Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2014-06-07 — TX
Operator
Paa Natural Gas Storage, Llc
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$4,300,000
Incident datetime
2014-06-07 18:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Approximately 2,484 mcf of natural gas were released due to a rupture of underground, compressor station piping, while purging. Bluewater gas storage, llc operators remotely shut-in the station. Personnel arrived on site to assess damage and properly isolate the station for clean-up and repairs. The incident is still under investigation to determine the root cause of the failure. Pieces of the piping have been sent for metallurgical analysis. A supplemental report will be submitted once the lab results are received. The national response center was notified and assigned report number 1085180. Supplemental narrative: based on the results of the metallurgical analysis, plains has concluded that the failure was the result of internal detonation that resulted in sudden over-pressure of the piping and other components. Air movers had been used to de-energize a previously damaged section of pipeline prior to the incident of june 7, 2014. As the pipeline was brought back into service, the air was displaced by flowing pipeline gas to and through the vector station to a silencer equipped vent at the booster station. This was done to minimize noise and disturbance to nearby residences and livestock. It appears that the air had not been completely eliminated from all of the piping during the station purging. As the vector station was being pressurized to the normal operating conditions (pipeline pressure), the heat of compression combined with the residual air increased the temperature of the gas to auto ignite. The subsequent ignition of the flammable gas resulted in a detonation/overpressure inside the pipe. The purging procedures for the pngs pipeline and the booster station have been modified to address the removal of all air/oxygen from the pipeline and the booster station equipment prior to the equipments return to service, with particular attention focused in eliminating air from dead legs of piping and equipment. The station piping has been replaced and the facility was restarted on october 28, 2014. This report was updated based on instructions received from kyle friske with the state of michigan.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2014-07-02 00:00:00
Iyear
2014
Report Number
20140073
Supplemental Number
17029
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
32262
Name
Paa Natural Gas Storage, Llc
Operator Street Address
333 Clay Street, Suite 1500
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2014-06-07 18:30:00
Location Latitude
42.76498
Location Longitude
-82.86711
Nrc Rpt Num
1085180
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-06-07 21:55:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
2484
Intentional Release
3864
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2014-06-07 19:00:00
Restart Datetime
2014-10-30 10:30:00
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-06-07 18:30:00
On Site Datetime
2014-06-07 19:00:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Mi
Onshore Postal Code
48096
Onshore City Name
Ray Township
Onshore County Name
Macomb
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
Vector/michco
Pipe Fac Name
Bluewater
Segment Name
Interconnect
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
42
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
20
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.375
Pipe Smys
60000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l X-60
Pipe Seam Type
Longitudinal Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Pioneer Steel And Tube Corp
Pipe Coating Type
Epoxy
Installation Year
2008
Manufactured Year
2008
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Rupture
Rupture Orient
Circumferential
Rupture Length
96
Rupture Width
180
Class Location Type
Class 2 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
463
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
10000
Est Cost Unintentional Release
10000
Est Cost Intentional Release
15456
Est Cost Prop Damage
4300000
Est Cost Emergency
10000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
4345456
Accident Psig
450
Mop Psig
1125
Mop Cfr Section
Other
Mop Cfr Section Details
Unknown.
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Length Segment Isolated
69168
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Tight Mitered Ind
Yes
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
Station Piping, Not Pigable
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
Station Piping
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Accident Identifier
Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations)
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Schedule Ind
Yes
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Num Employees Tested
5
Num Employees Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
The Combination Of Air And Gas Resulted In Internal Detonation.
Related Inadequate Proc Ind
Yes
Category Type
Commissioning
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
C******* C*****
Preparer Title
Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
C*******@p****.com
Preparer Telephone
7139935080
Preparer Fax
7136464310
Authorizer Name
T***** M*****
Authorizer Title
Sr Dir Of Environmental And Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
7136464109
Authorizer Email
T*******@p****.com
Narrative
Approximately 2,484 mcf of natural gas were released due to a rupture of underground, compressor station piping, while purging. Bluewater gas storage, llc operators remotely shut-in the station. Personnel arrived on site to assess damage and properly isolate the station for clean-up and repairs. The incident is still under investigation to determine the root cause of the failure. Pieces of the piping have been sent for metallurgical analysis. A supplemental report will be submitted once the lab results are received. The national response center was notified and assigned report number 1085180. Supplemental narrative: based on the results of the metallurgical analysis, plains has concluded that the failure was the result of internal detonation that resulted in sudden over-pressure of the piping and other components. Air movers had been used to de-energize a previously damaged section of pipeline prior to the incident of june 7, 2014. As the pipeline was brought back into service, the air was displaced by flowing pipeline gas to and through the vector station to a silencer equipped vent at the booster station. This was done to minimize noise and disturbance to nearby residences and livestock. It appears that the air had not been completely eliminated from all of the piping during the station purging. As the vector station was being pressurized to the normal operating conditions (pipeline pressure), the heat of compression combined with the residual air increased the temperature of the gas to auto ignite. The subsequent ignition of the flammable gas resulted in a detonation/overpressure inside the pipe. The purging procedures for the pngs pipeline and the booster station have been modified to address the removal of all air/oxygen from the pipeline and the booster station equipment prior to the equipments return to service, with particular attention focused in eliminating air from dead legs of piping and equipment. The station piping has been replaced and the facility was restarted on october 28, 2014. This report was updated based on instructions received from kyle friske with the state of michigan.
