GTG incident on 2018-11-23 — TX

Operator
Texas Eastern Transmission, Lp (Spectra Energy Partners, Lp)
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$100
Incident datetime
2018-11-23 16:24
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Original report: on friday, november 23, at 4:24 pm est lilly station had a station emergency shut down (esd). The esd was caused by a commercial power disruption. The emergency generator started though a circuit breaker tripped causing a loss of electrical power which resulted in full station esd activation. When the esd occurred, gas vented through the three station esd blow down valves because 30"x 24" (valve 19-149) failed to close automatically. Operator personnel manually closed valve 19-149 at 5:01 pm est. Total gas loss through the three esd blow down valves was calculated to be 23.24 mmscf. When the esd system activated, the control pilot assembly in the shafer actuator for valve 19-149 froze due to the presence of water (external to the control) and cold ambient temperatures which caused the valve to remain open. Supplemental report: 48 hr nrc report 1231234 prior to the november 23, 2018 incident at tetlp's lilly compressor station, tetlp had calculated the estimated gas loss for a normal esd event at lilly station to be 1.23 mmscf. Based on this calculation, an esd operating as anticipated would not be reportable, since the gas release would be well under the 3 mmscf threshold for reporting. However, one of the esd isolation valves unexpectedly did not close properly, so the actual gas loss was greater than the estimated 1.23 mmscf, and greater than the 3 mmscf reporting threshold. On nov. 24, the estimated gas loss was calculated to be more than 3 mmscf, and then was reported to nrc. This event has identified the need for additional training and awareness of the requirement to immediately report such events to internal personnel responsible for nrc notifications. The training will be developed and implemented system-wide in 2019.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2018-12-19 00:00:00
Iyear
2018
Report Number
20180133
Supplemental Number
31532
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Texas Eastern Transmission, Lp (Spectra Energy Partners, Lp)
Operator Street Address
915 North Eldridge Parkway
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Local Datetime
2018-11-23 16:24:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
-78.59106716
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-11-24 16:15:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
23240
Intentional Release
0
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Gas Was Able To Bypass The Compressor Station. Not Requiring Pipeline Shutdown.
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-11-23 16:24:00
On Site Datetime
2018-11-23 16:51:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Pa
Onshore Postal Code
15938
Onshore City Name
Lilly
Onshore County Name
Cambria
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
54.76
Pipe Fac Name
Line 19
Segment Name
Armagh-Lilly
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Mainline
Valve Mainline Type
Gate
Valve Manufacturer
30" X 24" Nordstrum Plug Valve
Installation Year
1961
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Compressor Station Emergency Shutdown.
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
671
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
100164
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
100
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
100264
Accident Psig
618
Mop Psig
1050
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
Accident Identifier
Controller
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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 control room personnel could not have caused the malfunction of the valve.
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
Block Valve Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
External Freezing In The Shafer Operator Control Pilot
Preparer Name
M**** S******
Preparer Title
Engineer
Preparer Email
M************@e*******.com
Preparer Telephone
713-627-4726
Authorizer Name
N***** A****
Authorizer Title
Supervisor
Authorizer Telephone
713-627-5008
Authorizer Email
N***********@e*******.com
Narrative
Original report: on friday, november 23, at 4:24 pm est lilly station had a station emergency shut down (esd). The esd was caused by a commercial power disruption. The emergency generator started though a circuit breaker tripped causing a loss of electrical power which resulted in full station esd activation. When the esd occurred, gas vented through the three station esd blow down valves because 30"x 24" (valve 19-149) failed to close automatically. Operator personnel manually closed valve 19-149 at 5:01 pm est. Total gas loss through the three esd blow down valves was calculated to be 23.24 mmscf. When the esd system activated, the control pilot assembly in the shafer actuator for valve 19-149 froze due to the presence of water (external to the control) and cold ambient temperatures which caused the valve to remain open. Supplemental report: 48 hr nrc report 1231234 prior to the november 23, 2018 incident at tetlp's lilly compressor station, tetlp had calculated the estimated gas loss for a normal esd event at lilly station to be 1.23 mmscf. Based on this calculation, an esd operating as anticipated would not be reportable, since the gas release would be well under the 3 mmscf threshold for reporting. However, one of the esd isolation valves unexpectedly did not close properly, so the actual gas loss was greater than the estimated 1.23 mmscf, and greater than the 3 mmscf reporting threshold. On nov. 24, the estimated gas loss was calculated to be more than 3 mmscf, and then was reported to nrc. This event has identified the need for additional training and awareness of the requirement to immediately report such events to internal personnel responsible for nrc notifications. The training will be developed and implemented system-wide in 2019.
