Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2012-05-17 — TX
Operator
Enterprise Crude Pipeline Llc
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2012-05-17 04:00
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
In reference to parts a(6), f, and I, this report is being made as part of a comprehensive review and analysis of prior incidents or near misses involving flash fire or ignition of flammable vapors, pursuant to a compliance order issued by PHMSA (cpf no. 4-2014-5017). The purpose of this job was to install a tee in a 24-inch pipeline. A section of the pipe was removed by cold cutting and a mud plug was installed to isolate the line from any remaining vapors during welding on the tee. The line was open on both sides of the mud plug prior to its installation. While the line was being cut, another crew was instructed to install a blind flange on the line, enclosing the pipe between the mud plug and the blind flange. Residual hydrocarbons in the enclosed pipe built pressure, eventually causing a mist to overcome the mud plug. The mist was ignited by welding on the tee, causing a short-duration flash fire.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-07-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2012
Report Number
20150249
Supplemental Number
20900
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
2012-05-17 04:00:00
Location Latitude
28.949612
Location Longitude
-95.430288
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.1
Recovered Bbls
0.1
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-05-17 04:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Facility Was Already Shutdown
On Site Datetime
2012-05-17 04:00:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Required But Not Made
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Jones Creek Station
Segment Name
Meter Bank 3
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77541
Onshore City Name
Jones Creek
Onshore County Name
Brazoria
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Jones Creek
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
Tee Fiting
Installation Year
2012
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Hydrocarbon Vapors Built Up Behind Mud Plug During Tie In Work.
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
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
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
0
Accident Psig
0
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
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
Controllers were not involved with tie-in work
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Open Pipe Not Tagged As A Upstream Vent For Mud Plug. Blind Flange Installed Upstream Of Mud Plug Allowing Accumulation Of Vapors Behind Plug Eventually Causing Plug Failure, Mist Release, And Flash Fire.
Related Inadequate Proc Ind
Yes
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Other Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
M*** P*****
Preparer Title
Sr. Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
M*******@e****.com
Preparer Telephone
713-381-5897
Prepared Date
2015-11-12 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
M*** P*****
Authorizer Telephone
713-381-5897
Authorizer Title
Sr. Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Authorizer Email
M*******@e****.com
Narrative
In reference to parts a(6), f, and I, this report is being made as part of a comprehensive review and analysis of prior incidents or near misses involving flash fire or ignition of flammable vapors, pursuant to a compliance order issued by PHMSA (cpf no. 4-2014-5017). The purpose of this job was to install a tee in a 24-inch pipeline. A section of the pipe was removed by cold cutting and a mud plug was installed to isolate the line from any remaining vapors during welding on the tee. The line was open on both sides of the mud plug prior to its installation. While the line was being cut, another crew was instructed to install a blind flange on the line, enclosing the pipe between the mud plug and the blind flange. Residual hydrocarbons in the enclosed pipe built pressure, eventually causing a mist to overcome the mud plug. The mist was ignited by welding on the tee, causing a short-duration flash fire.
| Report Received Date | 2015-07-13 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2012 |
| Report Number | 20150249 |
| Supplemental Number | 20900 |
| 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 | 2012-05-17 04:00:00 |
| Location Latitude | 28.949612 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.430288 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.1 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-05-17 04:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Facility Was Already Shutdown |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-05-17 04:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | Nrc Notification Required But Not Made NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Jones Creek Station |
| Segment Name | Meter Bank 3 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77541 |
| Onshore City Name | Jones Creek |
| Onshore County Name | Brazoria |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | Jones Creek |
| 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 | Tee Fiting |
| Installation Year | 2012 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Hydrocarbon Vapors Built Up Behind Mud Plug During Tie In Work. |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| 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 | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 0 |
| 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 | 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 | Controllers were not involved with tie-in work |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | Open Pipe Not Tagged As A Upstream Vent For Mud Plug. Blind Flange Installed Upstream Of Mud Plug Allowing Accumulation Of Vapors Behind Plug Eventually Causing Plug Failure, Mist Release, And Flash Fire. |
| Related Inadequate Proc Ind | Yes |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Other Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | M*** P***** |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Pipeline Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | M*******@e****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713-381-5897 |
| Prepared Date | 2015-11-12 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | M*** P***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-381-5897 |
| Authorizer Title | Sr. Pipeline Compliance Specialist |
| Authorizer Email | M*******@e****.com |
| Narrative | In reference to parts a(6), f, and I, this report is being made as part of a comprehensive review and analysis of prior incidents or near misses involving flash fire or ignition of flammable vapors, pursuant to a compliance order issued by PHMSA (cpf no. 4-2014-5017). The purpose of this job was to install a tee in a 24-inch pipeline. A section of the pipe was removed by cold cutting and a mud plug was installed to isolate the line from any remaining vapors during welding on the tee. The line was open on both sides of the mud plug prior to its installation. While the line was being cut, another crew was instructed to install a blind flange on the line, enclosing the pipe between the mud plug and the blind flange. Residual hydrocarbons in the enclosed pipe built pressure, eventually causing a mist to overcome the mud plug. The mist was ignited by welding on the tee, causing a short-duration flash fire. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA