Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2018-10-15 — TX
Operator
Harvest Midstream Company
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$15,000
Incident datetime
2018-10-15 05:25
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On october 15, 2018, a pipe spool used for chemical injection at the dilley station on the pearsall pipeline near the pig launcher ruptured, releasing approximately 675 barrels of crude oil. A third-party root cause analysis performed by elements material technology determined that the cause of the rupture was overpressure. The pipe sample did not show signs of any material defects or corrosion. Six days prior to the rupture, on october 9, 2018, a cleaning pig was run through the pearsall pipeline. Following that pigging operation, the bypass valve (normal mainline block valve) was left in the closed position, the inlet valve (launcher block valve) was left in the open position, and the launcher outlet valve was left in the open position. Product was able to move through the system with the valves in this configuration by following a flow path through the launcher. However, the pipe spool did not have over pressure protection because the bypass valve (normal mainline block valve) was not in the open position. Pressure built up in the pipe spool as the pump continued to inject chemicals, which eventually led to the rupture. Direct cause-overpressure; system cause-inadequate hazard analysis preventative measure to keep from reoccurring the chemical injection point was moved to an alternate location eliminating the possibility of over pressurization. All chemical injection locations on the pearsall pipeline have been evaluated to confirm overpressure protection is adequate in the event a valve is left closed.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2018-11-16 00:00:00
Iyear
2018
Report Number
20180355
Supplemental Number
32061
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
30782
Name
Harvest Midstream Company
Operator Street Address
1111 Travis
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2018-10-15 05:25:00
Location Latitude
28.6842147
Location Longitude
-99.094517
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
675
Recovered Bbls
650
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Truck Driver
Incident Identified Datetime
2018-10-15 05:25:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2018-10-15 04:35:00
Restart Datetime
2018-10-16 08:30:00
On Site Datetime
2018-10-15 06:05:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2018-10-15 07:25:00
Nrc Rpt Num
122749
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Dilley Station
Segment Name
Dilley Station
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78017
Onshore City Name
Dilley
Onshore County Name
Frio
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
755+25 Of Tee
Federal
No
Location Type
Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
8
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.219
Pipe Smys
46000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
None
Installation Year
Unknown
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Rupture
Rupture Orient
Longitudinal
Rupture Width
2
Rupture Length
8
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Vegetation Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
30438
Est Cost Gas Released
1750
Est Cost Prop Damage
15000
Est Cost Emergency
6000
Est Cost Environmental
734000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
787188
Accident Psig
860
Mop Psig
780
Accident Pressure
Pressure Exceeded 110% Of Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
Unknown
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
Facility Piping
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
Facility Piping
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
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
Direct cause was overpressure after a cleaning pig launch on october 9, 2018, chemicals injected into the pipeline were unable to flow into the mainline. The downstream ball valve was in the closed position and the check valve prevented flowing backwards. Pressure continued to build up while the chemical pump continued injection at a rate of 4 gallons per day.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured
Operation Type
Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured
Related Other Ind
Yes
Operation Related Details
After A Cleaning Pig Launch On October 9, 2018, Chemicals Injected Into The Pipeline Were Unable To Flow Into The Mainline. The Downstream Ball Valve Was In The Closed Position And The Check Valve Prevented Flowing Backwards. Pressure Continued To Build Up While The Chemical Pump Continued Injection At A Rate Of 4 Gallons Per Day.
Category Type
Normal Operating Conditions
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
T*** S* B****
Preparer Title
Sr. Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
T******@h***************.com
Preparer Telephone
713.289.2688
Prepared Date
2019-05-02 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
T*** S* B****
Authorizer Telephone
713.289.2688
Authorizer Title
Sr. Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Authorizer Email
T******@h***************.com
Narrative
On october 15, 2018, a pipe spool used for chemical injection at the dilley station on the pearsall pipeline near the pig launcher ruptured, releasing approximately 675 barrels of crude oil. A third-party root cause analysis performed by elements material technology determined that the cause of the rupture was overpressure. The pipe sample did not show signs of any material defects or corrosion. Six days prior to the rupture, on october 9, 2018, a cleaning pig was run through the pearsall pipeline. Following that pigging operation, the bypass valve (normal mainline block valve) was left in the closed position, the inlet valve (launcher block valve) was left in the open position, and the launcher outlet valve was left in the open position. Product was able to move through the system with the valves in this configuration by following a flow path through the launcher. However, the pipe spool did not have over pressure protection because the bypass valve (normal mainline block valve) was not in the open position. Pressure built up in the pipe spool as the pump continued to inject chemicals, which eventually led to the rupture. Direct cause-overpressure; system cause-inadequate hazard analysis preventative measure to keep from reoccurring the chemical injection point was moved to an alternate location eliminating the possibility of over pressurization. All chemical injection locations on the pearsall pipeline have been evaluated to confirm overpressure protection is adequate in the event a valve is left closed.
