Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2013-05-06 — KS
Operator
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership 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)
$65,000
Incident datetime
2013-05-06 20:20
Report number
Location
KS
Narrative
At approximately 19:00 on 5/6/13, the st. Charles county fire association called the nustar control center with a complaint of ammonia smell near a farm residence. The pipeline was shut down at this time. Note: the form will not allow a date previous to the accident date and time. A nustar employee arrived on site at approximately 20:20 and confirmed the ammonia smell. Nustar resources were mobilized to the site at approximately 07:00 on 5/7. Excavation uncovered a leaking stopple tee at 09:55 on 5/7. The leak was coming from the horizontal weld on a stopple tee. A reportable quantity was determined at 10:50 on 5/7 and the nrc, state emergency management, and local lepc were given telephone notification. The stopple tee was cut out, a pup joint installed and the line was returned to service at 10:50 on 5/9/13. The removed stopple tee has been sent to a metallurgist for analysis. Supplemental information: the pipe diameter is 8 inch. Approximately 90 cubic yards of soil was removed. Metallurgical summary and conclusion: the leak was caused by a fatigue crack that developed in the longitudinal seam weld of the stopple fitting. The crack initiated at an area of misalignment of the cuff edges and inadequate weld penetration; a fabrication defect created when the fitting was installed on the pipeline. The incomplete root pass created a notch-like stress concentration which allowed for the initiation of a crack. The crack propagated by fatigue from operating pressure fluctuations until it was nearly through the weld. The remaining intact ligament was unable to contain the internal line pressure. *update 10-7-15 - modified section a. 18b - resources arrived on-site.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2013-06-05 00:00:00
Iyear
2013
Report Number
20130194
Supplemental Number
20807
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
10012
Name
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
Operator Street Address
7340 W. 21st Street N., Suite 200
Operator City Name
Wichita
Operator State Abbreviation
KS
Operator Postal Code
67205
Local Datetime
2013-05-06 19:00:00
Location Latitude
38.869483
Location Longitude
-90.477517
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Anhydrous Ammonia
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.92
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Notification From Public
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-05-06 20:20:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2013-05-06 19:00:00
Restart Datetime
2013-05-09 10:50:00
On Site Datetime
2013-05-06 20:20:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-05-07 10:43:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1046283
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Num Pub Evacuated
1
Pipe Fac Name
J-1 Station To Gillespie Station
Segment Name
J-1 Station To Mo/il State Line
Onshore State Abbreviation
Mo
Onshore Postal Code
63301
Onshore City Name
Orchard Farm
Onshore County Name
St. Charles
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
3075+19
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
36
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.)
Installation Year
1998
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Sent For Metallurgical Analysi
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
800
Est Cost Gas Released
40
Est Cost Prop Damage
65000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
10000
Est Cost Other
0
Est Cost Other Details
None
Prpty
75840
Accident Psig
750
Mop Psig
1340
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
168960
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
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
Small quantity of ammonia vapors over a 24 hour period did not affect pipelline pressure. No alarm devices were activated upstream or downstream.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Stopple Control Fitting Ind
Yes
Additional Installation Ind
Yes
Ief Addl Misalignment Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
D***** J T******
Preparer Title
Director - Hse
Preparer Email
D**********@n***********.com
Preparer Telephone
316-721-7056
Preparer Fax
316-773-9001
Prepared Date
2015-10-07 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B*** F******
Authorizer Telephone
316-721-7066
Authorizer Title
General Manager
Authorizer Email
B***********@n***********.com
Narrative
At approximately 19:00 on 5/6/13, the st. Charles county fire association called the nustar control center with a complaint of ammonia smell near a farm residence. The pipeline was shut down at this time. Note: the form will not allow a date previous to the accident date and time. A nustar employee arrived on site at approximately 20:20 and confirmed the ammonia smell. Nustar resources were mobilized to the site at approximately 07:00 on 5/7. Excavation uncovered a leaking stopple tee at 09:55 on 5/7. The leak was coming from the horizontal weld on a stopple tee. A reportable quantity was determined at 10:50 on 5/7 and the nrc, state emergency management, and local lepc were given telephone notification. The stopple tee was cut out, a pup joint installed and the line was returned to service at 10:50 on 5/9/13. The removed stopple tee has been sent to a metallurgist for analysis. Supplemental information: the pipe diameter is 8 inch. Approximately 90 cubic yards of soil was removed. Metallurgical summary and conclusion: the leak was caused by a fatigue crack that developed in the longitudinal seam weld of the stopple fitting. The crack initiated at an area of misalignment of the cuff edges and inadequate weld penetration; a fabrication defect created when the fitting was installed on the pipeline. The incomplete root pass created a notch-like stress concentration which allowed for the initiation of a crack. The crack propagated by fatigue from operating pressure fluctuations until it was nearly through the weld. The remaining intact ligament was unable to contain the internal line pressure. *update 10-7-15 - modified section a. 18b - resources arrived on-site.
