Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2019-05-03 — TX
Operator
Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, Llc
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)
$0
Incident datetime
2019-05-03 16:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On 5/3/2019, contractors had just completed a project to install two new valves and remove slip blinds that had been installed to isolate a new section of a header at the valve connection point. Upon completion of the installation, the contractor was going to pressure test a segment of pipe that had been slacked in preparation for making the connections. Even though, the newly installed valve connecting to the new section of the header appeared to be closed (flag on valve signaled closed), it was later found it had not seated properly. When the contractor applied nitrogen to the line in an attempt to do the pressure test, residual product in the slacked line was pushed through the unseated valve and onto the header where a slip blind had been removed. Unfortunately, the flange was still in the process of being reconnected so the bolts remained untightened, thereby allowing product to leak into secondary containment below. The inspector did not anticipate the valve leaking through, therefore, was not unduly concerned that the flange had not been reconnected to ensure a closed system. Plan to prevent reoccurrence: inspector has been suspended and will be retrained prior to returning to work. Process has been updated to include a requirement to fully close a system prior to pressure testing any installation on a regulated pipeline.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2019-05-31 00:00:00
Iyear
2019
Report Number
20190175
Supplemental Number
32227
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
26041
Name
Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, Llc
Operator Street Address
1001 Louisiana St, Suite 1000
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2019-05-03 16:30:00
Location Latitude
29.72536
Location Longitude
-95.20334
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Mixture Of Refined Products (Transmix Or Other Mixture)
Unintentional Release Bbls
64
Recovered Bbls
64
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2019-05-03 16:30:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
The Release Did Not Impact The Operation Of The Facility
On Site Datetime
2019-05-03 16:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Not Required
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Pasadena Terminal
Segment Name
20b Tie-In At Nd Manifold
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77506
Onshore City Name
Pasadena
Onshore County Name
Harris
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
Intrastate
Item Involved
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
2019
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
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
Yes
Commercially Nav Ind
Yes
Commercially Nav Yes No
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
6720
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
8000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
14720
Accident Psig
150
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
No
Scada Functional Ind
No
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
Scada was disconnected from assets at the time for the installation of new valves.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Num Contractors Tested
1
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
D******* S*******
Preparer Title
Director Of Compliance Codes And Standards
Preparer Email
D****************@k***********.com
Preparer Telephone
7134206496
Prepared Date
2019-05-31 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D******* S*******
Authorizer Telephone
7134206496
Authorizer Title
Director Of Compliance Codes And Standards
Authorizer Email
D****************@k***********.com
Narrative
On 5/3/2019, contractors had just completed a project to install two new valves and remove slip blinds that had been installed to isolate a new section of a header at the valve connection point. Upon completion of the installation, the contractor was going to pressure test a segment of pipe that had been slacked in preparation for making the connections. Even though, the newly installed valve connecting to the new section of the header appeared to be closed (flag on valve signaled closed), it was later found it had not seated properly. When the contractor applied nitrogen to the line in an attempt to do the pressure test, residual product in the slacked line was pushed through the unseated valve and onto the header where a slip blind had been removed. Unfortunately, the flange was still in the process of being reconnected so the bolts remained untightened, thereby allowing product to leak into secondary containment below. The inspector did not anticipate the valve leaking through, therefore, was not unduly concerned that the flange had not been reconnected to ensure a closed system. Plan to prevent reoccurrence: inspector has been suspended and will be retrained prior to returning to work. Process has been updated to include a requirement to fully close a system prior to pressure testing any installation on a regulated pipeline.
| Report Received Date | 2019-05-31 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2019 |
| Report Number | 20190175 |
| Supplemental Number | 32227 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 26041 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 1001 Louisiana St, Suite 1000 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2019-05-03 16:30:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.72536 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.20334 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Mixture Of Refined Products (Transmix Or Other Mixture) |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 64 |
| Recovered Bbls | 64 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2019-05-03 16:30:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | The Release Did Not Impact The Operation Of The Facility |
| On Site Datetime | 2019-05-03 16:30:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | Nrc Notification Not Required NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Pasadena Terminal |
| Segment Name | 20b Tie-In At Nd Manifold |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77506 |
| Onshore City Name | Pasadena |
| Onshore County Name | Harris |
| 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 | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Flange Assembly |
| Installation Year | 2019 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| 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 | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Ind | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Yes No | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 6720 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 8000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 14720 |
| Accident Psig | 150 |
| 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 | No |
| Scada Functional Ind | No |
| 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 | Scada was disconnected from assets at the time for the installation of new valves. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 1 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Num Contractors Tested | 1 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | D******* S******* |
| Preparer Title | Director Of Compliance Codes And Standards |
| Preparer Email | D****************@k***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7134206496 |
| Prepared Date | 2019-05-31 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D******* S******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7134206496 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Of Compliance Codes And Standards |
| Authorizer Email | D****************@k***********.com |
| Narrative | On 5/3/2019, contractors had just completed a project to install two new valves and remove slip blinds that had been installed to isolate a new section of a header at the valve connection point. Upon completion of the installation, the contractor was going to pressure test a segment of pipe that had been slacked in preparation for making the connections. Even though, the newly installed valve connecting to the new section of the header appeared to be closed (flag on valve signaled closed), it was later found it had not seated properly. When the contractor applied nitrogen to the line in an attempt to do the pressure test, residual product in the slacked line was pushed through the unseated valve and onto the header where a slip blind had been removed. Unfortunately, the flange was still in the process of being reconnected so the bolts remained untightened, thereby allowing product to leak into secondary containment below. The inspector did not anticipate the valve leaking through, therefore, was not unduly concerned that the flange had not been reconnected to ensure a closed system. Plan to prevent reoccurrence: inspector has been suspended and will be retrained prior to returning to work. Process has been updated to include a requirement to fully close a system prior to pressure testing any installation on a regulated pipeline. |
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