| Report Received Date | 2018-11-16 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2018 |
| Report Number | 20180355 |
| Supplemental Number | 32061 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 30782 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Harvest Midstream Company |
| Operator Street Address | 1111 Travis |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2018-10-15 05:25:00 |
| Location Latitude | 28.6842147 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -99.094517 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 675 |
| Recovered Bbls | 650 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Truck Driver |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2018-10-15 05:25:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2018-10-15 04:35:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2018-10-16 08:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2018-10-15 06:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2018-10-15 07:25:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 122749 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Dilley Station |
| Segment Name | Dilley Station |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 78017 |
| Onshore City Name | Dilley |
| Onshore County Name | Frio |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 755+25 Of Tee |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Pipe Diameter | 8 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.219 |
| Pipe Smys | 46000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - High Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | None |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Rupture |
| Rupture Orient | Longitudinal |
| Rupture Width | 2 |
| Rupture Length | 8 |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Vegetation Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 30438 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 1750 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 15000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 6000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 734000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 787188 |
| Accident Psig | 860 |
| Mop Psig | 780 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Exceeded 110% Of Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | Unknown |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | Facility Piping |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Other Complications Ind | Yes |
| Inspect Comp Details | Facility Piping |
| 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 | 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 | Direct cause was overpressure after a cleaning pig launch on october 9, 2018, chemicals injected into the pipeline were unable to flow into the mainline. The downstream ball valve was in the closed position and the check valve prevented flowing backwards. Pressure continued to build up while the chemical pump continued injection at a rate of 4 gallons per day. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured |
| Operation Type | Pipeline Or Equipment Overpressured |
| Related Other Ind | Yes |
| Operation Related Details | After A Cleaning Pig Launch On October 9, 2018, Chemicals Injected Into The Pipeline Were Unable To Flow Into The Mainline. The Downstream Ball Valve Was In The Closed Position And The Check Valve Prevented Flowing Backwards. Pressure Continued To Build Up While The Chemical Pump Continued Injection At A Rate Of 4 Gallons Per Day. |
| Category Type | Normal Operating Conditions |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | T*** S* B**** |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Regulatory Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | T******@h***************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713.289.2688 |
| Prepared Date | 2019-05-02 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | T*** S* B**** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713.289.2688 |
| Authorizer Title | Sr. Regulatory Compliance Specialist |
| Authorizer Email | T******@h***************.com |
| Narrative | On october 15, 2018, a pipe spool used for chemical injection at the dilley station on the pearsall pipeline near the pig launcher ruptured, releasing approximately 675 barrels of crude oil. A third-party root cause analysis performed by elements material technology determined that the cause of the rupture was overpressure. The pipe sample did not show signs of any material defects or corrosion. Six days prior to the rupture, on october 9, 2018, a cleaning pig was run through the pearsall pipeline. Following that pigging operation, the bypass valve (normal mainline block valve) was left in the closed position, the inlet valve (launcher block valve) was left in the open position, and the launcher outlet valve was left in the open position. Product was able to move through the system with the valves in this configuration by following a flow path through the launcher. However, the pipe spool did not have over pressure protection because the bypass valve (normal mainline block valve) was not in the open position. Pressure built up in the pipe spool as the pump continued to inject chemicals, which eventually led to the rupture. Direct cause-overpressure; system cause-inadequate hazard analysis preventative measure to keep from reoccurring the chemical injection point was moved to an alternate location eliminating the possibility of over pressurization. All chemical injection locations on the pearsall pipeline have been evaluated to confirm overpressure protection is adequate in the event a valve is left closed. |
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