| Report Received Date | 2013-06-05 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2013 |
| Report Number | 20130194 |
| Supplemental Number | 20807 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 10012 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 7340 W. 21st Street N., Suite 200 |
| Operator City Name | Wichita |
| Operator State Abbreviation | KS |
| Operator Postal Code | 67205 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-05-06 19:00:00 |
| Location Latitude | 38.869483 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -90.477517 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Anhydrous Ammonia |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.92 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Public |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-05-06 20:20:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2013-05-06 19:00:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2013-05-09 10:50:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-05-06 20:20:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-05-07 10:43:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1046283 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 1 |
| Pipe Fac Name | J-1 Station To Gillespie Station |
| Segment Name | J-1 Station To Mo/il State Line |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Mo |
| Onshore Postal Code | 63301 |
| Onshore City Name | Orchard Farm |
| Onshore County Name | St. Charles |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 3075+19 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 36 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.) |
| Installation Year | 1998 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Sent For Metallurgical Analysi |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 800 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 40 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 65000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 10000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | None |
| Prpty | 75840 |
| Accident Psig | 750 |
| Mop Psig | 1340 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 168960 |
| 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 | 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 | Small quantity of ammonia vapors over a 24 hour period did not affect pipelline pressure. No alarm devices were activated upstream or downstream. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Stopple Control Fitting Ind | Yes |
| Additional Installation Ind | Yes |
| Ief Addl Misalignment Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | D***** J T****** |
| Preparer Title | Director - Hse |
| Preparer Email | D**********@n***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 316-721-7056 |
| Preparer Fax | 316-773-9001 |
| Prepared Date | 2015-10-07 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | B*** F****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 316-721-7066 |
| Authorizer Title | General Manager |
| Authorizer Email | B***********@n***********.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 19:00 on 5/6/13, the st. Charles county fire association called the nustar control center with a complaint of ammonia smell near a farm residence. The pipeline was shut down at this time. Note: the form will not allow a date previous to the accident date and time. A nustar employee arrived on site at approximately 20:20 and confirmed the ammonia smell. Nustar resources were mobilized to the site at approximately 07:00 on 5/7. Excavation uncovered a leaking stopple tee at 09:55 on 5/7. The leak was coming from the horizontal weld on a stopple tee. A reportable quantity was determined at 10:50 on 5/7 and the nrc, state emergency management, and local lepc were given telephone notification. The stopple tee was cut out, a pup joint installed and the line was returned to service at 10:50 on 5/9/13. The removed stopple tee has been sent to a metallurgist for analysis. Supplemental information: the pipe diameter is 8 inch. Approximately 90 cubic yards of soil was removed. Metallurgical summary and conclusion: the leak was caused by a fatigue crack that developed in the longitudinal seam weld of the stopple fitting. The crack initiated at an area of misalignment of the cuff edges and inadequate weld penetration; a fabrication defect created when the fitting was installed on the pipeline. The incomplete root pass created a notch-like stress concentration which allowed for the initiation of a crack. The crack propagated by fatigue from operating pressure fluctuations until it was nearly through the weld. The remaining intact ligament was unable to contain the internal line pressure. *update 10-7-15 - modified section a. 18b - resources arrived on-site. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA