Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2013-03-31 — KS
Operator
Koch Pipeline Company, L.p.
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2013-03-31 20:00
Report number
Location
KS
Narrative
On march 31, 2013, local operating personnel performing a routine station walk through inspection, noticed crude oil on the ground above the buried flange connections leading to, from, or bypassing the pumping units of the 5th unit in series at the head pumping station for minnesota pipe line. The pipeline was immediately shutdown, a one-call notification was made and excavation was performed to expose the buried flange connections. After a thorough examination of each excavated flange connection, no weep, leak or other source of crude oil from the flange connections was identified. The discharge pressure transmitter, located just upstream of the excavated flange connections, had been displaying steady pressure readings below 1100 psi for over 24 hours prior to the release discovery. Only 3 minor pump adjustments had been made during that 24 hour period. For two days after the pipeline was shutdown and the flange connections exposed, local operating personnel were unable to determine a release point for the crude oil detected on march 31. Koch pipeline company, l.P. (kpl), the operator, verbally communicated with the PHMSA central region office and the minnesota office of pipeline safety that the pipeline section was holding pressure and no source of release was found . A written startup plan from kpl was presented, discussed and PHMSA central region verbally approved the startup plan for kpl to begin its restart. The pipeline was restarted, following the written startup plan. 36 hours later, during daylight hours, discharge pressure at the pump station was increased to 1275 psi, when local operating personnel monitoring the excavated flange connections identified a small drip during continuous field monitoring. The pipeline was immediately shutdown. The crude oil drip was discovered on the unit 5 buried discharge valve downstream flange. The header was drained up. The gasket was removed to discover the gasket had failed. The gasket was replaced and the pipeline restarted, again following the approved restart plan, to similar pressures in the vicinity of 1275 psi without issue. The gasket was shipped to kiefner and associates to be analyzed. Kiefner & associates provided the follow conclusion to their examination, "we were not able to conclusively identify the leak cause based solely upon examination of the damaged gaskets after they were removed from the joint. However, thickness measurements of the gaskets' sealing surfaces indicated both a) inadequate compression and b) uneven compression. These conditions suggest misalignment of the flange faces, or uneven or inadequate bolt torque during installation, or both. The flange alignment was checked when the gaskets were replaced and it was found to be within the tolerances of koch's flange assembly procedure, effectively ruling out flange misalignment as a possible cause of the leak."
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2013-04-29 00:00:00
Iyear
2013
Report Number
20130152
Supplemental Number
18988
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
22855
Name
Koch Pipeline Company, L.p.
Operator Street Address
4111 East 37th Street North
Operator City Name
Wichita
Operator State Abbreviation
KS
Operator Postal Code
67220
Local Datetime
2013-03-31 20:00:00
Location Latitude
47.685115
Location Longitude
-95.412879
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.71
Recovered Bbls
0.65
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-03-31 20:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2013-03-31 20:08:00
Restart Datetime
2013-04-02 19:30:00
On Site Datetime
2013-03-31 21:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-04-01 20:27:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1042689
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Clearbrook Terminal
Segment Name
Clearbrook To Itasca
Onshore State Abbreviation
Mn
Onshore Postal Code
56634
Onshore City Name
Clearbrook
Onshore County Name
Clearwater
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
Am 0
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
18
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Mainline
Valve Mainline Type
Gate
Valve Manufacturer
Adam Chronister
Installation Year
1986
Manufactured Year
1986
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Valve Flange Gasket
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Gasket
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
Yes
Remediation Ind
Yes
Groundwater Remed Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Groundwater Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.07
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
63
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
479441
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
2897
Est Cost Other Details
Gasket Analysis
Prpty
482401
Accident Psig
930
Mop Psig
1315
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
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
Controller(s) did not perform any remote actions that would have affected the release at the time the release was discovered.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related No Proc Ind
Yes
Category Type
Normal Operating Conditions
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
C**** K*******
Preparer Title
Program Coordinator
Preparer Email
C*************@k***********.com
Preparer Telephone
316-828-4121
Preparer Fax
316-529-6377
Prepared Date
2014-02-05 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
C**** K*******
Authorizer Telephone
316-828-4121
Authorizer Title
Program Coordinator
Authorizer Email
C*************@k***********.com
Narrative
On march 31, 2013, local operating personnel performing a routine station walk through inspection, noticed crude oil on the ground above the buried flange connections leading to, from, or bypassing the pumping units of the 5th unit in series at the head pumping station for minnesota pipe line. The pipeline was immediately shutdown, a one-call notification was made and excavation was performed to expose the buried flange connections. After a thorough examination of each excavated flange connection, no weep, leak or other source of crude oil from the flange connections was identified. The discharge pressure transmitter, located just upstream of the excavated flange connections, had been displaying steady pressure readings below 1100 psi for over 24 hours prior to the release discovery. Only 3 minor pump adjustments had been made during that 24 hour period. For two days after the pipeline was shutdown and the flange connections exposed, local operating personnel were unable to determine a release point for the crude oil detected on march 31. Koch pipeline company, l.P. (kpl), the operator, verbally communicated with the PHMSA central region office and the minnesota office of pipeline safety that the pipeline section was holding pressure and no source of release was found . A written startup plan from kpl was presented, discussed and PHMSA central region verbally approved the startup plan for kpl to begin its restart. The pipeline was restarted, following the written startup plan. 36 hours later, during daylight hours, discharge pressure at the pump station was increased to 1275 psi, when local operating personnel monitoring the excavated flange connections identified a small drip during continuous field monitoring. The pipeline was immediately shutdown. The crude oil drip was discovered on the unit 5 buried discharge valve downstream flange. The header was drained up. The gasket was removed to discover the gasket had failed. The gasket was replaced and the pipeline restarted, again following the approved restart plan, to similar pressures in the vicinity of 1275 psi without issue. The gasket was shipped to kiefner and associates to be analyzed. Kiefner & associates provided the follow conclusion to their examination, "we were not able to conclusively identify the leak cause based solely upon examination of the damaged gaskets after they were removed from the joint. However, thickness measurements of the gaskets' sealing surfaces indicated both a) inadequate compression and b) uneven compression. These conditions suggest misalignment of the flange faces, or uneven or inadequate bolt torque during installation, or both. The flange alignment was checked when the gaskets were replaced and it was found to be within the tolerances of koch's flange assembly procedure, effectively ruling out flange misalignment as a possible cause of the leak."
