Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2014-05-01 — TX
Operator
Enterprise Crude Pipeline Llc
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2014-05-01 08:25
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On 5-1-2014 during a routine inspection a technician noticed crude oil spraying in the air from the tank-to-tank transfer line between tanks 5611 and 5612. The aboveground sleeve coupling failed allowing product to escape from the tank transfer line. Once determination was made that the repair cost would exceed 50,000 the nrc notification within minutes. The transfer line between the tanks was shut down and isolated to prevent further leaks. Based on investigation, it is believed that the resulting loss of containment was due to the tank farm pump cavitating which suggested vapor was present at the pump suction. Examination of the tank farm piping revealed the possibility of vapor occupying a section of pipe upstream from the coupling. The section of piping is at a higher elevation than the coupling or the tank that was opened prior to starting the pumps. Once flow was re-established, the interface between the liquid and vapor traveled through the coupling and associated piping, resulting in pipe movement and loosening of the coupling and eventually the loss of containment. Pressure transmitters are being installed on the tank farm piping at high point locations along with appropriate pumps permissive to ensure there is positive pressure in the suction headers during pumping operations and minimal vapors present.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2014-05-30 00:00:00
Iyear
2014
Report Number
20140218
Supplemental Number
20506
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
30829
Name
Enterprise Crude Pipeline Llc
Operator Street Address
1100 Louisiana Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2014-05-01 08:25:00
Location Latitude
32.02363
Location Longitude
-102.01169
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
400
Recovered Bbls
400
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-05-01 08:25:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
The Transfer Line Did Not Directly Affect Operations.
On Site Datetime
2014-05-01 08:25:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-05-01 10:05:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1081406
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Midland Tank Farm
Segment Name
Tank 5611 Tank Transfer Line
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
79706
Onshore City Name
Midland
Onshore County Name
Midland
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Midland
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
Other
Item Involved Details
Dresser Coupling
Installation Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
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
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
40000
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
30000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
70000
Accident Psig
140
Mop Psig
275
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
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Cpm In Place Ind
No
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
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
Other
Other Non Threaded Details
Dresser Coupling
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Slug Of Liquid Moving Through The Coupling
Preparer Name
C**** A******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
C*******@e****.com
Preparer Telephone
713-381-6426
Prepared Date
2015-06-10 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
C**** A******
Authorizer Telephone
713-381-6426
Authorizer Title
Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Authorizer Email
C*******@e****.com
Narrative
On 5-1-2014 during a routine inspection a technician noticed crude oil spraying in the air from the tank-to-tank transfer line between tanks 5611 and 5612. The aboveground sleeve coupling failed allowing product to escape from the tank transfer line. Once determination was made that the repair cost would exceed 50,000 the nrc notification within minutes. The transfer line between the tanks was shut down and isolated to prevent further leaks. Based on investigation, it is believed that the resulting loss of containment was due to the tank farm pump cavitating which suggested vapor was present at the pump suction. Examination of the tank farm piping revealed the possibility of vapor occupying a section of pipe upstream from the coupling. The section of piping is at a higher elevation than the coupling or the tank that was opened prior to starting the pumps. Once flow was re-established, the interface between the liquid and vapor traveled through the coupling and associated piping, resulting in pipe movement and loosening of the coupling and eventually the loss of containment. Pressure transmitters are being installed on the tank farm piping at high point locations along with appropriate pumps permissive to ensure there is positive pressure in the suction headers during pumping operations and minimal vapors present.
| Report Received Date | 2014-05-30 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2014 |
| Report Number | 20140218 |
| Supplemental Number | 20506 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 30829 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Enterprise Crude Pipeline Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 1100 Louisiana Street |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-05-01 08:25:00 |
| Location Latitude | 32.02363 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -102.01169 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 400 |
| Recovered Bbls | 400 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-05-01 08:25:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | The Transfer Line Did Not Directly Affect Operations. |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-05-01 08:25:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-05-01 10:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1081406 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Midland Tank Farm |
| Segment Name | Tank 5611 Tank Transfer Line |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 79706 |
| Onshore City Name | Midland |
| Onshore County Name | Midland |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | Midland |
| 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 | Other |
| Item Involved Details | Dresser Coupling |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| 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 | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 40000 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 30000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 70000 |
| Accident Psig | 140 |
| Mop Psig | 275 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| Cpm In Place Ind | No |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| 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 | Other |
| Other Non Threaded Details | Dresser Coupling |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Slug Of Liquid Moving Through The Coupling |
| Preparer Name | C**** A****** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | C*******@e****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713-381-6426 |
| Prepared Date | 2015-06-10 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | C**** A****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-381-6426 |
| Authorizer Title | Pipeline Compliance Specialist |
| Authorizer Email | C*******@e****.com |
| Narrative | On 5-1-2014 during a routine inspection a technician noticed crude oil spraying in the air from the tank-to-tank transfer line between tanks 5611 and 5612. The aboveground sleeve coupling failed allowing product to escape from the tank transfer line. Once determination was made that the repair cost would exceed 50,000 the nrc notification within minutes. The transfer line between the tanks was shut down and isolated to prevent further leaks. Based on investigation, it is believed that the resulting loss of containment was due to the tank farm pump cavitating which suggested vapor was present at the pump suction. Examination of the tank farm piping revealed the possibility of vapor occupying a section of pipe upstream from the coupling. The section of piping is at a higher elevation than the coupling or the tank that was opened prior to starting the pumps. Once flow was re-established, the interface between the liquid and vapor traveled through the coupling and associated piping, resulting in pipe movement and loosening of the coupling and eventually the loss of containment. Pressure transmitters are being installed on the tank farm piping at high point locations along with appropriate pumps permissive to ensure there is positive pressure in the suction headers during pumping operations and minimal vapors present. |
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