Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2016-09-15 — CO
Operator
Western Refining Pipeline, Llc
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$953
Incident datetime
2016-09-15 12:03
Report number
Location
CO
Narrative
At 12:03 on 9/15/16, western refining pipeline, llc control center received a sump tank high alarm at its pecan station. The control room initiated a station shut down. Field personnel were notified, and upon arriving at the station discovered crude oil overflowing the station sump tank. Personnel then isolated the station and controlled the spill. Preliminary indications of the incident point towards the failure of a thermal relief valve causing the overfill. Western is sending the thermal relief valve to a third party for analysis to understand the cause of failure, and to prevent any future similar occurrences. Upon receiving the results, additional information will be provided within the supplemental report pertaining to this event. The control room controllers were cleared of causing or contributing to this event. Corrected trv that failed open. Corrected malfunctioning level transmitter not functioning properly during this event. A thorough evaluation of the failed trv did not reveal a definitive cause for the leak at its outlet. Interior components of the failed trv did not exhibit signs of wear or damage. Debris of unknown origin was found at the disc and disc holder that serves as a seat. No debris was found on the disc and disc holder components of the control or intact trv from a nearby location, for the benefit to the study. The trv did not have any signs of wear or damage that would lead US to believe there is a systemic problem with these trvs in our system. Third party examination of the trv revealed indications of debris in the valve leading US to believe there was some type of debris that became lodged in the trv which caused the trv to stick open allowing crude to flow into the sump tank. Crude oil entering our pipeline system goes through strainers. It is thought the debris causing the trv to stick open was from the recently commissioned meter station. The independent sump high level alarm worked as it was intended by initiating a pipeline shutdown sequence and alerting the control center of the high level condition. Upon receiving the alarm, control center operator also executed pipeline shutdown commands. A sump level transmitter, which was malfunctioning during the event, controlled the automatic start/stop of the sump pump. The transmitter prevented the sump pump from operating, which allowed the sump to overfill sooner. The settings on the malfunctioning level transmitter were adjusted and corrected after the incident and before the sump was returned to service.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2016-10-14 00:00:00
Iyear
2016
Report Number
20160327
Supplemental Number
22457
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31574
Name
Western Refining Pipeline, Llc
Operator Street Address
1515 Arapahoe St. Tower 1; Suite 1600
Operator City Name
Denver
Operator State Abbreviation
CO
Operator Postal Code
80202
Local Datetime
2016-09-15 12:03:00
Location Latitude
33.05193
Location Longitude
-103.9874
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
4.5
Recovered Bbls
4.5
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Cpm Leak Detection System Or Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Calculations)
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-09-15 12:03:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2016-09-15 12:04:00
Restart Datetime
2016-09-17 08:10:00
On Site Datetime
2016-09-15 12:05:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2016-09-15 13:42:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1159084
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Pecan Station
Segment Name
Texnew Mex X
Onshore State Abbreviation
Nm
Onshore Postal Code
88202
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Chavez
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
T0.00
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Tank, Including Attached Appurtenances
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Sump
Installation Year
2016
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
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
54
Est Cost Prop Damage
953
Est Cost Emergency
6035
Est Cost Environmental
3951
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
10993
Accident Psig
0.25
Mop Psig
0.25
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
No
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Instrumentation Ind
Yes
Relief Valve Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
See Part H Narrative.
Preparer Name
D*** R*******
Preparer Title
Regulatory Compliance Supervisor
Preparer Email
D************@w**.com
Preparer Telephone
(505) 632-8006
Preparer Fax
(505) 632-4021
Prepared Date
2017-07-06 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D*** R*******
Authorizer Telephone
(505) 632-8006
Authorizer Title
Regulatory Compliance Supervisor
Authorizer Email
D************@w**.com
Narrative
At 12:03 on 9/15/16, western refining pipeline, llc control center received a sump tank high alarm at its pecan station. The control room initiated a station shut down. Field personnel were notified, and upon arriving at the station discovered crude oil overflowing the station sump tank. Personnel then isolated the station and controlled the spill. Preliminary indications of the incident point towards the failure of a thermal relief valve causing the overfill. Western is sending the thermal relief valve to a third party for analysis to understand the cause of failure, and to prevent any future similar occurrences. Upon receiving the results, additional information will be provided within the supplemental report pertaining to this event. The control room controllers were cleared of causing or contributing to this event. Corrected trv that failed open. Corrected malfunctioning level transmitter not functioning properly during this event. A thorough evaluation of the failed trv did not reveal a definitive cause for the leak at its outlet. Interior components of the failed trv did not exhibit signs of wear or damage. Debris of unknown origin was found at the disc and disc holder that serves as a seat. No debris was found on the disc and disc holder components of the control or intact trv from a nearby location, for the benefit to the study. The trv did not have any signs of wear or damage that would lead US to believe there is a systemic problem with these trvs in our system. Third party examination of the trv revealed indications of debris in the valve leading US to believe there was some type of debris that became lodged in the trv which caused the trv to stick open allowing crude to flow into the sump tank. Crude oil entering our pipeline system goes through strainers. It is thought the debris causing the trv to stick open was from the recently commissioned meter station. The independent sump high level alarm worked as it was intended by initiating a pipeline shutdown sequence and alerting the control center of the high level condition. Upon receiving the alarm, control center operator also executed pipeline shutdown commands. A sump level transmitter, which was malfunctioning during the event, controlled the automatic start/stop of the sump pump. The transmitter prevented the sump pump from operating, which allowed the sump to overfill sooner. The settings on the malfunctioning level transmitter were adjusted and corrected after the incident and before the sump was returned to service.
