Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2018-06-11 — TX
Operator
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Cause
Incorrect Operation
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)
$800,000
Incident datetime
2018-06-11 13:20
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
In the process of seal repair a fire broke out on the ifr of gasoline tank 573. All workers were safely evacuated from inside tank. No product released to ground. Fire department and mutual aid responded to fire and extinguished fire. Root cause analysis was conducted and finalized by smes. Most likely, gasoline vapors accumulated in the rim space due to gaps between the tank wall and the primary seal allowing vapors to pass by the primary seal and into the rim space. The largest observed gaps between the primary seal shoe and the tank wall were at the locations of the butt straps and rivets of the tank wall. Gasoline vapors likely became trapped and accumulated in the space between the installed section of new secondary seal and the primary seal, creating a flammable atmosphere. The most probable cause of ignition was contact between the flammable mixture of gasoline vapors in the rim space with a hot metal surface above the auto ignition temperature of gasoline, at the location where a screw was being used to install the secondary seal material. The investigation team also obtained that if a screw being installed with a pneumatic impact wrench into the z-plate could generate enough heat to raise the temperature above the auto ignition point of gasoline, which is in the range of 480-530 �f.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2018-07-02 00:00:00
Iyear
2018
Report Number
20180189
Supplemental Number
33403
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31174
Name
Shell Pipeline Co., L.p.
Operator Street Address
150 North Dairy Ashford Road Wck Bldg. A
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Local Datetime
2018-06-11 13:20:00
Location Latitude
33.8424197
Location Longitude
-118.2501552
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
0.1
Recovered Bbls
0.1
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-06-11 13:20:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2018-06-11 13:20:00
Restart Datetime
2018-06-12 09:45:00
On Site Datetime
2018-06-11 13:20:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-06-11 15:33:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1214986
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Carson Tank Terminal
Segment Name
Carson
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ca
Onshore Postal Code
90810
Onshore City Name
Carson
Onshore County Name
Los Angeles
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
0
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Tank, Including Attached Appurtenances
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Tank/vessel
Tank Vessel Subtype
Roof/roof Seal
Installation Year
1927
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
The Investigation Team Concluded That Flammable Gasoline Vapors Accumulated In The Rim Space And Ignited During The Installation Of The Secondary Seal. The Most Probable Cause Of Ignition Was Contact Between The Flammable Mixture Of Gasoline Vapors In The Rim Space With A Hot Metal Surface Above The Auto Ignition Temperature Of Gasoline, At The Location Where A Screw Was Being Used To Install The Secondary Seal Material.
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
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
150000
Est Cost Prop Damage
800000
Est Cost Emergency
320000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
100000
Est Cost Other Details
Miscellaneous
Prpty
1370000
Accident Psig
0
Mop Psig
0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Pipeline Function
> 20% Smys Regulated Transmission
Scada In Place Ind
No
Cpm In Place Ind
No
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the accident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
The Construction Crew Did Not Anticipate That Flammable Gasoline Could Accumulated The In The Rim Space And Also Could Ignite During The Installation Of The Secondary Seal.
Related Other Ind
Yes
Operation Related Details
The Construction Crew Did Not Anticipate That Flammable Gasoline Could Accumulated The In The Rim Space And Also Could Ignite During The Installation Of The Secondary Seal.
Category Type
Normal Operating Conditions
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
S**** I****
Preparer Title
Intergrity Management And Regulatory Engineer
Preparer Email
S**********@s****.com
Preparer Telephone
832-762-2666
Prepared Date
2020-03-03 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D****** P****
Authorizer Telephone
832-762-2553
Authorizer Title
Integrity And Regulatory Services Manager
Authorizer Email
D************@s****.com
Narrative
In the process of seal repair a fire broke out on the ifr of gasoline tank 573. All workers were safely evacuated from inside tank. No product released to ground. Fire department and mutual aid responded to fire and extinguished fire. Root cause analysis was conducted and finalized by smes. Most likely, gasoline vapors accumulated in the rim space due to gaps between the tank wall and the primary seal allowing vapors to pass by the primary seal and into the rim space. The largest observed gaps between the primary seal shoe and the tank wall were at the locations of the butt straps and rivets of the tank wall. Gasoline vapors likely became trapped and accumulated in the space between the installed section of new secondary seal and the primary seal, creating a flammable atmosphere. The most probable cause of ignition was contact between the flammable mixture of gasoline vapors in the rim space with a hot metal surface above the auto ignition temperature of gasoline, at the location where a screw was being used to install the secondary seal material. The investigation team also obtained that if a screw being installed with a pneumatic impact wrench into the z-plate could generate enough heat to raise the temperature above the auto ignition point of gasoline, which is in the range of 480-530 �f.
