Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2015-06-23 — TX
Operator
Sunoco Pipeline L.p.
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$30,000
Incident datetime
2015-06-23 16:25
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Construction crew was working to install new piping and reconfigure existing station piping associated with tank 2660. Mud plugs were installed to isolate the work area from any potential vapors. A part of the mud plug procedure requires an open vent to ensure no pressure builds on piping while the mud plugs are in place. A 4" valve near tank 2660 was selected to provide the venting. Oil was released from this valve when pressure built on the associated piping. The root cause analysis determined this selected vent location was not appropriate due to a low portion of the piping forming a liquid trap between the mud plug and the vent. This allowed thermal pressure build up between the vent and the mud plug which caused the mud plug to fail. After the mud plug failed, welding activities caused the suspected ignition of crude oil vapors inside the pipe. This created pressure sufficient enough to force crude out of the 4" vent valve at tank 2660. At the time of the release combustion of the vapors inside the pipe was not suspected, hence nrc notification was not made. Via the root cause analysis process it was determined that combustion of vapors behind the mud plug had likely occurred and caused the release however the nrc reporting timeline had already been exceeded.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-07-23 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150266
Supplemental Number
20850
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
18718
Name
Sunoco Pipeline L.p.
Operator Street Address
1300 Main Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2015-06-23 16:25:00
Location Latitude
32.07175
Location Longitude
-96.47357
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.36
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-06-23 16:25:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Line Segment Was Already Isolated From The Facility.
On Site Datetime
2015-06-23 16:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Required But Not Made
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Corsicana Station
Segment Name
Corsicana Tank 2660 Station Piping
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
75110
Onshore City Name
Corsicana
Onshore County Name
Navarro
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
0+00
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
Valve
Valve Type
Auxiliary Or Other Valve
Installation Year
1952
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Leak Via Open Vent Valve
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
22
Est Cost Prop Damage
30000
Est Cost Emergency
2000
Est Cost Environmental
1000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
33022
Accident Psig
100
Mop Psig
185
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
A review of the accident determined that there were no control room actions that contributed to the event.
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
Release From Vent Valve Due To Pressure Build-Up Caused By Incorrect Selection For Location Of Vent Valve Behind Mud Plug.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
T*** G* N*******
Preparer Title
Dot Compliance Manager
Preparer Email
T*********@s**************.com
Preparer Telephone
281-637-6576
Preparer Fax
877-917-0448
Prepared Date
2015-10-26 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
T*** G* N*******
Authorizer Telephone
281-637-6576
Authorizer Title
Dot Compliance Manager
Authorizer Email
T*********@s**************.com
Narrative
Construction crew was working to install new piping and reconfigure existing station piping associated with tank 2660. Mud plugs were installed to isolate the work area from any potential vapors. A part of the mud plug procedure requires an open vent to ensure no pressure builds on piping while the mud plugs are in place. A 4" valve near tank 2660 was selected to provide the venting. Oil was released from this valve when pressure built on the associated piping. The root cause analysis determined this selected vent location was not appropriate due to a low portion of the piping forming a liquid trap between the mud plug and the vent. This allowed thermal pressure build up between the vent and the mud plug which caused the mud plug to fail. After the mud plug failed, welding activities caused the suspected ignition of crude oil vapors inside the pipe. This created pressure sufficient enough to force crude out of the 4" vent valve at tank 2660. At the time of the release combustion of the vapors inside the pipe was not suspected, hence nrc notification was not made. Via the root cause analysis process it was determined that combustion of vapors behind the mud plug had likely occurred and caused the release however the nrc reporting timeline had already been exceeded.
| Report Received Date | 2015-07-23 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2015 |
| Report Number | 20150266 |
| Supplemental Number | 20850 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 18718 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Sunoco Pipeline L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 1300 Main Street |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2015-06-23 16:25:00 |
| Location Latitude | 32.07175 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -96.47357 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.36 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2015-06-23 16:25:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Line Segment Was Already Isolated From The Facility. |
| On Site Datetime | 2015-06-23 16:25:00 |
| 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 | Corsicana Station |
| Segment Name | Corsicana Tank 2660 Station Piping |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 75110 |
| Onshore City Name | Corsicana |
| Onshore County Name | Navarro |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 0+00 |
| 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 | Valve |
| Valve Type | Auxiliary Or Other Valve |
| Installation Year | 1952 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Leak Via Open Vent Valve |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 22 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 30000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 2000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 1000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 33022 |
| Accident Psig | 100 |
| Mop Psig | 185 |
| 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 | A review of the accident determined that there were no control room actions that contributed to the event. |
| 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 | Release From Vent Valve Due To Pressure Build-Up Caused By Incorrect Selection For Location Of Vent Valve Behind Mud Plug. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | T*** G* N******* |
| Preparer Title | Dot Compliance Manager |
| Preparer Email | T*********@s**************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 281-637-6576 |
| Preparer Fax | 877-917-0448 |
| Prepared Date | 2015-10-26 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | T*** G* N******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 281-637-6576 |
| Authorizer Title | Dot Compliance Manager |
| Authorizer Email | T*********@s**************.com |
| Narrative | Construction crew was working to install new piping and reconfigure existing station piping associated with tank 2660. Mud plugs were installed to isolate the work area from any potential vapors. A part of the mud plug procedure requires an open vent to ensure no pressure builds on piping while the mud plugs are in place. A 4" valve near tank 2660 was selected to provide the venting. Oil was released from this valve when pressure built on the associated piping. The root cause analysis determined this selected vent location was not appropriate due to a low portion of the piping forming a liquid trap between the mud plug and the vent. This allowed thermal pressure build up between the vent and the mud plug which caused the mud plug to fail. After the mud plug failed, welding activities caused the suspected ignition of crude oil vapors inside the pipe. This created pressure sufficient enough to force crude out of the 4" vent valve at tank 2660. At the time of the release combustion of the vapors inside the pipe was not suspected, hence nrc notification was not made. Via the root cause analysis process it was determined that combustion of vapors behind the mud plug had likely occurred and caused the release however the nrc reporting timeline had already been exceeded. |
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