Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2014-05-12 — TX
Operator
Gel Offshore Pipeline, Llc
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$1,000,000
Incident datetime
2014-05-12 06:16
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
During the morning of 5/12/2014, a rig worker on vr-331a noticed a sheen on the water coming from the bottom at 6:16 am. The platform continued to contact nrc and splc control room in order to shutdown the pipeline. A vessel was immidiately called to close the sub-sea block valve to isolate the riser involved in the leak. Vessel arrived on site and closed ssv at approximately 8:00 pm on 5/13/2014. Inspection of the leak site showed that coating damage from a repair in 2010 resulted in a small section of metal being exposed to sea water at the splash zone of the riser around the +12 location. The exposure, over time, resulted in a pinhole leak due to external corrosion. The reason the corrosion was not spotted during annual patrols is because the 8" riser was inside a 16" j-tube casing. Repair procedures are currently being evaluated. Repairs were completed on 6/22/14 according to a repair plan approved by bsee on 6/5/14. The pipe was cut at -12 ft. Location to the +13 ft. Location. On 6/24/14, all producers were alerted that the pipeline is to start flowing at 9:14am. Crude oil began flowing at 2:40pm on 6/24/2014. As of 7/30/2014, the total cost estimate is $1.4mm.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2014-06-05 00:00:00
Iyear
2014
Report Number
20140223
Supplemental Number
20626
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
39047
Name
Gel Offshore Pipeline, Llc
Operator Street Address
811 Louisiana St. Suite 1200
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2014-05-12 06:16:00
Location Latitude
28.260372
Location Longitude
-92.250136
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.1
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Third Party Rig Workers Not Employed By Operator
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-05-12 06:16:00
System Part Involved
Offshore Pipeline, Including Riser And Riser Bend
On Off Shore
Offshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2014-05-12 06:30:00
Restart Datetime
2014-06-24 14:40:00
On Site Datetime
2014-05-13 20:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2014-05-12 06:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1082483
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Off Water Depth
220
Off Accident Origin
On The Outer Continental Shelf (Ocs)
Off Ocs Area
Vr
Off Ocs Block
331
Off Area Accident Type
Splash Zone Of Riser
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
8.625
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.5
Pipe Smys
52000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l X52
Pipe Seam Type
Seamless
Pipe Manufacturer
Us Steel Corp.
Pipe Coating Type
Fusion Bonded Epoxy(Fbe)
Installation Year
1989
Manufactured Year
1987
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Ocean Seawater Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.1
Rel Water Name
Gulf Of Mexico
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
1000000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
450000
Est Cost Other Details
Cost Of Closing And Opening Subsea Block Valve.
Prpty
1450000
Accident Psig
600
Mop Psig
1440
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
147400
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Diameter Change Ind
Yes
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
No Receiver In Place Before Reaching 20" Ssti.
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
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
The leak was very small and the sheen was spotted by rig crew.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Cause Details
External Corrosion
Internal External
External Corrosion
Visual Exam Results
Localized Pitting
Atmosphere Corrosion Ind
Yes
Field Exam Basis Ind
Yes
Underground Location
No
Externally Coated
Yes
Prior Damage
Yes
Collected Data Ind
No
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
Yes
Hydrtst Most Rcnt Year
1989
Hydrtst Most Rcnt Pressure
4500
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
J**** M*****
Preparer Title
Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
J***********@g****.com
Preparer Telephone
225-216-5905
Prepared Date
2015-07-27 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
J*** J*****
Authorizer Telephone
713-860-2605
Authorizer Title
Dot Compliance Manager
Authorizer Email
J**********@g****.com
Narrative
During the morning of 5/12/2014, a rig worker on vr-331a noticed a sheen on the water coming from the bottom at 6:16 am. The platform continued to contact nrc and splc control room in order to shutdown the pipeline. A vessel was immidiately called to close the sub-sea block valve to isolate the riser involved in the leak. Vessel arrived on site and closed ssv at approximately 8:00 pm on 5/13/2014. Inspection of the leak site showed that coating damage from a repair in 2010 resulted in a small section of metal being exposed to sea water at the splash zone of the riser around the +12 location. The exposure, over time, resulted in a pinhole leak due to external corrosion. The reason the corrosion was not spotted during annual patrols is because the 8" riser was inside a 16" j-tube casing. Repair procedures are currently being evaluated. Repairs were completed on 6/22/14 according to a repair plan approved by bsee on 6/5/14. The pipe was cut at -12 ft. Location to the +13 ft. Location. On 6/24/14, all producers were alerted that the pipeline is to start flowing at 9:14am. Crude oil began flowing at 2:40pm on 6/24/2014. As of 7/30/2014, the total cost estimate is $1.4mm.