| Report Received Date | 2018-07-02 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2018 |
| Report Number | 20180189 |
| Supplemental Number | 33403 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31174 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Shell Pipeline Co., L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 150 North Dairy Ashford Road Wck Bldg. A |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77079 |
| Local Datetime | 2018-06-11 13:20:00 |
| Location Latitude | 33.8424197 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -118.2501552 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 | 0.1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.1 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2018-06-11 13:20:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2018-06-11 13:20:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2018-06-12 09:45:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2018-06-11 13:20:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2018-06-11 15:33:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1214986 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Carson Tank Terminal |
| Segment Name | Carson |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ca |
| Onshore Postal Code | 90810 |
| Onshore City Name | Carson |
| Onshore County Name | Los Angeles |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 0 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Tank, Including Attached Appurtenances |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Tank/vessel |
| Tank Vessel Subtype | Roof/roof Seal |
| Installation Year | 1927 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | The Investigation Team Concluded That Flammable Gasoline Vapors Accumulated In The Rim Space And Ignited During The Installation Of The Secondary Seal. The Most Probable Cause Of Ignition Was Contact Between The Flammable Mixture Of Gasoline Vapors In The Rim Space With A Hot Metal Surface Above The Auto Ignition Temperature Of Gasoline, At The Location Where A Screw Was Being Used To Install The Secondary Seal Material. |
| 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 | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 150000 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 800000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 320000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 100000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Miscellaneous |
| Prpty | 1370000 |
| Accident Psig | 0 |
| Mop Psig | 0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | > 20% Smys Regulated Transmission |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Cpm In Place Ind | No |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the accident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | The Construction Crew Did Not Anticipate That Flammable Gasoline Could Accumulated The In The Rim Space And Also Could Ignite During The Installation Of The Secondary Seal. |
| Related Other Ind | Yes |
| Operation Related Details | The Construction Crew Did Not Anticipate That Flammable Gasoline Could Accumulated The In The Rim Space And Also Could Ignite During The Installation Of The Secondary Seal. |
| Category Type | Normal Operating Conditions |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | S**** I**** |
| Preparer Title | Intergrity Management And Regulatory Engineer |
| Preparer Email | S**********@s****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 832-762-2666 |
| Prepared Date | 2020-03-03 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D****** P**** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 832-762-2553 |
| Authorizer Title | Integrity And Regulatory Services Manager |
| Authorizer Email | D************@s****.com |
| Narrative | In the process of seal repair a fire broke out on the ifr of gasoline tank 573. All workers were safely evacuated from inside tank. No product released to ground. Fire department and mutual aid responded to fire and extinguished fire. Root cause analysis was conducted and finalized by smes. Most likely, gasoline vapors accumulated in the rim space due to gaps between the tank wall and the primary seal allowing vapors to pass by the primary seal and into the rim space. The largest observed gaps between the primary seal shoe and the tank wall were at the locations of the butt straps and rivets of the tank wall. Gasoline vapors likely became trapped and accumulated in the space between the installed section of new secondary seal and the primary seal, creating a flammable atmosphere. The most probable cause of ignition was contact between the flammable mixture of gasoline vapors in the rim space with a hot metal surface above the auto ignition temperature of gasoline, at the location where a screw was being used to install the secondary seal material. The investigation team also obtained that if a screw being installed with a pneumatic impact wrench into the z-plate could generate enough heat to raise the temperature above the auto ignition point of gasoline, which is in the range of 480-530 �f. |
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