Report Received Date 2018-12-19 00:00:00
Iyear 2018
Report Number 20180133
Supplemental Number 31532
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 19235 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Texas Eastern Transmission, Lp (Spectra Energy Partners, Lp)
Operator Street Address 915 North Eldridge Parkway
Operator City Name Houston
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77079
Local Datetime 2018-11-23 16:24:00
Location Latitude 40.43803446 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -78.59106716 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Num 1231182 NRC Report How to search
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2018-11-24 16:15:00
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 23240
Intentional Release 0
Accompanying Liquid 0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind No
Shutdown Explain Gas Was Able To Bypass The Compressor Station. Not Requiring Pipeline Shutdown.
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Num Pub Evacuated 0
Incident Identified Datetime 2018-11-23 16:24:00
On Site Datetime 2018-11-23 16:51:00
On Off Shore Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation Pa
Onshore Postal Code 15938
Onshore City Name Lilly
Onshore County Name Cambria
Designated Location Milepost
Designated Name 54.76
Pipe Fac Name Line 19
Segment Name Armagh-Lilly
Federal No
Location Type Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing No
Pipe Facility Type Interstate
System Part Involved Onshore Compressor Station Equipment And Piping
Item Involved Valve
Valve Type Mainline
Valve Mainline Type Gate
Valve Manufacturer 30" X 24" Nordstrum Plug Valve
Installation Year 1961
Manufactured Year Unknown
Material Involved Carbon Steel
Release Type Other
Release Type Details Compressor Station Emergency Shutdown.
Class Location Type Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca No
Pir Radius 671
Heat Damage Ind No
Non Heat Damage Ind No
Hca Fatalities Ind No
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 100164
Est Cost Intentional Release 0
Est Cost Prop Damage 100
Est Cost Emergency 0
Est Cost Other 0
Prpty 100264
Accident Psig 618
Mop Psig 1050
Mop Cfr Section 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Pipeline Function Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind Yes
Scada Operating Ind Yes
Scada Functional Ind Yes
Scada Detection Ind Yes
Scada Conf Ind Yes
Accident Identifier Controller
Operator Type Operator Employee
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 control room personnel could not have caused the malfunction of the valve.
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
Block Valve Ind Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind Yes
Eq Additional Other Details External Freezing In The Shafer Operator Control Pilot
Preparer Name M**** S******
Preparer Title Engineer
Preparer Email M************@e*******.com
Preparer Telephone 713-627-4726
Authorizer Name N***** A****
Authorizer Title Supervisor
Authorizer Telephone 713-627-5008
Authorizer Email N***********@e*******.com
Narrative Original report: on friday, november 23, at 4:24 pm est lilly station had a station emergency shut down (esd). The esd was caused by a commercial power disruption. The emergency generator started though a circuit breaker tripped causing a loss of electrical power which resulted in full station esd activation. When the esd occurred, gas vented through the three station esd blow down valves because 30"x 24" (valve 19-149) failed to close automatically. Operator personnel manually closed valve 19-149 at 5:01 pm est. Total gas loss through the three esd blow down valves was calculated to be 23.24 mmscf. When the esd system activated, the control pilot assembly in the shafer actuator for valve 19-149 froze due to the presence of water (external to the control) and cold ambient temperatures which caused the valve to remain open. Supplemental report: 48 hr nrc report 1231234 prior to the november 23, 2018 incident at tetlp's lilly compressor station, tetlp had calculated the estimated gas loss for a normal esd event at lilly station to be 1.23 mmscf. Based on this calculation, an esd operating as anticipated would not be reportable, since the gas release would be well under the 3 mmscf threshold for reporting. However, one of the esd isolation valves unexpectedly did not close properly, so the actual gas loss was greater than the estimated 1.23 mmscf, and greater than the 3 mmscf reporting threshold. On nov. 24, the estimated gas loss was calculated to be more than 3 mmscf, and then was reported to nrc. This event has identified the need for additional training and awareness of the requirement to immediately report such events to internal personnel responsible for nrc notifications. The training will be developed and implemented system-wide in 2019.

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