Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2016-08-12 — TX
Operator
Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals Lp
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
4 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$3,000
Incident datetime
2016-08-12 20:40
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
A construction project was underway to tie in new tank lines to the 30" seaway header in the central manifold of the nederland terminal. The 30" seaway header had been taken out of service, drained of product, and mechanically and electrically locked out / tagged out prior to the contractors commencing the work activity which was underway at the time of the incident. A contractor was performing welding in connection with the project when the incident occurred. Specifically, the welding contractor was welding flanges onto the header. A subcontractor of the welding contractor was providing the isolation services in connection with the project, wherein the subcontractor installed specialty mechanical isolation tools in both ends of the header section on which the welding was being performed. A flash fire occurred as a result of hydrocarbon vapors being ignited by the welding performed by the contractor. A minor ensuing residual fire was out before the fire department arrived. While a courtesy notice of the incident was provided to PHMSA, the incident was not previously reported to the nrc nor initially to PHMSA via the f 7000-1 written report because at the time of the incident this portion of the facility was not believed to be subject to PHMSA jurisdiction. An initial 7000-1 accident written report was submitted on september 22, 2017. A 3rd party investigation report concluded that the immediate cause of the incident was the failure of the mechanical isolation tools to isolate the flammable vapors within the header from the welding heat and arcing. Contributing causes to the incident were the contractors and subcontractors failure to follow specific installation and monitoring procedures associated with the specialty mechanical isolation tools in addition to the contractors and subcontractors lack of proper hazard recognition.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2017-09-22 00:00:00
Iyear
2016
Report Number
20170302
Supplemental Number
31126
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
39706
Name
Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals Lp
Operator Street Address
1300 Main Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2016-08-12 20:40:00
Location Latitude
29.99801
Location Longitude
-93.98994
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.1
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
4
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
4
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Independent Inspection Services Contractor - Non Operational Responsibilities
Incident Identified Datetime
2016-08-12 20:40:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
The Header Involved Was Shut In, Drained And Removed From Service Prior.
On Site Datetime
2016-08-12 20:41:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Required But Not Made
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Nederland Terminal
Segment Name
Central Manifold
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77627-4199
Onshore City Name
Nederland
Onshore County Name
Jefferson
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
0
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
Other
Item Involved Details
Mechanical Isolation Tools
Installation Year
2016
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Mechanical Isolation Tools Installed Into Both Ends Of Header Section During Welding Of Flanges Onto Header Section. Ignition Of Vapors While Contractor Welded Flanges.
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
5
Est Cost Prop Damage
3000
Est Cost Emergency
500
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
3505
Accident Psig
0
Mop Psig
285
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
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 30" header in the central manifold facility was not being remotely monitored as it had been taken out of service, drained of product, and mechanically and electrically locked out/tagged out prior to the contractors commencing the work activity which was underway at the time of the incident.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Other Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
T*** N*******
Preparer Title
Sr. Manager - Dot Compliance
Preparer Email
T***********@e*************.com
Preparer Telephone
281-637-6576
Preparer Fax
877-917-0448
Prepared Date
2018-10-30 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
T*** N*******
Authorizer Telephone
281-637-6576
Authorizer Title
Sr. Manager - Dot Compliance
Authorizer Email
T***********@e*************.com
Narrative
A construction project was underway to tie in new tank lines to the 30" seaway header in the central manifold of the nederland terminal. The 30" seaway header had been taken out of service, drained of product, and mechanically and electrically locked out / tagged out prior to the contractors commencing the work activity which was underway at the time of the incident. A contractor was performing welding in connection with the project when the incident occurred. Specifically, the welding contractor was welding flanges onto the header. A subcontractor of the welding contractor was providing the isolation services in connection with the project, wherein the subcontractor installed specialty mechanical isolation tools in both ends of the header section on which the welding was being performed. A flash fire occurred as a result of hydrocarbon vapors being ignited by the welding performed by the contractor. A minor ensuing residual fire was out before the fire department arrived. While a courtesy notice of the incident was provided to PHMSA, the incident was not previously reported to the nrc nor initially to PHMSA via the f 7000-1 written report because at the time of the incident this portion of the facility was not believed to be subject to PHMSA jurisdiction. An initial 7000-1 accident written report was submitted on september 22, 2017. A 3rd party investigation report concluded that the immediate cause of the incident was the failure of the mechanical isolation tools to isolate the flammable vapors within the header from the welding heat and arcing. Contributing causes to the incident were the contractors and subcontractors failure to follow specific installation and monitoring procedures associated with the specialty mechanical isolation tools in addition to the contractors and subcontractors lack of proper hazard recognition.