| Report Received Date | 2016-10-14 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2016 |
| Report Number | 20160327 |
| Supplemental Number | 22457 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31574 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Western Refining Pipeline, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 1515 Arapahoe St. Tower 1; Suite 1600 |
| Operator City Name | Denver |
| Operator State Abbreviation | CO |
| Operator Postal Code | 80202 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-09-15 12:03:00 |
| Location Latitude | 33.05193 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -103.9874 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 4.5 |
| Recovered Bbls | 4.5 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Cpm Leak Detection System Or Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Calculations) |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-09-15 12:03:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2016-09-15 12:04:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2016-09-17 08:10:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-09-15 12:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2016-09-15 13:42:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1159084 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Pecan Station |
| Segment Name | Texnew Mex X |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Nm |
| Onshore Postal Code | 88202 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Chavez |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | T0.00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Tank, Including Attached Appurtenances |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Sump |
| Installation Year | 2016 |
| 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 | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 54 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 953 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 6035 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 3951 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 10993 |
| Accident Psig | 0.25 |
| Mop Psig | 0.25 |
| 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 | No |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Instrumentation Ind | Yes |
| Relief Valve Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | See Part H Narrative. |
| Preparer Name | D*** R******* |
| Preparer Title | Regulatory Compliance Supervisor |
| Preparer Email | D************@w**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | (505) 632-8006 |
| Preparer Fax | (505) 632-4021 |
| Prepared Date | 2017-07-06 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D*** R******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | (505) 632-8006 |
| Authorizer Title | Regulatory Compliance Supervisor |
| Authorizer Email | D************@w**.com |
| Narrative | At 12:03 on 9/15/16, western refining pipeline, llc control center received a sump tank high alarm at its pecan station. The control room initiated a station shut down. Field personnel were notified, and upon arriving at the station discovered crude oil overflowing the station sump tank. Personnel then isolated the station and controlled the spill. Preliminary indications of the incident point towards the failure of a thermal relief valve causing the overfill. Western is sending the thermal relief valve to a third party for analysis to understand the cause of failure, and to prevent any future similar occurrences. Upon receiving the results, additional information will be provided within the supplemental report pertaining to this event. The control room controllers were cleared of causing or contributing to this event. Corrected trv that failed open. Corrected malfunctioning level transmitter not functioning properly during this event. A thorough evaluation of the failed trv did not reveal a definitive cause for the leak at its outlet. Interior components of the failed trv did not exhibit signs of wear or damage. Debris of unknown origin was found at the disc and disc holder that serves as a seat. No debris was found on the disc and disc holder components of the control or intact trv from a nearby location, for the benefit to the study. The trv did not have any signs of wear or damage that would lead US to believe there is a systemic problem with these trvs in our system. Third party examination of the trv revealed indications of debris in the valve leading US to believe there was some type of debris that became lodged in the trv which caused the trv to stick open allowing crude to flow into the sump tank. Crude oil entering our pipeline system goes through strainers. It is thought the debris causing the trv to stick open was from the recently commissioned meter station. The independent sump high level alarm worked as it was intended by initiating a pipeline shutdown sequence and alerting the control center of the high level condition. Upon receiving the alarm, control center operator also executed pipeline shutdown commands. A sump level transmitter, which was malfunctioning during the event, controlled the automatic start/stop of the sump pump. The transmitter prevented the sump pump from operating, which allowed the sump to overfill sooner. The settings on the malfunctioning level transmitter were adjusted and corrected after the incident and before the sump was returned to service. |
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