Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2018-05-01 — GA
Operator
Colonial Pipeline Co
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Commodity
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$8,000
Incident datetime
2018-05-01 20:00
Report number
Location
GA
Narrative
On may 1, 2018, at around 20:00, the "b" operator at mitchell junction began making his yard manifold inspections. When he got to the upper pond next to the line 3 and line 4 crossover valves, he noticed a sheen on the pond and contacted the "a" operator on duty. The "a" operator contacted the operations manager (om) around 20:30, to inform him of indications there was a sheen on the upper secondary containment pond near the cross over valves at mitchell junction. The senior operator was called out to determine the nature of the sheen and confirmed it was gasoline. Around 21:00 the om instructed the mitchell operator to contact the colonial control center to shut down lines 03, 04 and 27. There was no known volume to disclose at this time but courtesy notifications were made later that evening to the following agencies: vdea, vascc, vdem, and cumberland county emergency management/fire chief. Project and district personnel were contacted around 21:00. Contractor and maintenance personnel were contacted to further explore the source of the sheen and later found a 3' x 3' area of product stained surface soil located over the top of line 27 and adjacent to a culvert pipe that discharges to the secondary containment pond. Boom was placed on the secondary containment pond and, as a precaution, the downstream storm water retention pond. Additional equipment and personnel were called in to assist with excavating the area the following morning. By the next morning (may 2), there was no visible sign of product on the surface of the secondary containment pond. Soil was excavated and stockpiled on plastic pending off-site disposal to expose line 27 for inspection. The source of the leak was determined to be a hairline crack on the weld of a historical repair. The prior repair was a bolt-on-clamp that was installed in 1986 (based on prior break & leak report) to address hairline crack in the pipeline. The leak occurred along the longitudal seam weld of the prior repair. Observations by ned field project manager and project inspector indicated that the weld was a fillet weld. After determining the repair that would be necessary (see below), colonial confirmed that costs to respond to the incident were greater than $50k, and made notifications to the nrc and PHMSA aid on may 2, 2018. The leak was repaired by placing a type b pressure containing sleeve over the prior repair to contain the leak. The type b sleeve was a stacked sleeve repair. Final report update: an incident analysis was completed. While a metallurgical analysis was not completed on the failed weld, an engineering review of available information indicates that the crack in the longitudinal filet weld of the bolt-on-clamp likely formed due to a combination of factors including the installation methods and techniques of the prior repair, the design of the repair (I.E., use of a longitudinal filet weld and bolt-on-clamp vs type b pressure containing sleeve) and fatigue of the weld due to pressure cycling on line 27.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2018-05-30 00:00:00
Iyear
2018
Report Number
20180157
Supplemental Number
30921
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2552
Name
Colonial Pipeline Co
Operator Street Address
1000 Lake St.
Operator City Name
Alpharetta
Operator State Abbreviation
GA
Operator Postal Code
30009
Local Datetime
2018-05-01 20:00:00
Location Latitude
37.663059
Location Longitude
-78.236589
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Gasoline (Non-Ethanol)
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.07
Recovered Bbls
0.05
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-05-01 20:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2018-05-01 20:57:00
Restart Datetime
2018-05-04 03:30:00
On Site Datetime
2018-05-01 20:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-05-02 09:09:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1210925
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Line 27 / Mitchell Junction
Segment Name
Mitchell Junction To Powhattan Station
Onshore State Abbreviation
Va
Onshore Postal Code
23038
Onshore City Name
Columbia
Onshore County Name
Cumberland
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
946
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
72
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Weld, Including Heat-Affected Zone
Weld Subtype
Fillet Weld
