Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2019-05-11 — TX
Operator
Equistar Chemicals, L.p.
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$500
Incident datetime
2019-05-11 14:50
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On may 11th, 2019 at approximately 2:50 pm a pipeline technician responded to a call from the control center regarding a power outage at the dow ethylene meter at stratton ridge and noticed a small flame on the relief tubing to the analyzer. The relief tubing was blocked in by closing the block valve downstream of the welker probe eliminating the fuel source and causing the flame to extinguish. There was a thunderstorm in the area and it is believed that a static charge build up in the area due to a lightning strike caused the small tubing leak to ignite. Primary root cause - the relief valve on the tubing leaked contributing factor - lighting strike in the area, potential static charge other factors associated with the leak - the welker probe regulator is prone to having issues with positive shutoff plan to prevent recurrence: the valve in question is a 1/2' tubing relief valve manufactured by welker for use on the low pressure side of the regulator, and it is set at 50 psig. We are replacing the relief valve to prevent reoccurrence.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2019-06-10 00:00:00
Iyear
2019
Report Number
20190180
Supplemental Number
32508
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
25146
Name
Equistar Chemicals, L.p.
Operator Street Address
16055 Space Center Blvd. Suite 350
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77062
Local Datetime
2019-05-11 14:50:00
Location Latitude
29.041106
Location Longitude
-95.366832
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Ethylene
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.1
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Maintenance Technician Was Responding To The Site For A Power Outage.
Incident Identified Datetime
2019-05-11 14:50:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Customer Was Idle Prior To Incident.
On Site Datetime
2019-05-11 14:50:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-05-11 17:11:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1245362
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
5*************************@ **************
Segment Name
Cb03_sr To Chocolate Bayou Pes Id # 550448
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77541
Onshore City Name
Clute
Onshore County Name
Brazoria
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
974+32
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
Valve
Valve Type
Relief Valve
Installation Year
2018
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Stainless Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Relief Device On Quality Sampl
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
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
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
500
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
500
Accident Psig
1308
Mop Psig
2160
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
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
Yes, but the investigation of the control room and/or controller actions has not yet been completed by the operator (supplemental report required)
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
Relief Valve Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Slight Seep By On Relief Device.
Preparer Name
T**** L* V***
Preparer Title
Compliance Support Specialist
Preparer Email
T*********@l**.com
Preparer Telephone
281-709-0625
Preparer Fax
281-709-0759
Prepared Date
2019-08-05 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
M****** S* C*****
Authorizer Telephone
281-709-0626
Authorizer Title
Technical Manager
Authorizer Email
M*************@l**.com
Narrative
On may 11th, 2019 at approximately 2:50 pm a pipeline technician responded to a call from the control center regarding a power outage at the dow ethylene meter at stratton ridge and noticed a small flame on the relief tubing to the analyzer. The relief tubing was blocked in by closing the block valve downstream of the welker probe eliminating the fuel source and causing the flame to extinguish. There was a thunderstorm in the area and it is believed that a static charge build up in the area due to a lightning strike caused the small tubing leak to ignite. Primary root cause - the relief valve on the tubing leaked contributing factor - lighting strike in the area, potential static charge other factors associated with the leak - the welker probe regulator is prone to having issues with positive shutoff plan to prevent recurrence: the valve in question is a 1/2' tubing relief valve manufactured by welker for use on the low pressure side of the regulator, and it is set at 50 psig. We are replacing the relief valve to prevent reoccurrence.
| Report Received Date | 2019-06-10 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2019 |
| Report Number | 20190180 |
| Supplemental Number | 32508 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 25146 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Equistar Chemicals, L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 16055 Space Center Blvd. Suite 350 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77062 |
| Local Datetime | 2019-05-11 14:50:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.041106 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.366832 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Other Hvl |
| Commodity Details | Ethylene |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.1 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Maintenance Technician Was Responding To The Site For A Power Outage. |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2019-05-11 14:50:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Customer Was Idle Prior To Incident. |
| On Site Datetime | 2019-05-11 14:50:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2019-05-11 17:11:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1245362 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | 5*************************@ ************** |
| Segment Name | Cb03_sr To Chocolate Bayou Pes Id # 550448 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77541 |
| Onshore City Name | Clute |
| Onshore County Name | Brazoria |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 974+32 |
| 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 | Valve |
| Valve Type | Relief Valve |
| Installation Year | 2018 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Stainless Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Relief Device On Quality Sampl |
| 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 |
| 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 | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 500 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 500 |
| Accident Psig | 1308 |
| Mop Psig | 2160 |
| 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 | 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 | Yes, but the investigation of the control room and/or controller actions has not yet been completed by the operator (supplemental report required) |
| 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 |
| Relief Valve Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Slight Seep By On Relief Device. |
| Preparer Name | T**** L* V*** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Support Specialist |
| Preparer Email | T*********@l**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 281-709-0625 |
| Preparer Fax | 281-709-0759 |
| Prepared Date | 2019-08-05 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | M****** S* C***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 281-709-0626 |
| Authorizer Title | Technical Manager |
| Authorizer Email | M*************@l**.com |
| Narrative | On may 11th, 2019 at approximately 2:50 pm a pipeline technician responded to a call from the control center regarding a power outage at the dow ethylene meter at stratton ridge and noticed a small flame on the relief tubing to the analyzer. The relief tubing was blocked in by closing the block valve downstream of the welker probe eliminating the fuel source and causing the flame to extinguish. There was a thunderstorm in the area and it is believed that a static charge build up in the area due to a lightning strike caused the small tubing leak to ignite. Primary root cause - the relief valve on the tubing leaked contributing factor - lighting strike in the area, potential static charge other factors associated with the leak - the welker probe regulator is prone to having issues with positive shutoff plan to prevent recurrence: the valve in question is a 1/2' tubing relief valve manufactured by welker for use on the low pressure side of the regulator, and it is set at 50 psig. We are replacing the relief valve to prevent reoccurrence. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA