HL incident on 2015-04-17 — TX

Operator
Plains Pipeline, L.p.
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$20
Incident datetime
2015-04-17 03:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Approximately 0.95 bbls of crude oil were released from a 1-inch pipe nipple, positioned on the high pressure side of a manifold. Plains scada system helped the controller identify that there was a problem with a back pressure control valve so the system was shut down and a field operator was dispatched. Upon arrival, the operator discovered the small leak. A 1-inch nipple failed as a result of the pressure control valve not opening and diverting the flow of oil. This then caused the relief valve to lift and reseat causing vibration. The defective nipple was removed and plugged at the 1-inch test branch connection. To correct the vibration issue, plains has changed out the potentiometer on the control valve and eliminated the 1-inch test manifold. Plains is inspecting other similar stations in this area for similar setups and will correct the piping and control valve settings to eliminate any potential vibration.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-05-15 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150181
Supplemental Number
20450
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
Name
Plains Pipeline, L.p.
Operator Street Address
333 Clay Street, Suite 1900
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2015-04-17 03:30:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.95
Recovered Bbls
0.95
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-04-17 03:30:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2015-04-17 02:18:00
Restart Datetime
2015-04-17 09:40:00
On Site Datetime
2015-04-17 03:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Not Required
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Kelley Station
Segment Name
Station Piping
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ca
Onshore Postal Code
93313
Onshore City Name
Bakersfield
Onshore County Name
Kern
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
860+15
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
Intrastate
Item Involved
Auxiliary Piping (E.g. Drain Lines)
Installation Year
1970
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
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
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
50
Est Cost Prop Damage
20
Est Cost Emergency
5000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
5070
Accident Psig
188
Mop Psig
751
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
No
Cpm In Place Ind
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
No
Cpm Conf Ind
No
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
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Eq Failure Type
Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Other Stripped Ind
Pipe Nipple
Additional Vibration Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
C******* C*****
Preparer Title
Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
C*******@p****.com
Preparer Telephone
713-993-5080
Preparer Fax
713-646-4310
Prepared Date
2015-05-15 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
T***** M*****
Authorizer Telephone
713-646-4109
Authorizer Title
Sr Dir Of Environmental And Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Email
T*******@p****.com
Narrative
Approximately 0.95 bbls of crude oil were released from a 1-inch pipe nipple, positioned on the high pressure side of a manifold. Plains scada system helped the controller identify that there was a problem with a back pressure control valve so the system was shut down and a field operator was dispatched. Upon arrival, the operator discovered the small leak. A 1-inch nipple failed as a result of the pressure control valve not opening and diverting the flow of oil. This then caused the relief valve to lift and reseat causing vibration. The defective nipple was removed and plugged at the 1-inch test branch connection. To correct the vibration issue, plains has changed out the potentiometer on the control valve and eliminated the 1-inch test manifold. Plains is inspecting other similar stations in this area for similar setups and will correct the piping and control valve settings to eliminate any potential vibration.
Report Received Date 2015-05-15 00:00:00
Iyear 2015
Report Number 20150181
Supplemental Number 20450
Report Type Original Final
Operator Id 300 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Plains Pipeline, L.p.
Operator Street Address 333 Clay Street, Suite 1900
Operator City Name Houston
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77002
Local Datetime 2015-04-17 03:30:00
Location Latitude 35.019746 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -119.06454 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Commodity Released Type Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls 0.95
Recovered Bbls 0.95
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime 2015-04-17 03:30:00
System Part Involved Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind Yes
Shutdown Datetime 2015-04-17 02:18:00
Restart Datetime 2015-04-17 09:40:00
On Site Datetime 2015-04-17 03:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num Nrc Notification Not Required NRC Report How to search
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Pipe Fac Name Kelley Station
Segment Name Station Piping
Onshore State Abbreviation Ca
Onshore Postal Code 93313
Onshore City Name Bakersfield
Onshore County Name Kern
Designated Location Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name 860+15
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 Intrastate
Item Involved Auxiliary Piping (E.g. Drain Lines)
Installation Year 1970
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Crack
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 No
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Gas Released 50
Est Cost Prop Damage 20
Est Cost Emergency 5000
Est Cost Environmental 0
Est Cost Other 0
Prpty 5070
Accident Psig 188
Mop Psig 751
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 No
Cpm In Place Ind Yes
Cpm Operating Ind Yes
Cpm Functional Ind Yes
Cpm Detection Ind No
Cpm Conf Ind No
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 No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Equipment Failure
Cause Details Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Eq Failure Type Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Other Stripped Ind Pipe Nipple
Additional Vibration Ind Yes
Preparer Name C******* C*****
Preparer Title Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email C*******@p****.com
Preparer Telephone 713-993-5080
Preparer Fax 713-646-4310
Prepared Date 2015-05-15 00:00:00
Authorizer Name T***** M*****
Authorizer Telephone 713-646-4109
Authorizer Title Sr Dir Of Environmental And Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Email T*******@p****.com
Narrative Approximately 0.95 bbls of crude oil were released from a 1-inch pipe nipple, positioned on the high pressure side of a manifold. Plains scada system helped the controller identify that there was a problem with a back pressure control valve so the system was shut down and a field operator was dispatched. Upon arrival, the operator discovered the small leak. A 1-inch nipple failed as a result of the pressure control valve not opening and diverting the flow of oil. This then caused the relief valve to lift and reseat causing vibration. The defective nipple was removed and plugged at the 1-inch test branch connection. To correct the vibration issue, plains has changed out the potentiometer on the control valve and eliminated the 1-inch test manifold. Plains is inspecting other similar stations in this area for similar setups and will correct the piping and control valve settings to eliminate any potential vibration.

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