Installation Year
1986
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0
Rel Water Name
Mitchell Junction Upper Pond Near Crossover Valves For Line 03 And Line 04 (Estimated Amount Released In Water Was 0.006 Barrels; System Would Not Allow Entry Of That Volume)
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
10
Est Cost Prop Damage
8000
Est Cost Emergency
166000
Est Cost Environmental
86000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
260010
Accident Psig
577
Mop Psig
1111
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
144759
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
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 line was operating within normal limits so an investigation of the controller actions or control room issues was not necessary.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details
Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Field Exam Ind
Yes
Failure Type
Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Other Factor
Yes
Other Factor Details
Unknown
Additional Crack Ind
Yes
Collected Data Ind
Yes
Axial Magnetic Flx Lkg Ind
Yes
Cir Trn Wave Mgn Flx Lkg Ind
Yes
Geometry Deformation Ind
Yes
Axial Recent Year
2007
Circ Wave Recent Year
2017
Geometry Recent Year
2007
Other Recent Year
2017
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
A**** T***********
Preparer Title
Compliance Coordinator
Preparer Email
A******@c******.com
Preparer Telephone
410 970 2157
Prepared Date
2018-09-07 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
M*** P*****
Authorizer Telephone
678 762 2531
Authorizer Title
Manager Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email
M******@c******.com
Narrative
On may 1, 2018, at around 20:00, the "b" operator at mitchell junction began making his yard manifold inspections. When he got to the upper pond next to the line 3 and line 4 crossover valves, he noticed a sheen on the pond and contacted the "a" operator on duty. The "a" operator contacted the operations manager (om) around 20:30, to inform him of indications there was a sheen on the upper secondary containment pond near the cross over valves at mitchell junction. The senior operator was called out to determine the nature of the sheen and confirmed it was gasoline. Around 21:00 the om instructed the mitchell operator to contact the colonial control center to shut down lines 03, 04 and 27. There was no known volume to disclose at this time but courtesy notifications were made later that evening to the following agencies: vdea, vascc, vdem, and cumberland county emergency management/fire chief. Project and district personnel were contacted around 21:00. Contractor and maintenance personnel were contacted to further explore the source of the sheen and later found a 3' x 3' area of product stained surface soil located over the top of line 27 and adjacent to a culvert pipe that discharges to the secondary containment pond. Boom was placed on the secondary containment pond and, as a precaution, the downstream storm water retention pond. Additional equipment and personnel were called in to assist with excavating the area the following morning. By the next morning (may 2), there was no visible sign of product on the surface of the secondary containment pond. Soil was excavated and stockpiled on plastic pending off-site disposal to expose line 27 for inspection. The source of the leak was determined to be a hairline crack on the weld of a historical repair. The prior repair was a bolt-on-clamp that was installed in 1986 (based on prior break & leak report) to address hairline crack in the pipeline. The leak occurred along the longitudal seam weld of the prior repair. Observations by ned field project manager and project inspector indicated that the weld was a fillet weld. After determining the repair that would be necessary (see below), colonial confirmed that costs to respond to the incident were greater than $50k, and made notifications to the nrc and PHMSA aid on may 2, 2018. The leak was repaired by placing a type b pressure containing sleeve over the prior repair to contain the leak. The type b sleeve was a stacked sleeve repair. Final report update: an incident analysis was completed. While a metallurgical analysis was not completed on the failed weld, an engineering review of available information indicates that the crack in the longitudinal filet weld of the bolt-on-clamp likely formed due to a combination of factors including the installation methods and techniques of the prior repair, the design of the repair (I.E., use of a longitudinal filet weld and bolt-on-clamp vs type b pressure containing sleeve) and fatigue of the weld due to pressure cycling on line 27.
