HL incident on 2015-10-19 — TX

Operator
Enterprise Products Operating Llc
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$162,000
Incident datetime
2015-10-19 10:00
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On 10/19/2015, during a field inspection, a small leak was identified on the enterprise aegis 20 inch mainline valve 14101 at sulphur station with a mx-6 lel meter. The leak was around bonnet flange gasket while in the open position. The ethane leak was only detectable within close proximity to the bonnet flange bolts. The valve was closed and the body was blown down with nitrogen and the leak stopped. At that time, it was estimated approximately 2 gallons of ethane was released and, therefore, the leak did not meet accident reporting criteria. The manufacturer sent a representative to the site to re-torque the bonnet flange bolts without success. On 10/29/2015, enterprise made the decision to replace the valve using a stopple bypass and, as a result, based on the projected cost of the repair, the leak met accident reporting criteria. The nrc and PHMSA were both immediately notified. The valve replacement has been completed and no issue were noted with new valve bonnet seal. The leaking valve was returned to southern california valve for evaluation. Disassembly/removal of the bonnet and inspection of the seal area revealed the body/bonnet spiral wound gasket showed to be compressed evenly, however, the outer ring of the spiral wound gasket had extruded in a small section of the gasket. It is believed the cause of the bonnet leak was the spiral wound flat gasket out ring extruded which had impact on the o-ring sealing surface. This gasket extrusion is not a normal occurrence and appears to be an isolated incident.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2015-11-17 00:00:00
Iyear
2015
Report Number
20150411
Supplemental Number
21146
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Enterprise Products Operating Llc
Operator Street Address
1100 Louisiana Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2015-10-19 10:00:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Ethane
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.05
Intentional Release Bbls
0
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
2015-10-19 10:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Valve Bonnett Leak Stops In Closed Position.
On Site Datetime
2015-10-19 10:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2015-10-29 16:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Aegis Pipeline
Segment Name
24600
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70663
Onshore City Name
Sulphur
Onshore County Name
Calcasieu
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
47.81
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
Mainline
Valve Mainline Type
Gate
Valve Manufacturer
South California Power Seal
Installation Year
2015
Manufactured Year
2013
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Bonnet Flange Gasket Leak
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
1
Est Cost Prop Damage
162000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
162001
Accident Psig
1150
Mop Psig
1480
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
1
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications 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
Third party operations discovered leak thus control room actions were not a factor in this incident.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind
Gasket
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Leaking Bonnet Flange Gasket
Preparer Name
N***** L* G*** J**
Preparer Title
Senior Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
N****@e****.com
Preparer Telephone
985-493-4629
Preparer Fax
985-448-1857
Prepared Date
2016-02-19 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
N***** L* G*** J**
Authorizer Telephone
985-493-4629
Authorizer Title
Senior Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Authorizer Email
N****@e****.com
Narrative
On 10/19/2015, during a field inspection, a small leak was identified on the enterprise aegis 20 inch mainline valve 14101 at sulphur station with a mx-6 lel meter. The leak was around bonnet flange gasket while in the open position. The ethane leak was only detectable within close proximity to the bonnet flange bolts. The valve was closed and the body was blown down with nitrogen and the leak stopped. At that time, it was estimated approximately 2 gallons of ethane was released and, therefore, the leak did not meet accident reporting criteria. The manufacturer sent a representative to the site to re-torque the bonnet flange bolts without success. On 10/29/2015, enterprise made the decision to replace the valve using a stopple bypass and, as a result, based on the projected cost of the repair, the leak met accident reporting criteria. The nrc and PHMSA were both immediately notified. The valve replacement has been completed and no issue were noted with new valve bonnet seal. The leaking valve was returned to southern california valve for evaluation. Disassembly/removal of the bonnet and inspection of the seal area revealed the body/bonnet spiral wound gasket showed to be compressed evenly, however, the outer ring of the spiral wound gasket had extruded in a small section of the gasket. It is believed the cause of the bonnet leak was the spiral wound flat gasket out ring extruded which had impact on the o-ring sealing surface. This gasket extrusion is not a normal occurrence and appears to be an isolated incident.
Report Received Date 2015-11-17 00:00:00
Iyear 2015
Report Number 20150411
Supplemental Number 21146
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 31618 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Enterprise Products Operating Llc
Operator Street Address 1100 Louisiana Street
Operator City Name Houston
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77002
Local Datetime 2015-10-19 10:00:00
Location Latitude 30.164856 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -93.35175 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Commodity Released Type Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype Other Hvl
Commodity Details Ethane
Unintentional Release Bbls 0.05
Intentional Release Bbls 0
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 2015-10-19 10:00:00
System Part Involved Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind No
Shutdown Explain Valve Bonnett Leak Stops In Closed Position.
On Site Datetime 2015-10-19 10:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2015-10-29 16:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1132066 NRC Report How to search
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Upstream Valve Type Ind Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind Manual
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Pipe Fac Name Aegis Pipeline
Segment Name 24600
Onshore State Abbreviation La
Onshore Postal Code 70663
Onshore City Name Sulphur
Onshore County Name Calcasieu
Designated Location Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name 47.81
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 Mainline
Valve Mainline Type Gate
Valve Manufacturer South California Power Seal
Installation Year 2015
Manufactured Year 2013
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Other
Leak Type Other Bonnet Flange Gasket Leak
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 1
Est Cost Prop Damage 162000
Est Cost Emergency 0
Est Cost Environmental 0
Est Cost Other 0
Prpty 162001
Accident Psig 1150
Mop Psig 1480
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Length Segment Isolated 1
Internal Inspection Ind Yes
Operation Complications 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 Third party operations discovered leak thus control room actions were not a factor in this incident.
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Equipment Failure
Cause Details Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind Gasket
Eq Additional Other Ind Yes
Eq Additional Other Details Leaking Bonnet Flange Gasket
Preparer Name N***** L* G*** J**
Preparer Title Senior Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email N****@e****.com
Preparer Telephone 985-493-4629
Preparer Fax 985-448-1857
Prepared Date 2016-02-19 00:00:00
Authorizer Name N***** L* G*** J**
Authorizer Telephone 985-493-4629
Authorizer Title Senior Pipeline Compliance Specialist
Authorizer Email N****@e****.com
Narrative On 10/19/2015, during a field inspection, a small leak was identified on the enterprise aegis 20 inch mainline valve 14101 at sulphur station with a mx-6 lel meter. The leak was around bonnet flange gasket while in the open position. The ethane leak was only detectable within close proximity to the bonnet flange bolts. The valve was closed and the body was blown down with nitrogen and the leak stopped. At that time, it was estimated approximately 2 gallons of ethane was released and, therefore, the leak did not meet accident reporting criteria. The manufacturer sent a representative to the site to re-torque the bonnet flange bolts without success. On 10/29/2015, enterprise made the decision to replace the valve using a stopple bypass and, as a result, based on the projected cost of the repair, the leak met accident reporting criteria. The nrc and PHMSA were both immediately notified. The valve replacement has been completed and no issue were noted with new valve bonnet seal. The leaking valve was returned to southern california valve for evaluation. Disassembly/removal of the bonnet and inspection of the seal area revealed the body/bonnet spiral wound gasket showed to be compressed evenly, however, the outer ring of the spiral wound gasket had extruded in a small section of the gasket. It is believed the cause of the bonnet leak was the spiral wound flat gasket out ring extruded which had impact on the o-ring sealing surface. This gasket extrusion is not a normal occurrence and appears to be an isolated incident.

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