the incident. The weld was confirmed by analysis that it was fit-for-service. The weld did not fail due to pipeline operating pressures. Further confirmed that the weld was strong enough to withstand the maximum operating pressure (mop), hydrotest pressures and typical loads associated with the construction and maintenance of the pipeline. Locating the release - due to the recent backfilling and loose uncompacted soils at the site, the released crude oil was not discovered until the isolated section of pipeline was filled with dyed water to determine location. This was april 3rd. This added water to the uncompacted soils which displaced the crude oil to the surface and nearby bayou which was discoverd by pipeline operator crews later that day. |
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