Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2016-08-09 — TX
Operator
Equistar Chemicals, L.p.
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)
$1,500
Incident datetime
2016-08-09 18:40
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At approximately 6:40 p.M. On august 9, 2016, a leak was discovered on a pipeline pig trap closure located at a meter delivery station flowing material to a customer. An in-line inspection tool was run through the pipeline approximately 2.5 hours earlier to meet texas railroad commission pipeline safety regulations. The pipeline pig trap closure o-ring was determined to be the source of the leak and the failure was attributed to high pressure ethylene infiltration into the o-ring material, which resulted in damage to the o-ring when the trap was depressured and opened. The o-ring remained in place throughout three tool runs and the visible portion of the o-ring was inspected each time before the trap was closed. No indication of mechanical damage from repeated closing of the trap was observed.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2016-09-01 00:00:00
Iyear
2016
Report Number
20160273
Supplemental Number
21653
Report Type
Original
Operator Id
25146
Name
Equistar Chemicals, L.p.
Operator Street Address
16055 Space Center Blvd. Suite 350
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77062
Local Datetime
2016-08-09 18:40:00
Location Latitude
29.70158
Location Longitude
-95.0414
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
6.15
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
3rd Party, Delivery Site Operations Personnel
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-08-09 18:40:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2016-08-09 19:09:00
Restart Datetime
2016-08-09 19:47:00
On Site Datetime
2016-08-09 19:10:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-08-09 20:05:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1155777
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Chocolate Bayou System
Segment Name
56_dupont(Kipner) Laporte Lateral Cc Tap
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77571
Onshore City Name
Laporte
Onshore County Name
Harris
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
1.46
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Scraper/pig Trap
Installation Year
2011
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
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
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
200
Est Cost Prop Damage
1500
Est Cost Emergency
800
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
2500
Accident Psig
1564
Mop Psig
2160
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
56
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
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 location of the leak and all operating conditions were stable at the time of the incident. Additionally, the incident occurred at the beginning of the shift so fatigue was not considered a factor in this incident. The leak was caused by an o-ring failure in pig trap closure.
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
O-Ring
Additional Breakdown Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
G****** L* L******
Preparer Title
Hse Engineer
Preparer Email
G**************@l**.com
Preparer Telephone
281-709-0703
Preparer Fax
281-709-0759
Prepared Date
2016-09-01 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
M****** S* C*****
Authorizer Telephone
281-709-0626
Authorizer Title
Technical And Hse Manager
Authorizer Email
M*************@l**.com
Narrative
At approximately 6:40 p.M. On august 9, 2016, a leak was discovered on a pipeline pig trap closure located at a meter delivery station flowing material to a customer. An in-line inspection tool was run through the pipeline approximately 2.5 hours earlier to meet texas railroad commission pipeline safety regulations. The pipeline pig trap closure o-ring was determined to be the source of the leak and the failure was attributed to high pressure ethylene infiltration into the o-ring material, which resulted in damage to the o-ring when the trap was depressured and opened. The o-ring remained in place throughout three tool runs and the visible portion of the o-ring was inspected each time before the trap was closed. No indication of mechanical damage from repeated closing of the trap was observed.
| Report Received Date | 2016-09-01 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2016 |
| Report Number | 20160273 |
| Supplemental Number | 21653 |
| Report Type | Original |
| Operator Id | 25146 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Equistar Chemicals, L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 16055 Space Center Blvd. Suite 350 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77062 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-08-09 18:40:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.70158 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.0414 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 | 6.15 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | 3rd Party, Delivery Site Operations Personnel |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-08-09 18:40:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2016-08-09 19:09:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2016-08-09 19:47:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-08-09 19:10:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2016-08-09 20:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1155777 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 | Chocolate Bayou System |
| Segment Name | 56_dupont(Kipner) Laporte Lateral Cc Tap |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77571 |
| Onshore City Name | Laporte |
| Onshore County Name | Harris |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 1.46 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Scraper/pig Trap |
| Installation Year | 2011 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| 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 |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 200 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1500 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 800 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 2500 |
| Accident Psig | 1564 |
| Mop Psig | 2160 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 56 |
| 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 | 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 location of the leak and all operating conditions were stable at the time of the incident. Additionally, the incident occurred at the beginning of the shift so fatigue was not considered a factor in this incident. The leak was caused by an o-ring failure in pig trap closure. |
| 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 | O-Ring |
| Additional Breakdown Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | G****** L* L****** |
| Preparer Title | Hse Engineer |
| Preparer Email | G**************@l**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 281-709-0703 |
| Preparer Fax | 281-709-0759 |
| Prepared Date | 2016-09-01 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | M****** S* C***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 281-709-0626 |
| Authorizer Title | Technical And Hse Manager |
| Authorizer Email | M*************@l**.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 6:40 p.M. On august 9, 2016, a leak was discovered on a pipeline pig trap closure located at a meter delivery station flowing material to a customer. An in-line inspection tool was run through the pipeline approximately 2.5 hours earlier to meet texas railroad commission pipeline safety regulations. The pipeline pig trap closure o-ring was determined to be the source of the leak and the failure was attributed to high pressure ethylene infiltration into the o-ring material, which resulted in damage to the o-ring when the trap was depressured and opened. The o-ring remained in place throughout three tool runs and the visible portion of the o-ring was inspected each time before the trap was closed. No indication of mechanical damage from repeated closing of the trap was observed. |
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