HL incident on 2019-05-14 — TX

Operator
Exxonmobil Oil Corporation
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)
$2,000
Incident datetime
2019-05-14 07:30
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At 7:30am, exxonmobil pipeline company (empco) hca personnel were conducting unrelated maintenance work in the area, when they detected lower explosive level (lel) readings at the facility fence line and noticed ice forming on the 12" flange at the demarcation of the mc-41 connection site. Hca personnel contacted local operations of their findings, resulting in facility personnel arrival at around 7:50am. Local operations instructed occ to shutdown, accordingly, coordinating efforts with the third party operator. The affected pipeline segment was completely isolated at 9:06am. The release originated from a slight misalignment of flanges at the interface with the third party. The third party flange bolts were torqued to a level above the torque at the flange where the leak occurred. The empco flange bolts were torqued to gasket manufacturer's specifications. A series of actions were conducted to recommission the pipeline. A total of 200 lbs. (1.63 bbls) of ethylene were released to the atmosphere. Agency notifications were made to the texas spill reporting hotline at 8:07am (confirmation # 2019-1672), reaching texas railroad commission and texas commission of environmental quality, and the national response center (confirmation #1245579) at 8:20am cst.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2019-06-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2019
Report Number
20190186
Supplemental Number
32277
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
Name
Exxonmobil Oil Corporation
Operator Street Address
2775 Gulf States Road
Operator City Name
Beaumont
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77704
Local Datetime
2019-05-14 07:30:00
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
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
1.63
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2019-05-14 07:30:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2019-05-14 08:16:00
Restart Datetime
2019-05-16 18:25:00
On Site Datetime
2019-05-14 07:50:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-05-14 08:20:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Spindletop Surveillance Site
Segment Name
Mc-41 Connection Site
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77701
Onshore City Name
Beaumont
Onshore County Name
Jefferson
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Esd 15130
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
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
2018
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Gasket Of Stainless Steel And Composite
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
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
1681
Est Cost Prop Damage
2000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
30000
Est Cost Other Details
Permitted Flaring, Labor Cost
Prpty
33681
Accident Psig
1226
Mop Psig
1440
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
9
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
This Is A Small Facility Connection Spool To A Third Party Teed Into Multiple Systems.
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
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
No abnormal pressure changes or activity were detected.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind
Gasket
Ief Addl Misalignment Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
D**** R* S*****
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Advisor
Preparer Email
D*************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone
832-624-7531
Prepared Date
2019-06-13 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
C******* B* H********
Authorizer Telephone
832-624-7920
Authorizer Title
Exxonmobil Pipeline Company Sshe Manager
Authorizer Email
C*******************@e*********.com
Narrative
At 7:30am, exxonmobil pipeline company (empco) hca personnel were conducting unrelated maintenance work in the area, when they detected lower explosive level (lel) readings at the facility fence line and noticed ice forming on the 12" flange at the demarcation of the mc-41 connection site. Hca personnel contacted local operations of their findings, resulting in facility personnel arrival at around 7:50am. Local operations instructed occ to shutdown, accordingly, coordinating efforts with the third party operator. The affected pipeline segment was completely isolated at 9:06am. The release originated from a slight misalignment of flanges at the interface with the third party. The third party flange bolts were torqued to a level above the torque at the flange where the leak occurred. The empco flange bolts were torqued to gasket manufacturer's specifications. A series of actions were conducted to recommission the pipeline. A total of 200 lbs. (1.63 bbls) of ethylene were released to the atmosphere. Agency notifications were made to the texas spill reporting hotline at 8:07am (confirmation # 2019-1672), reaching texas railroad commission and texas commission of environmental quality, and the national response center (confirmation #1245579) at 8:20am cst.
Report Received Date 2019-06-13 00:00:00
Iyear 2019
Report Number 20190186
Supplemental Number 32277
Report Type Original Final
Operator Id 12634 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Exxonmobil Oil Corporation
Operator Street Address 2775 Gulf States Road
Operator City Name Beaumont
Operator State Abbreviation TX
Operator Postal Code 77704
Local Datetime 2019-05-14 07:30:00
Location Latitude 30.02811 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -94.082223 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 1.63
Intentional Release Bbls 0
Recovered Bbls 0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime 2019-05-14 07:30:00
System Part Involved Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind Yes
Shutdown Datetime 2019-05-14 08:16:00
Restart Datetime 2019-05-16 18:25:00
On Site Datetime 2019-05-14 07:50:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2019-05-14 08:20:00
Nrc Rpt Num 1245579 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 Spindletop Surveillance Site
Segment Name Mc-41 Connection Site
Onshore State Abbreviation Tx
Onshore Postal Code 77701
Onshore City Name Beaumont
Onshore County Name Jefferson
Designated Location Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name Esd 15130
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 Flange Assembly
Installation Year 2018
Material Involved Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details Gasket Of Stainless Steel And Composite
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
Usa Drinking Ind Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid 0
Est Cost Gas Released 1681
Est Cost Prop Damage 2000
Est Cost Emergency 0
Est Cost Environmental 0
Est Cost Other 30000
Est Cost Other Details Permitted Flaring, Labor Cost
Prpty 33681
Accident Psig 1226
Mop Psig 1440
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind No
Length Segment Isolated 9
Internal Inspection Ind No
Other Inspection Ind Yes
Internal Inspection Details This Is A Small Facility Connection Spool To A Third Party Teed Into Multiple Systems.
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 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 No abnormal pressure changes or activity were detected.
Employee Drug Test Ind No
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Equipment Failure
Cause Details Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind Gasket
Ief Addl Misalignment Ind Yes
Preparer Name D**** R* S*****
Preparer Title Pipeline Safety Advisor
Preparer Email D*************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone 832-624-7531
Prepared Date 2019-06-13 00:00:00
Authorizer Name C******* B* H********
Authorizer Telephone 832-624-7920
Authorizer Title Exxonmobil Pipeline Company Sshe Manager
Authorizer Email C*******************@e*********.com
Narrative At 7:30am, exxonmobil pipeline company (empco) hca personnel were conducting unrelated maintenance work in the area, when they detected lower explosive level (lel) readings at the facility fence line and noticed ice forming on the 12" flange at the demarcation of the mc-41 connection site. Hca personnel contacted local operations of their findings, resulting in facility personnel arrival at around 7:50am. Local operations instructed occ to shutdown, accordingly, coordinating efforts with the third party operator. The affected pipeline segment was completely isolated at 9:06am. The release originated from a slight misalignment of flanges at the interface with the third party. The third party flange bolts were torqued to a level above the torque at the flange where the leak occurred. The empco flange bolts were torqued to gasket manufacturer's specifications. A series of actions were conducted to recommission the pipeline. A total of 200 lbs. (1.63 bbls) of ethylene were released to the atmosphere. Agency notifications were made to the texas spill reporting hotline at 8:07am (confirmation # 2019-1672), reaching texas railroad commission and texas commission of environmental quality, and the national response center (confirmation #1245579) at 8:20am cst.

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