GTG incident on 2015-10-08 — OK

Operator
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
4 fatalities 1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$3,320,860
Incident datetime
2015-10-08 11:00
Report number
Location
OK
Narrative
Williams personnel and contractors were performing maintenance activities along the liquid distribution header of the slug catcher located at the transco compressor station 62, located in the terrebonne parrish, la. During the maintenance there was an unintentional ignition that occurred while performing hot work activities on a 3" water draw line on the eastern end of the liquid distribution header. The welding activity at this location is believed to be the source of the ignition, accordingly a 3" foreman's plug that was used during the welding activity at this location did not function as intended. The exact source of the vapor that ignited cannot be determined as there are multiple possible supply points. There were three confirmed fatalities at the scene, and two individuals hospitalized with serious burns. One of the hospitalized individuals later passed away at the hospital.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-11-06 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150133
Supplemental Number
17104
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company
Operator Street Address
One Williams Center Md 43-4
Operator City Name
Tulsa
Operator State Abbreviation
OK
Operator Postal Code
74172
Local Datetime
2015-10-08 11:00:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2015-10-08 12:06:00
Unintentional Release
0
Intentional Release
0
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
4
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
0
Fatal
4
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
1
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Facility Was Out Of Service For Maintenance At The Time Of The Incident
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-10-08 11:00:00
On Site Datetime
2015-10-08 11:11:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70356
Onshore City Name
Gibson
Onshore County Name
Terrebonne Parish
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
Compressor
Pipe Fac Name
Transco Compressor Station 62
Segment Name
Slug Catcher
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping
Item Involved
Filter/strainer/separator
Installation Year
1989
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Ignition Of Vapor During Slug Catcher Maintenance
Class Location Type
Class 2 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
434
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
3320860
Est Cost Emergency
451662
Est Cost Other
3772522
Est Cost Other Details
Lost Revenue
Prpty
7545044
Accident Psig
0
Mop Psig
990
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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
Pipeline control was not involved with the incident as the facility was shut down for maintenance.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
11
Num Employees Failed
0
Num Contractors Tested
6
Num Contractors Failed
1
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage
Operation Type
Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Other Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
S**** F******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Engineer
Preparer Email
S************@w*******.com
Preparer Telephone
(713) 215-3051
Authorizer Name
J*** S*****
Authorizer Title
Director Employee Safety
Authorizer Telephone
(918) 573-2649
Authorizer Email
J**********@w*******.com
Narrative
Williams personnel and contractors were performing maintenance activities along the liquid distribution header of the slug catcher located at the transco compressor station 62, located in the terrebonne parrish, la. During the maintenance there was an unintentional ignition that occurred while performing hot work activities on a 3" water draw line on the eastern end of the liquid distribution header. The welding activity at this location is believed to be the source of the ignition, accordingly a 3" foreman's plug that was used during the welding activity at this location did not function as intended. The exact source of the vapor that ignited cannot be determined as there are multiple possible supply points. There were three confirmed fatalities at the scene, and two individuals hospitalized with serious burns. One of the hospitalized individuals later passed away at the hospital.
Report Received Date 2015-11-06 00:00:00
Iyear 2015
Report Number 20150133
Supplemental Number 17104
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 19570 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Company
Operator Street Address One Williams Center Md 43-4
Operator City Name Tulsa
Operator State Abbreviation OK
Operator Postal Code 74172
Local Datetime 2015-10-08 11:00:00
Location Latitude 29.603103 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -90.874794 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Num 1130404 NRC Report How to search
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2015-10-08 12:06:00
Unintentional Release 0
Intentional Release 0
Accompanying Liquid 0
Fatality Ind Yes
Num Emp Fatalities 0
Num Contr Fatalities 4
Num Er Fatalities 0
Num Worker Fatalities 0
Num Gp Fatalities 0
Fatal 4
Injury Ind Yes
Num Emp Injuries 0
Num Contr Injuries 1
Num Er Injuries 0
Num Worker Injuries 0
Num Gp Injuries 0
Injure 1
Shutdown Due Accident Ind No
Shutdown Explain Facility Was Out Of Service For Maintenance At The Time Of The Incident
Ignite Ind Yes
Explode Ind Yes
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Incident Identified Datetime 2015-10-08 11:00:00
On Site Datetime 2015-10-08 11:11:00
On Off Shore Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation La
Onshore Postal Code 70356
Onshore City Name Gibson
Onshore County Name Terrebonne Parish
Designated Location Milepost
Designated Name Compressor
Pipe Fac Name Transco Compressor Station 62
Segment Name Slug Catcher
Federal No
Location Type Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Interstate
System Part Involved Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping
Item Involved Filter/strainer/separator
Installation Year 1989
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Other
Release Type Details Ignition Of Vapor During Slug Catcher Maintenance
Class Location Type Class 2 Location
Could Be Hca No
Pir Radius 434
Heat Damage Ind No
Non Heat Damage Ind No
Hca Fatalities Ind No
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 0
Est Cost Intentional Release 0
Est Cost Prop Damage 3320860
Est Cost Emergency 451662
Est Cost Other 3772522
Est Cost Other Details Lost Revenue
Prpty 7545044
Accident Psig 0
Mop Psig 990
Mop Cfr Section 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Pipeline Function Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind Yes
Scada Operating Ind Yes
Scada Functional Ind Yes
Scada Detection Ind No
Scada Conf Ind No
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Operator Employee
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 Pipeline control was not involved with the incident as the facility was shut down for maintenance.
Employee Drug Test Ind Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Employees Tested 11
Num Employees Failed 0
Num Contractors Tested 6
Num Contractors Failed 1
Cause Incorrect Operation
Cause Details Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage
Operation Type Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage
Related Failure Follow Ind Yes
Category Type Other Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind Yes
Qualified Individuals Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name S**** F******
Preparer Title Pipeline Safety Engineer
Preparer Email S************@w*******.com
Preparer Telephone (713) 215-3051
Authorizer Name J*** S*****
Authorizer Title Director Employee Safety
Authorizer Telephone (918) 573-2649
Authorizer Email J**********@w*******.com
Narrative Williams personnel and contractors were performing maintenance activities along the liquid distribution header of the slug catcher located at the transco compressor station 62, located in the terrebonne parrish, la. During the maintenance there was an unintentional ignition that occurred while performing hot work activities on a 3" water draw line on the eastern end of the liquid distribution header. The welding activity at this location is believed to be the source of the ignition, accordingly a 3" foreman's plug that was used during the welding activity at this location did not function as intended. The exact source of the vapor that ignited cannot be determined as there are multiple possible supply points. There were three confirmed fatalities at the scene, and two individuals hospitalized with serious burns. One of the hospitalized individuals later passed away at the hospital.

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