| Report Received Date | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2018 |
| Report Number | 20180157 |
| Supplemental Number | 30921 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2552 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Colonial Pipeline Co |
| Operator Street Address | 1000 Lake St. |
| Operator City Name | Alpharetta |
| Operator State Abbreviation | GA |
| Operator Postal Code | 30009 |
| Local Datetime | 2018-05-01 20:00:00 |
| Location Latitude | 37.663059 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -78.236589 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Gasoline (Non-Ethanol) |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.07 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.05 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2018-05-01 20:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2018-05-01 20:57:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2018-05-04 03:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2018-05-01 20:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2018-05-02 09:09:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1210925 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Line 27 / Mitchell Junction |
| Segment Name | Mitchell Junction To Powhattan Station |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Va |
| Onshore Postal Code | 23038 |
| Onshore City Name | Columbia |
| Onshore County Name | Cumberland |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 946 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 72 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Weld, Including Heat-Affected Zone |
| Weld Subtype | Fillet Weld |
| Installation Year | 1986 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0 |
| Rel Water Name | Mitchell Junction Upper Pond Near Crossover Valves For Line 03 And Line 04 (Estimated Amount Released In Water Was 0.006 Barrels; System Would Not Allow Entry Of That Volume) |
| 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 | 10 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 8000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 166000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 86000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 260010 |
| Accident Psig | 577 |
| Mop Psig | 1111 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 144759 |
| 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 | 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 line was operating within normal limits so an investigation of the controller actions or control room issues was not necessary. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld |
| Cause Details | Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related |
| Field Exam Ind | Yes |
| Failure Type | Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related |
| Other Factor | Yes |
| Other Factor Details | Unknown |
| Additional Crack Ind | Yes |
| Collected Data Ind | Yes |
| Axial Magnetic Flx Lkg Ind | Yes |
| Cir Trn Wave Mgn Flx Lkg Ind | Yes |
| Geometry Deformation Ind | Yes |
| Axial Recent Year | 2007 |
| Circ Wave Recent Year | 2017 |
| Geometry Recent Year | 2007 |
| Other Recent Year | 2017 |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | No |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | A**** T*********** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Coordinator |
| Preparer Email | A******@c******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 410 970 2157 |
| Prepared Date | 2018-09-07 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | M*** P***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 678 762 2531 |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Pipeline Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | M******@c******.com |
| Narrative | On may 1, 2018, at around 20:00, the "b" operator at mitchell junction began making his yard manifold inspections. When he got to the upper pond next to the line 3 and line 4 crossover valves, he noticed a sheen on the pond and contacted the "a" operator on duty. The "a" operator contacted the operations manager (om) around 20:30, to inform him of indications there was a sheen on the upper secondary containment pond near the cross over valves at mitchell junction. The senior operator was called out to determine the nature of the sheen and confirmed it was gasoline. Around 21:00 the om instructed the mitchell operator to contact the colonial control center to shut down lines 03, 04 and 27. There was no known volume to disclose at this time but courtesy notifications were made later that evening to the following agencies: vdea, vascc, vdem, and cumberland county emergency management/fire chief. Project and district personnel were contacted around 21:00. Contractor and maintenance personnel were contacted to further explore the source of the sheen and later found a 3' x 3' area of product stained surface soil located over the top of line 27 and adjacent to a culvert pipe that discharges to the secondary containment pond. Boom was placed on the secondary containment pond and, as a precaution, the downstream storm water retention pond. Additional equipment and personnel were called in to assist with excavating the area the following morning. By the next morning (may 2), there was no visible sign of product on the surface of the secondary containment pond. Soil was excavated and stockpiled on plastic pending off-site disposal to expose line 27 for inspection. The source of the leak was determined to be a hairline crack on the weld of a historical repair. The prior repair was a bolt-on-clamp that was installed in 1986 (based on prior break & leak report) to address hairline crack in the pipeline. The leak occurred along the longitudal seam weld of the prior repair. Observations by ned field project manager and project inspector indicated that the weld was a fillet weld. After determining the repair that would be necessary (see below), colonial confirmed that costs to respond to the incident were greater than $50k, and made notifications to the nrc and PHMSA aid on may 2, 2018. The leak was repaired by placing a type b pressure containing sleeve over the prior repair to contain the leak. The type b sleeve was a stacked sleeve repair. Final report update: an incident analysis was completed. While a metallurgical analysis was not completed on the failed weld, an engineering review of available information indicates that the crack in the longitudinal filet weld of the bolt-on-clamp likely formed due to a combination of factors including the installation methods and techniques of the prior repair, the design of the repair (I.E., use of a longitudinal filet weld and bolt-on-clamp vs type b pressure containing sleeve) and fatigue of the weld due to pressure cycling on line 27. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA