Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2015-07-10 — TX
Operator
Plains Pipeline, L.p.
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$50
Incident datetime
2015-07-10 07:44
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On july 10, 2015, during a heavy rainstorm, approximately 100 bbls of crude oil were released at plains pocahontas station, from a failed 1-inch stainless steel fitting used to connect the pipeline to a gravitometer. In response to notification from the public at 07:44 am, plains shut down the pipeline and dispatched a pipeline operator at 07:47 am. The pipeline operator arrived on site at 08:32 am, in which he confirmed a release and isolated the failed fitting and associated piping. Due to the inclement weather conditions, rain carried the crude oil off the property and into a drainage ditch that drains into an unnamed tributary of little silver creek, approximately 0.6 miles down the road, then into highland silver lake. It was not until 10:42 am, local time, that the release was confirmed to have reached the creek and was a reportable incident. Remediation and monitoring activities are ongoing. The root cause of the failure is still under investigation. A third-party metallurgist has been contacted to evaluate the failed fitting. A supplemental report will be submitted once the results of the analysis are received. The accident was initially reported by plains to the national response center (nrc) on 7/10/2015 at 11:10 indicating the quantity released as unknown and an unknown volume released in water. Nrc report number 1122376 was assigned. This nrc report was updated on 7/12/2015 at 13:04 to reflect 100 bbls as the quantity released and an unknown value for the volume spilled in water. Nrc report number 1122561 was assigned. Supplemental narrative: based on results of mechanical/metallurgical testing and root cause failure analysis, the release incident appears to have resulted from the accidental separation of 1' stainless steel tube from a swagelok compression fitting in the discharge line of gravitometer at the pocahontas station. The results of the analyses were inconclusive as to the underlying cause of the tubing separation, though location and size of the tubing may have played a role. Loss of containment due to erosion in dike at the station also occurred and contributed to incident. Pocahontas station remains shut down and is not expected to be utilized for an extended period of time.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-08-07 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150277
Supplemental Number
21883
Report Type
Supplemental 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
2015-07-10 07:29:00
Location Latitude
38.832199
Location Longitude
-89.597838
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
100
Recovered Bbls
56
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Received One Call Emergency Contact
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-07-10 07:44:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2015-07-10 07:47:00
Restart Datetime
2015-07-18 09:21:00
On Site Datetime
2015-07-10 08:32:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2015-07-10 11:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1122376
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Pocahontas Station
Segment Name
Capwood Pipeline
Onshore State Abbreviation
Il
Onshore Postal Code
62275
Onshore City Name
Pocahontas
Onshore County Name
Bond
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
26
Federal
No
Location Type
Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Instrumentation
Installation Year
1993
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Stainless Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Surface Water Remed Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Vegetation Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
25
Rel Water Name
Little Silver Creek And Silver Lake.
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
130316
Est Cost Gas Released
5000
Est Cost Prop Damage
50
Est Cost Emergency
5745840
Est Cost Environmental
200000
Est Cost Other
200000
Est Cost Other Details
Spill Response Equipment For The Town Of Highland.
Prpty
6281206
Accident Psig
436
Mop Psig
1440
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
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Schedule Ind
Yes
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind Details
The Mainline Valve Upstream Of Pocohontas Failed To Close When Commanded But Had No Material Impact On This Event.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Defective Or Loose Tubing Or Fitting
Eq Failure Type
Defective Or Loose Tubing Or Fitting
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Results Of The Investigation Were Inconclusive.