| Report Received Date | 2013-04-29 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2013 |
| Report Number | 20130152 |
| Supplemental Number | 18988 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 22855 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Koch Pipeline Company, L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 4111 East 37th Street North |
| Operator City Name | Wichita |
| Operator State Abbreviation | KS |
| Operator Postal Code | 67220 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-03-31 20:00:00 |
| Location Latitude | 47.685115 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.412879 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.71 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.65 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-03-31 20:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2013-03-31 20:08:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2013-04-02 19:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-03-31 21:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-04-01 20:27:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1042689 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Clearbrook Terminal |
| Segment Name | Clearbrook To Itasca |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Mn |
| Onshore Postal Code | 56634 |
| Onshore City Name | Clearbrook |
| Onshore County Name | Clearwater |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | Am 0 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 18 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Mainline |
| Valve Mainline Type | Gate |
| Valve Manufacturer | Adam Chronister |
| Installation Year | 1986 |
| Manufactured Year | 1986 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Valve Flange Gasket |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Gasket |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | Yes |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Groundwater Remed Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Groundwater Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0.07 |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 63 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 479441 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 2897 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Gasket Analysis |
| Prpty | 482401 |
| Accident Psig | 930 |
| Mop Psig | 1315 |
| 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 | 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 | Controller(s) did not perform any remote actions that would have affected the release at the time the release was discovered. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related No Proc Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Normal Operating Conditions |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | C**** K******* |
| Preparer Title | Program Coordinator |
| Preparer Email | C*************@k***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 316-828-4121 |
| Preparer Fax | 316-529-6377 |
| Prepared Date | 2014-02-05 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | C**** K******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 316-828-4121 |
| Authorizer Title | Program Coordinator |
| Authorizer Email | C*************@k***********.com |
| Narrative | On march 31, 2013, local operating personnel performing a routine station walk through inspection, noticed crude oil on the ground above the buried flange connections leading to, from, or bypassing the pumping units of the 5th unit in series at the head pumping station for minnesota pipe line. The pipeline was immediately shutdown, a one-call notification was made and excavation was performed to expose the buried flange connections. After a thorough examination of each excavated flange connection, no weep, leak or other source of crude oil from the flange connections was identified. The discharge pressure transmitter, located just upstream of the excavated flange connections, had been displaying steady pressure readings below 1100 psi for over 24 hours prior to the release discovery. Only 3 minor pump adjustments had been made during that 24 hour period. For two days after the pipeline was shutdown and the flange connections exposed, local operating personnel were unable to determine a release point for the crude oil detected on march 31. Koch pipeline company, l.P. (kpl), the operator, verbally communicated with the PHMSA central region office and the minnesota office of pipeline safety that the pipeline section was holding pressure and no source of release was found . A written startup plan from kpl was presented, discussed and PHMSA central region verbally approved the startup plan for kpl to begin its restart. The pipeline was restarted, following the written startup plan. 36 hours later, during daylight hours, discharge pressure at the pump station was increased to 1275 psi, when local operating personnel monitoring the excavated flange connections identified a small drip during continuous field monitoring. The pipeline was immediately shutdown. The crude oil drip was discovered on the unit 5 buried discharge valve downstream flange. The header was drained up. The gasket was removed to discover the gasket had failed. The gasket was replaced and the pipeline restarted, again following the approved restart plan, to similar pressures in the vicinity of 1275 psi without issue. The gasket was shipped to kiefner and associates to be analyzed. Kiefner & associates provided the follow conclusion to their examination, "we were not able to conclusively identify the leak cause based solely upon examination of the damaged gaskets after they were removed from the joint. However, thickness measurements of the gaskets' sealing surfaces indicated both a) inadequate compression and b) uneven compression. These conditions suggest misalignment of the flange faces, or uneven or inadequate bolt torque during installation, or both. The flange alignment was checked when the gaskets were replaced and it was found to be within the tolerances of koch's flange assembly procedure, effectively ruling out flange misalignment as a possible cause of the leak." |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA