Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2014-12-03 — TX
Operator
Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$19,784
Incident datetime
2014-12-03 08:45
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On december 3 the pipeline maintenance (plm) crew was working in the superior terminal booster pump 8 and 9 discharge piping near the 225 manifold. They were installing a brass plug in a 2 inch tdw thread o-ring (tor) fitting with a tdw t-101 plugging/tapping unit in order to remove a valve for replacement. The plug in the tor was not properly seated and when the valve was removed, the plug released which caused approximately 250 gallons of crude oil to spill on the ground. The valve and cap were reinstalled to stop the flow of oil. An outage was scheduled for friday december 5 to isolate the manifold pipe to allow for inspection and plug installation. In order for the plug to be properly seated the shoulder of the new brass plug needed to be sanded down. Once sanded down, the plug was fully inserted to the required completion distance, and the valve removed. It was discovered that the depth measurements before installing the plug were not calculated (per the enbridge operations and maintenance manual). It was also determined that the threads on the tor fitting had become deformed which prohibited the brass plug from being fully inserted and allowing full thread engagement. Approximately 45 cubic yards of contaminated soil has been removed from the leak site. The contaminated soil is waiting proper disposal facility approval.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2014-12-23 00:00:00
Iyear
2014
Report Number
20140438
Supplemental Number
20016
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
11169
Name
Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership
Operator Street Address
915 N Eldridge Parkway, Suite 1100
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Local Datetime
2014-12-03 08:45:00
Location Latitude
46.69354
Location Longitude
-92.049
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
5.95
Recovered Bbls
5.95
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2014-12-03 08:45:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Line Was Already Shut Down For Routine Maintenance
On Site Datetime
2014-12-03 08:45:00
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Pe/superior Terminal
Segment Name
Manifold 225 Piping
Onshore State Abbreviation
Wi
Onshore Postal Code
54880
Onshore City Name
Superior
Onshore County Name
Douglas
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
Tor Fitting
Installation Year
2014
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Commercially Nav Ind
Yes
Commercially Nav Yes No
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
168
Est Cost Prop Damage
19784
Est Cost Emergency
15976
Est Cost Environmental
5950
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
41878
Accident Psig
10
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
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
Lack of control center involvement
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Num Employees Tested
2
Num Employees Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Routine Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
S**** S****
Preparer Title
Compliance Analyst
Preparer Email
S**********@e*******.com
Preparer Telephone
218-464-5754
Preparer Fax
218-464-5992
Prepared Date
2014-12-23 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D**** S*******
Authorizer Telephone
218-464-5751
Authorizer Title
Manager Us Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email
D*************@e*******.com
Narrative
On december 3 the pipeline maintenance (plm) crew was working in the superior terminal booster pump 8 and 9 discharge piping near the 225 manifold. They were installing a brass plug in a 2 inch tdw thread o-ring (tor) fitting with a tdw t-101 plugging/tapping unit in order to remove a valve for replacement. The plug in the tor was not properly seated and when the valve was removed, the plug released which caused approximately 250 gallons of crude oil to spill on the ground. The valve and cap were reinstalled to stop the flow of oil. An outage was scheduled for friday december 5 to isolate the manifold pipe to allow for inspection and plug installation. In order for the plug to be properly seated the shoulder of the new brass plug needed to be sanded down. Once sanded down, the plug was fully inserted to the required completion distance, and the valve removed. It was discovered that the depth measurements before installing the plug were not calculated (per the enbridge operations and maintenance manual). It was also determined that the threads on the tor fitting had become deformed which prohibited the brass plug from being fully inserted and allowing full thread engagement. Approximately 45 cubic yards of contaminated soil has been removed from the leak site. The contaminated soil is waiting proper disposal facility approval.
| Report Received Date | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2014 |
| Report Number | 20140438 |
| Supplemental Number | 20016 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 11169 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership |
| Operator Street Address | 915 N Eldridge Parkway, Suite 1100 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77079 |
| Local Datetime | 2014-12-03 08:45:00 |
| Location Latitude | 46.69354 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -92.049 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 5.95 |
| Recovered Bbls | 5.95 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2014-12-03 08:45:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Line Was Already Shut Down For Routine Maintenance |
| On Site Datetime | 2014-12-03 08:45:00 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Pe/superior Terminal |
| Segment Name | Manifold 225 Piping |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Wi |
| Onshore Postal Code | 54880 |
| Onshore City Name | Superior |
| Onshore County Name | Douglas |
| 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 | Tor Fitting |
| Installation Year | 2014 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Ind | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Yes No | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 168 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 19784 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 15976 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 5950 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 41878 |
| Accident Psig | 10 |
| 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 | 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 | Lack of control center involvement |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Num Employees Tested | 2 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Routine Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | S**** S**** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Analyst |
| Preparer Email | S**********@e*******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 218-464-5754 |
| Preparer Fax | 218-464-5992 |
| Prepared Date | 2014-12-23 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D**** S******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 218-464-5751 |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Us Pipeline Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | D*************@e*******.com |
| Narrative | On december 3 the pipeline maintenance (plm) crew was working in the superior terminal booster pump 8 and 9 discharge piping near the 225 manifold. They were installing a brass plug in a 2 inch tdw thread o-ring (tor) fitting with a tdw t-101 plugging/tapping unit in order to remove a valve for replacement. The plug in the tor was not properly seated and when the valve was removed, the plug released which caused approximately 250 gallons of crude oil to spill on the ground. The valve and cap were reinstalled to stop the flow of oil. An outage was scheduled for friday december 5 to isolate the manifold pipe to allow for inspection and plug installation. In order for the plug to be properly seated the shoulder of the new brass plug needed to be sanded down. Once sanded down, the plug was fully inserted to the required completion distance, and the valve removed. It was discovered that the depth measurements before installing the plug were not calculated (per the enbridge operations and maintenance manual). It was also determined that the threads on the tor fitting had become deformed which prohibited the brass plug from being fully inserted and allowing full thread engagement. Approximately 45 cubic yards of contaminated soil has been removed from the leak site. The contaminated soil is waiting proper disposal facility approval. |
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