| Report Received Date | 2014-07-02 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2014 |
| Report Number | 20140073 |
| Supplemental Number | 17029 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 32262 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Paa Natural Gas Storage, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 333 Clay Street, Suite 1500 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-06-07 18:30:00 |
| Location Latitude | 42.76498 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -82.86711 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1085180 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-06-07 21:55:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 2484 |
| Intentional Release | 3864 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2014-06-07 19:00:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2014-10-30 10:30:00 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-06-07 18:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-06-07 19:00:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Mi |
| Onshore Postal Code | 48096 |
| Onshore City Name | Ray Township |
| Onshore County Name | Macomb |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | Vector/michco |
| Pipe Fac Name | Bluewater |
| Segment Name | Interconnect |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 42 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Pipe Diameter | 20 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.375 |
| Pipe Smys | 60000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l X-60 |
| Pipe Seam Type | Longitudinal Erw - High Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Pioneer Steel And Tube Corp |
| Pipe Coating Type | Epoxy |
| Installation Year | 2008 |
| Manufactured Year | 2008 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Rupture |
| Rupture Orient | Circumferential |
| Rupture Length | 96 |
| Rupture Width | 180 |
| Class Location Type | Class 2 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 463 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 10000 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 10000 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 15456 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 4300000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 10000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 4345456 |
| Accident Psig | 450 |
| Mop Psig | 1125 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Other View CFR 49 §192 |
| Mop Cfr Section Details | Unknown. |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Length Segment Isolated | 69168 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Tight Mitered Ind | Yes |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | Station Piping, Not Pigable |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Other Complications Ind | Yes |
| Inspect Comp Details | Station Piping |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| Accident Identifier | Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations) |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest Schedule Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Num Employees Tested | 5 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | The Combination Of Air And Gas Resulted In Internal Detonation. |
| Related Inadequate Proc Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Commissioning |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | C******* C***** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | C*******@p****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7139935080 |
| Preparer Fax | 7136464310 |
| Authorizer Name | T***** M***** |
| Authorizer Title | Sr Dir Of Environmental And Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7136464109 |
| Authorizer Email | T*******@p****.com |
| Narrative | Approximately 2,484 mcf of natural gas were released due to a rupture of underground, compressor station piping, while purging. Bluewater gas storage, llc operators remotely shut-in the station. Personnel arrived on site to assess damage and properly isolate the station for clean-up and repairs. The incident is still under investigation to determine the root cause of the failure. Pieces of the piping have been sent for metallurgical analysis. A supplemental report will be submitted once the lab results are received. The national response center was notified and assigned report number 1085180. Supplemental narrative: based on the results of the metallurgical analysis, plains has concluded that the failure was the result of internal detonation that resulted in sudden over-pressure of the piping and other components. Air movers had been used to de-energize a previously damaged section of pipeline prior to the incident of june 7, 2014. As the pipeline was brought back into service, the air was displaced by flowing pipeline gas to and through the vector station to a silencer equipped vent at the booster station. This was done to minimize noise and disturbance to nearby residences and livestock. It appears that the air had not been completely eliminated from all of the piping during the station purging. As the vector station was being pressurized to the normal operating conditions (pipeline pressure), the heat of compression combined with the residual air increased the temperature of the gas to auto ignite. The subsequent ignition of the flammable gas resulted in a detonation/overpressure inside the pipe. The purging procedures for the pngs pipeline and the booster station have been modified to address the removal of all air/oxygen from the pipeline and the booster station equipment prior to the equipments return to service, with particular attention focused in eliminating air from dead legs of piping and equipment. The station piping has been replaced and the facility was restarted on october 28, 2014. This report was updated based on instructions received from kyle friske with the state of michigan. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA