Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2015-07-14 — TX
Operator
Plains Pipeline, L.p.
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$25,000
Incident datetime
2015-07-14 19:57
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Approximately 0.6 bbls of crude oil were released as a result of a valve malfunction on a meter skid at plains valero metering station, causing the thermal relief valves to discharge into the sump and the sump to overfill. It was discovered later that the thermal relief valves were set incorrectly. Plains has since replaced the thermal relief valves with the correct settings and verified all associated equipment for proper working condition. Supplemental narrative: to clarify, the equipment was installed correctly and the thermal relief valve operated properly, however, the pressure setting was incorrect. The equipment was purchased from and installed by a vendor/contractor, the wood group. Plains determined the root cause to be the setting of the thermal relief. If this had been set correctly at 275, instead of 150, excessive product would not have gone to the sump. Plains has checked the other thermal relief valves at the station to verify they are set correctly. Part g has been updated from equipment failure to incorrect operation.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-08-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150287
Supplemental Number
21121
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
2015-07-14 19:57:00
Location Latitude
29.94075
Location Longitude
-89.9367
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.6
Recovered Bbls
0.6
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2015-07-14 19:57:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2015-07-14 19:10:00
Restart Datetime
2015-07-15 01:08:00
On Site Datetime
2015-07-14 19:57:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Not Required
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Meraux
Segment Name
Metering Station Sump Inside Valero Refinery
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70043
Onshore City Name
Chalmette
Onshore County Name
Saint Bernard
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
46.77
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
Relief Valve
Installation Year
2015
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Overfill Or Overflow
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
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
25000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
5000
Est Cost Other
5000
Est Cost Other Details
New Reliefs And Drain Piping.
Prpty
35000
Accident Psig
399
Mop Psig
680
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
Yes
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
The incident was caused by mechanical failure of a control valve and subsequent thermal relief into the sump. Incorrect setting had been applied to the thermal relief valves.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Tank, Vessel, Or Sump/separator Allowed Or Caused To Overfill Or Overflow
Operation Type
Tank, Vessel, Or Sump/separator Allowed Or Caused To Overfill Or Overflow
Overflow Other Ind
Other
Overflow Other Details
The Equipment Was Installed With The Incorrect Settings By Plains Vendor/contractor.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Normal Operating Conditions
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
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
2016-02-12 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 0.6 bbls of crude oil were released as a result of a valve malfunction on a meter skid at plains valero metering station, causing the thermal relief valves to discharge into the sump and the sump to overfill. It was discovered later that the thermal relief valves were set incorrectly. Plains has since replaced the thermal relief valves with the correct settings and verified all associated equipment for proper working condition. Supplemental narrative: to clarify, the equipment was installed correctly and the thermal relief valve operated properly, however, the pressure setting was incorrect. The equipment was purchased from and installed by a vendor/contractor, the wood group. Plains determined the root cause to be the setting of the thermal relief. If this had been set correctly at 275, instead of 150, excessive product would not have gone to the sump. Plains has checked the other thermal relief valves at the station to verify they are set correctly. Part g has been updated from equipment failure to incorrect operation.
| Report Received Date | 2015-08-13 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2015 |
| Report Number | 20150287 |
| Supplemental Number | 21121 |
| 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 | 2015-07-14 19:57:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.94075 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -89.9367 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.6 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.6 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2015-07-14 19:57:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2015-07-14 19:10:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2015-07-15 01:08:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2015-07-14 19:57:00 |
| 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 | Meraux |
| Segment Name | Metering Station Sump Inside Valero Refinery |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70043 |
| Onshore City Name | Chalmette |
| Onshore County Name | Saint Bernard |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 46.77 |
| 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 | Relief Valve |
| Installation Year | 2015 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Overfill Or Overflow |
| 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 | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 25000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 5000 |
| Est Cost Other | 5000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | New Reliefs And Drain Piping. |
| Prpty | 35000 |
| Accident Psig | 399 |
| Mop Psig | 680 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 | The incident was caused by mechanical failure of a control valve and subsequent thermal relief into the sump. Incorrect setting had been applied to the thermal relief valves. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Tank, Vessel, Or Sump/separator Allowed Or Caused To Overfill Or Overflow |
| Operation Type | Tank, Vessel, Or Sump/separator Allowed Or Caused To Overfill Or Overflow |
| Overflow Other Ind | Other |
| Overflow Other Details | The Equipment Was Installed With The Incorrect Settings By Plains Vendor/contractor. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Normal Operating Conditions |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| 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 | 2016-02-12 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 0.6 bbls of crude oil were released as a result of a valve malfunction on a meter skid at plains valero metering station, causing the thermal relief valves to discharge into the sump and the sump to overfill. It was discovered later that the thermal relief valves were set incorrectly. Plains has since replaced the thermal relief valves with the correct settings and verified all associated equipment for proper working condition. Supplemental narrative: to clarify, the equipment was installed correctly and the thermal relief valve operated properly, however, the pressure setting was incorrect. The equipment was purchased from and installed by a vendor/contractor, the wood group. Plains determined the root cause to be the setting of the thermal relief. If this had been set correctly at 275, instead of 150, excessive product would not have gone to the sump. Plains has checked the other thermal relief valves at the station to verify they are set correctly. Part g has been updated from equipment failure to incorrect operation. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA