Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2016-07-14 — TX
Operator
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Cause
Natural Force Damage
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)
$850,000
Incident datetime
2016-07-14 11:42
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Lightning strike from a severe thunder storm struck the napoleonville pump station, napoleonville, louisiana. This disrupted communications in and out of napoleonville. The houston controller could not communicate with napoleonville pump station. The houston controller could not identify the immediate issue. He monitored the pipeline and found that the pressure began to drop along with the flow rate at other locations. Houston controller notified the field personnel to investigate. Twenty-eight minutes after the communications loss, the field supervisor was notified by neighboring company that a possible fire had occurred at the napoleonville pump station. Company personnel arrived on site, napoleonville pump station, reported fire to the houston control center. Actions were taken by company personnel to isolate the pipeline delivery segments from the mainline at napoleonville. The pump and piping to the affected centrifugal pump was isolated. The pump will be sent to a shop to be inspected for damage. An assessment of the napoleonville pump station facility addressed communications, plc, piping and two compressor units. The napoleonville pump station was inspected by technical personnel and the facility engineer. The two compressors were found fully operational. Facility engineer provided a statement of fitness to operate which was approved. A compressor unit started 7/16 at 15:52hrs. Lightning damaged equipment including the station plc. The plc hardware fault combined with the original wiring design of the napoleonville pump station caused the esd valves to close. The blow down valve remained closed and unit remained running. The running unit against closed valves led to the fire. Corrected lat. Long. 12/5/16 - updated estimated repairs to pump/motor, building at napoleonville pump station. Requested by PHMSA 3/22/17 to clarify "the scada and the control room were fully functional at the time of the accident. Any particular reason why this is possible?" answer the equipment affected by the lightning strike was at napoleonville, louisiana. The equipment at napoleonville was interrupted by the lightning strike which communicates with the houston control center. The houston control center lost communications with the napoleonville pump station. All other locations on that system were communicating back to the houston control center. 4/11/17 corrected hca to yes/eco.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2016-08-05 00:00:00
Iyear
2016
Report Number
20160244
Supplemental Number
22261
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31174
Name
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Operator Street Address
150 North Dairy Ashford Road Wck Bldg. A
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Local Datetime
2016-07-14 11:42:00
Location Latitude
30.0142962
Location Longitude
-91.1162737
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Ethylene
Unintentional Release Bbls
16.91
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Controller
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-07-14 11:42:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
The Centrifugal Pump Was Isolated From The Mainline Pl System
On Site Datetime
2016-07-14 12:29:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-07-14 13:01:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1153345
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Napoleonville Pump Station
Segment Name
Texas Louisiana Delivery System Ethylene (Tlds)
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70431
Onshore City Name
Belle Rose
Onshore County Name
Assumption
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Napoleonville
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
Pump
Installation Year
2015
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Pump Station Struck By Lightning. Plc Equipment Failure, Communications Failure, Pump Suction & Discharge Valves Close, Pump Continues To Run, Pump Piping Involved In Fire.
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
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
850000
Est Cost Emergency
150000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
1000000
Accident Psig
1338
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
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 houston controller saw a pressure drop on the tlds ethylene system. This indicated to him that the pump at napoleonville ps had shut down. Communications outage caused by the lightning strike at the station. No data was being transmitted to the houston control center from the napoleonville ps.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Cause Details
Lightning
Natural Force Type
Lightning
Lightning Subtype
Direct Hit
Nf Extreme Weather Ind
Yes
Nf Other Ind
Yes
Nf Extreme Weather Details
Severe Thunder Storm
Preparer Name
R****** K*****
Preparer Title
Regulatory Specialist
Preparer Email
R*************@s****.com
Preparer Telephone
7132411064
Preparer Fax
7132418998
Prepared Date
2017-04-11 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D****** P****
Authorizer Telephone
7132412035
Authorizer Title
Integrity And Regulatory Mngr
Authorizer Email
D************@s****.com
Narrative
Lightning strike from a severe thunder storm struck the napoleonville pump station, napoleonville, louisiana. This disrupted communications in and out of napoleonville. The houston controller could not communicate with napoleonville pump station. The houston controller could not identify the immediate issue. He monitored the pipeline and found that the pressure began to drop along with the flow rate at other locations. Houston controller notified the field personnel to investigate. Twenty-eight minutes after the communications loss, the field supervisor was notified by neighboring company that a possible fire had occurred at the napoleonville pump station. Company personnel arrived on site, napoleonville pump station, reported fire to the houston control center. Actions were taken by company personnel to isolate the pipeline delivery segments from the mainline at napoleonville. The pump and piping to the affected centrifugal pump was isolated. The pump will be sent to a shop to be inspected for damage. An assessment of the napoleonville pump station facility addressed communications, plc, piping and two compressor units. The napoleonville pump station was inspected by technical personnel and the facility engineer. The two compressors were found fully operational. Facility engineer provided a statement of fitness to operate which was approved. A compressor unit started 7/16 at 15:52hrs. Lightning damaged equipment including the station plc. The plc hardware fault combined with the original wiring design of the napoleonville pump station caused the esd valves to close. The blow down valve remained closed and unit remained running. The running unit against closed valves led to the fire. Corrected lat. Long. 12/5/16 - updated estimated repairs to pump/motor, building at napoleonville pump station. Requested by PHMSA 3/22/17 to clarify "the scada and the control room were fully functional at the time of the accident. Any particular reason why this is possible?" answer the equipment affected by the lightning strike was at napoleonville, louisiana. The equipment at napoleonville was interrupted by the lightning strike which communicates with the houston control center. The houston control center lost communications with the napoleonville pump station. All other locations on that system were communicating back to the houston control center. 4/11/17 corrected hca to yes/eco.
| Report Received Date | 2016-08-05 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2016 |
| Report Number | 20160244 |
| Supplemental Number | 22261 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31174 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Shell Pipeline Co., L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 150 North Dairy Ashford Road Wck Bldg. A |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77079 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-07-14 11:42:00 |
| Location Latitude | 30.0142962 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -91.1162737 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 | Ethylene |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 16.91 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Controller |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-07-14 11:42:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | The Centrifugal Pump Was Isolated From The Mainline Pl System |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-07-14 12:29:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2016-07-14 13:01:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1153345 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Napoleonville Pump Station |
| Segment Name | Texas Louisiana Delivery System Ethylene (Tlds) |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70431 |
| Onshore City Name | Belle Rose |
| Onshore County Name | Assumption |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | Napoleonville |
| 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 | Pump |
| Installation Year | 2015 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Pump Station Struck By Lightning. Plc Equipment Failure, Communications Failure, Pump Suction & Discharge Valves Close, Pump Continues To Run, Pump Piping Involved In Fire. |
| 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 | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 850000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 150000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 1000000 |
| Accident Psig | 1338 |
| 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 | 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 houston controller saw a pressure drop on the tlds ethylene system. This indicated to him that the pump at napoleonville ps had shut down. Communications outage caused by the lightning strike at the station. No data was being transmitted to the houston control center from the napoleonville ps. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Natural Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Lightning |
| Natural Force Type | Lightning |
| Lightning Subtype | Direct Hit |
| Nf Extreme Weather Ind | Yes |
| Nf Other Ind | Yes |
| Nf Extreme Weather Details | Severe Thunder Storm |
| Preparer Name | R****** K***** |
| Preparer Title | Regulatory Specialist |
| Preparer Email | R*************@s****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7132411064 |
| Preparer Fax | 7132418998 |
| Prepared Date | 2017-04-11 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D****** P**** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7132412035 |
| Authorizer Title | Integrity And Regulatory Mngr |
| Authorizer Email | D************@s****.com |
| Narrative | Lightning strike from a severe thunder storm struck the napoleonville pump station, napoleonville, louisiana. This disrupted communications in and out of napoleonville. The houston controller could not communicate with napoleonville pump station. The houston controller could not identify the immediate issue. He monitored the pipeline and found that the pressure began to drop along with the flow rate at other locations. Houston controller notified the field personnel to investigate. Twenty-eight minutes after the communications loss, the field supervisor was notified by neighboring company that a possible fire had occurred at the napoleonville pump station. Company personnel arrived on site, napoleonville pump station, reported fire to the houston control center. Actions were taken by company personnel to isolate the pipeline delivery segments from the mainline at napoleonville. The pump and piping to the affected centrifugal pump was isolated. The pump will be sent to a shop to be inspected for damage. An assessment of the napoleonville pump station facility addressed communications, plc, piping and two compressor units. The napoleonville pump station was inspected by technical personnel and the facility engineer. The two compressors were found fully operational. Facility engineer provided a statement of fitness to operate which was approved. A compressor unit started 7/16 at 15:52hrs. Lightning damaged equipment including the station plc. The plc hardware fault combined with the original wiring design of the napoleonville pump station caused the esd valves to close. The blow down valve remained closed and unit remained running. The running unit against closed valves led to the fire. Corrected lat. Long. 12/5/16 - updated estimated repairs to pump/motor, building at napoleonville pump station. Requested by PHMSA 3/22/17 to clarify "the scada and the control room were fully functional at the time of the accident. Any particular reason why this is possible?" answer the equipment affected by the lightning strike was at napoleonville, louisiana. The equipment at napoleonville was interrupted by the lightning strike which communicates with the houston control center. The houston control center lost communications with the napoleonville pump station. All other locations on that system were communicating back to the houston control center. 4/11/17 corrected hca to yes/eco. |
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