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
2016-11-22 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
On july 10, 2015, during a heavy rainstorm, approximately 100 bbls of crude oil were released at plains pocahontas station, from a failed 1-inch stainless steel fitting used to connect the pipeline to a gravitometer. In response to notification from the public at 07:44 am, plains shut down the pipeline and dispatched a pipeline operator at 07:47 am. The pipeline operator arrived on site at 08:32 am, in which he confirmed a release and isolated the failed fitting and associated piping. Due to the inclement weather conditions, rain carried the crude oil off the property and into a drainage ditch that drains into an unnamed tributary of little silver creek, approximately 0.6 miles down the road, then into highland silver lake. It was not until 10:42 am, local time, that the release was confirmed to have reached the creek and was a reportable incident. Remediation and monitoring activities are ongoing. The root cause of the failure is still under investigation. A third-party metallurgist has been contacted to evaluate the failed fitting. A supplemental report will be submitted once the results of the analysis are received. The accident was initially reported by plains to the national response center (nrc) on 7/10/2015 at 11:10 indicating the quantity released as unknown and an unknown volume released in water. Nrc report number 1122376 was assigned. This nrc report was updated on 7/12/2015 at 13:04 to reflect 100 bbls as the quantity released and an unknown value for the volume spilled in water. Nrc report number 1122561 was assigned. Supplemental narrative: based on results of mechanical/metallurgical testing and root cause failure analysis, the release incident appears to have resulted from the accidental separation of 1' stainless steel tube from a swagelok compression fitting in the discharge line of gravitometer at the pocahontas station. The results of the analyses were inconclusive as to the underlying cause of the tubing separation, though location and size of the tubing may have played a role. Loss of containment due to erosion in dike at the station also occurred and contributed to incident. Pocahontas station remains shut down and is not expected to be utilized for an extended period of time.
| Report Received Date | 2015-08-07 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2015 |
| Report Number | 20150277 |
| Supplemental Number | 21883 |
| Report Type | Supplemental 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 | 2015-07-10 07:29:00 |
| Location Latitude | 38.832199 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -89.597838 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 100 |
| Recovered Bbls | 56 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Received One Call Emergency Contact |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2015-07-10 07:44:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2015-07-10 07:47:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2015-07-18 09:21:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2015-07-10 08:32:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2015-07-10 11:10:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1122376 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Pocahontas Station |
| Segment Name | Capwood Pipeline |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Il |
| Onshore Postal Code | 62275 |
| Onshore City Name | Pocahontas |
| Onshore County Name | Bond |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 26 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Instrumentation |
| Installation Year | 1993 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Stainless Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Surface Water Remed Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Vegetation Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 25 |
| Rel Water Name | Little Silver Creek And Silver Lake. |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 130316 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 5000 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 50 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5745840 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 200000 |
| Est Cost Other | 200000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Spill Response Equipment For The Town Of Highland. |
| Prpty | 6281206 |
| Accident Psig | 436 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| 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 | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest Schedule Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| Invest Other Ind | Yes |
| Invest Other Ind Details | The Mainline Valve Upstream Of Pocohontas Failed To Close When Commanded But Had No Material Impact On This Event. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Num Employees Tested | 1 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Defective Or Loose Tubing Or Fitting |
| Eq Failure Type | Defective Or Loose Tubing Or Fitting |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Results Of The Investigation Were Inconclusive. |
| 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 | 2016-11-22 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 | On july 10, 2015, during a heavy rainstorm, approximately 100 bbls of crude oil were released at plains pocahontas station, from a failed 1-inch stainless steel fitting used to connect the pipeline to a gravitometer. In response to notification from the public at 07:44 am, plains shut down the pipeline and dispatched a pipeline operator at 07:47 am. The pipeline operator arrived on site at 08:32 am, in which he confirmed a release and isolated the failed fitting and associated piping. Due to the inclement weather conditions, rain carried the crude oil off the property and into a drainage ditch that drains into an unnamed tributary of little silver creek, approximately 0.6 miles down the road, then into highland silver lake. It was not until 10:42 am, local time, that the release was confirmed to have reached the creek and was a reportable incident. Remediation and monitoring activities are ongoing. The root cause of the failure is still under investigation. A third-party metallurgist has been contacted to evaluate the failed fitting. A supplemental report will be submitted once the results of the analysis are received. The accident was initially reported by plains to the national response center (nrc) on 7/10/2015 at 11:10 indicating the quantity released as unknown and an unknown volume released in water. Nrc report number 1122376 was assigned. This nrc report was updated on 7/12/2015 at 13:04 to reflect 100 bbls as the quantity released and an unknown value for the volume spilled in water. Nrc report number 1122561 was assigned. Supplemental narrative: based on results of mechanical/metallurgical testing and root cause failure analysis, the release incident appears to have resulted from the accidental separation of 1' stainless steel tube from a swagelok compression fitting in the discharge line of gravitometer at the pocahontas station. The results of the analyses were inconclusive as to the underlying cause of the tubing separation, though location and size of the tubing may have played a role. Loss of containment due to erosion in dike at the station also occurred and contributed to incident. Pocahontas station remains shut down and is not expected to be utilized for an extended period of time. |
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