| Report Received Date | 2014-06-05 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2014 |
| Report Number | 20140223 |
| Supplemental Number | 20626 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 39047 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Gel Offshore Pipeline, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 811 Louisiana St. Suite 1200 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-05-12 06:16:00 |
| Location Latitude | 28.260372 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -92.250136 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Third Party Rig Workers Not Employed By Operator |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-05-12 06:16:00 |
| System Part Involved | Offshore Pipeline, Including Riser And Riser Bend |
| On Off Shore | Offshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2014-05-12 06:30:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2014-06-24 14:40:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-05-13 20:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2014-05-12 06:25:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1082483 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Off Water Depth | 220 |
| Off Accident Origin | On The Outer Continental Shelf (Ocs) |
| Off Ocs Area | Vr |
| Off Ocs Block | 331 |
| Off Area Accident Type | Splash Zone Of Riser |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Pipe Diameter | 8.625 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.5 |
| Pipe Smys | 52000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l X52 |
| Pipe Seam Type | Seamless |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Us Steel Corp. |
| Pipe Coating Type | Fusion Bonded Epoxy(Fbe) |
| Installation Year | 1989 |
| Manufactured Year | 1987 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Ocean Seawater Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0.1 |
| Rel Water Name | Gulf Of Mexico |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1000000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 450000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Cost Of Closing And Opening Subsea Block Valve. |
| Prpty | 1450000 |
| Accident Psig | 600 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 147400 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Diameter Change Ind | Yes |
| Other Restrictions Ind | Yes |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | No Receiver In Place Before Reaching 20" Ssti. |
| 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 | 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 | The leak was very small and the sheen was spotted by rig crew. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Corrosion Failure |
| Cause Details | External Corrosion |
| Internal External | External Corrosion |
| Visual Exam Results | Localized Pitting |
| Atmosphere Corrosion Ind | Yes |
| Field Exam Basis Ind | Yes |
| Underground Location | No |
| Externally Coated | Yes |
| Prior Damage | Yes |
| Collected Data Ind | No |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | Yes |
| Hydrtst Most Rcnt Year | 1989 |
| Hydrtst Most Rcnt Pressure | 4500 |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | J**** M***** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | J***********@g****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 225-216-5905 |
| Prepared Date | 2015-07-27 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | J*** J***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-860-2605 |
| Authorizer Title | Dot Compliance Manager |
| Authorizer Email | J**********@g****.com |
| Narrative | During the morning of 5/12/2014, a rig worker on vr-331a noticed a sheen on the water coming from the bottom at 6:16 am. The platform continued to contact nrc and splc control room in order to shutdown the pipeline. A vessel was immidiately called to close the sub-sea block valve to isolate the riser involved in the leak. Vessel arrived on site and closed ssv at approximately 8:00 pm on 5/13/2014. Inspection of the leak site showed that coating damage from a repair in 2010 resulted in a small section of metal being exposed to sea water at the splash zone of the riser around the +12 location. The exposure, over time, resulted in a pinhole leak due to external corrosion. The reason the corrosion was not spotted during annual patrols is because the 8" riser was inside a 16" j-tube casing. Repair procedures are currently being evaluated. Repairs were completed on 6/22/14 according to a repair plan approved by bsee on 6/5/14. The pipe was cut at -12 ft. Location to the +13 ft. Location. On 6/24/14, all producers were alerted that the pipeline is to start flowing at 9:14am. Crude oil began flowing at 2:40pm on 6/24/2014. As of 7/30/2014, the total cost estimate is $1.4mm. |
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