| Report Received Date | 2017-09-22 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2016 |
| Report Number | 20170302 |
| Supplemental Number | 31126 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 39706 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Sunoco Partners Marketing & Terminals Lp |
| Operator Street Address | 1300 Main Street |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2016-08-12 20:40:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.99801 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -93.98994 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 4 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 4 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Independent Inspection Services Contractor - Non Operational Responsibilities |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2016-08-12 20:40:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | The Header Involved Was Shut In, Drained And Removed From Service Prior. |
| On Site Datetime | 2016-08-12 20:41:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | Nrc Notification Required But Not Made NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Nederland Terminal |
| Segment Name | Central Manifold |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77627-4199 |
| Onshore City Name | Nederland |
| Onshore County Name | Jefferson |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 0 |
| 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 | Other |
| Item Involved Details | Mechanical Isolation Tools |
| Installation Year | 2016 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Mechanical Isolation Tools Installed Into Both Ends Of Header Section During Welding Of Flanges Onto Header Section. Ignition Of Vapors While Contractor Welded Flanges. |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 5 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 3000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 500 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 3505 |
| Accident Psig | 0 |
| Mop Psig | 285 |
| 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 | 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 30" header in the central manifold facility was not being remotely monitored as it had been taken out of service, drained of product, and mechanically and electrically locked out/tagged out prior to the contractors commencing the work activity which was underway at the time of the incident. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Other Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | T*** N******* |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Manager - Dot Compliance |
| Preparer Email | T***********@e*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 281-637-6576 |
| Preparer Fax | 877-917-0448 |
| Prepared Date | 2018-10-30 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | T*** N******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 281-637-6576 |
| Authorizer Title | Sr. Manager - Dot Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | T***********@e*************.com |
| Narrative | A construction project was underway to tie in new tank lines to the 30" seaway header in the central manifold of the nederland terminal. The 30" seaway header had been taken out of service, drained of product, and mechanically and electrically locked out / tagged out prior to the contractors commencing the work activity which was underway at the time of the incident. A contractor was performing welding in connection with the project when the incident occurred. Specifically, the welding contractor was welding flanges onto the header. A subcontractor of the welding contractor was providing the isolation services in connection with the project, wherein the subcontractor installed specialty mechanical isolation tools in both ends of the header section on which the welding was being performed. A flash fire occurred as a result of hydrocarbon vapors being ignited by the welding performed by the contractor. A minor ensuing residual fire was out before the fire department arrived. While a courtesy notice of the incident was provided to PHMSA, the incident was not previously reported to the nrc nor initially to PHMSA via the f 7000-1 written report because at the time of the incident this portion of the facility was not believed to be subject to PHMSA jurisdiction. An initial 7000-1 accident written report was submitted on september 22, 2017. A 3rd party investigation report concluded that the immediate cause of the incident was the failure of the mechanical isolation tools to isolate the flammable vapors within the header from the welding heat and arcing. Contributing causes to the incident were the contractors and subcontractors failure to follow specific installation and monitoring procedures associated with the specialty mechanical isolation tools in addition to the contractors and subcontractors lack of proper hazard recognition. |
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