Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2019-03-25 — KS
Operator
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership 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)
$731,337
Incident datetime
2019-03-25 09:00
Report number
Location
KS
Narrative
A small amount of distressed vegetation was found in the vicinity of our taft platform 6" fortier to donaldsonville lateral. This was found by our nustar corrosion specialist working on a cis on 3/25/19. The distressed vegetation was in the vicinity of a stopple tee. The area was monitored (air & water) and no indication of nh3. The area was monitored periodically thereafter with no nh3 present. Plans were made to complete a single stopple and cut out the stopple tee, tor, and a small length of pipe which had a corrosion anomaly called out on a smart tool run. This work was completed, new piece of pipe installed, and the pipeline was returned to service 5/18-20/19 the reason for this report was not the volume released, but the dollar amount exceeded $50,000 to access the pipeline in the marsh. Metallurgical analysis: the following approach was taken to determine a potential mechanism of failure for the stopple: 1. Visual examination 2. Non destructive testing (ndt) 3. Water leak check 4. Pressure testing to 1100 psi 5. Sectioning to remove suspect areas 6. Metallographic examination of stopple weld and through pipe weld. Conclusions: no failure mechanism or leak was found. The longitudinal welds of the stopple exhibited full penetration with no cracking. In addition, no cracks were found in the long seam of the pipe.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2019-06-14 00:00:00
Iyear
2019
Report Number
20190189
Supplemental Number
32805
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
10012
Name
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
Operator Street Address
7340 W. 21st Street N., Suite 200
Operator City Name
Wichita
Operator State Abbreviation
KS
Operator Postal Code
67205
Local Datetime
2019-05-16 13:55:00
Location Latitude
29.94022
Location Longitude
-90.4816
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Anhydrous Ammonia
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.1
Intentional Release Bbls
23
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
2019-03-25 09:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2019-05-18 10:00:00
Restart Datetime
2019-05-20 12:00:00
On Site Datetime
2019-03-25 09:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-05-16 14:26:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1245896
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Taft Platform
Segment Name
Fortier To Donaldsonville - 6 Inch
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70057
Onshore City Name
Hahnville
Onshore County Name
St. Charles Parish
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
39-1
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
48
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.)
Installation Year
1970
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Met. Analysis Found No Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.1
Rel Water Name
Marsh
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
1265
Est Cost Prop Damage
731337
Est Cost Emergency
10000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
742602
Accident Psig
1000
Mop Psig
1340
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
82772
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
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
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
No
Cpm Conf 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
The suspected leak was very small and would not have been identified by the control room.
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
Stopple Control Fitting Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Met. Testing Found No Failure Mechanism Or Leak In Stopple Or Pipe
Preparer Name
D***** J* T******
Preparer Title
Director- Hse
Preparer Email
D**********@n***********.com
Preparer Telephone
316-721-7056
Preparer Fax
210-918-5568
Prepared Date
2019-10-11 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B*** F******
Authorizer Telephone
316-721-7066
Authorizer Title
General Manager
Authorizer Email
B***********@n***********.com
Narrative
A small amount of distressed vegetation was found in the vicinity of our taft platform 6" fortier to donaldsonville lateral. This was found by our nustar corrosion specialist working on a cis on 3/25/19. The distressed vegetation was in the vicinity of a stopple tee. The area was monitored (air & water) and no indication of nh3. The area was monitored periodically thereafter with no nh3 present. Plans were made to complete a single stopple and cut out the stopple tee, tor, and a small length of pipe which had a corrosion anomaly called out on a smart tool run. This work was completed, new piece of pipe installed, and the pipeline was returned to service 5/18-20/19 the reason for this report was not the volume released, but the dollar amount exceeded $50,000 to access the pipeline in the marsh. Metallurgical analysis: the following approach was taken to determine a potential mechanism of failure for the stopple: 1. Visual examination 2. Non destructive testing (ndt) 3. Water leak check 4. Pressure testing to 1100 psi 5. Sectioning to remove suspect areas 6. Metallographic examination of stopple weld and through pipe weld. Conclusions: no failure mechanism or leak was found. The longitudinal welds of the stopple exhibited full penetration with no cracking. In addition, no cracks were found in the long seam of the pipe.
| Report Received Date | 2019-06-14 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2019 |
| Report Number | 20190189 |
| Supplemental Number | 32805 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 10012 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 7340 W. 21st Street N., Suite 200 |
| Operator City Name | Wichita |
| Operator State Abbreviation | KS |
| Operator Postal Code | 67205 |
| Local Datetime | 2019-05-16 13:55:00 |
| Location Latitude | 29.94022 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -90.4816 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Anhydrous Ammonia |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.1 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 23 |
| 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 | 2019-03-25 09:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2019-05-18 10:00:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2019-05-20 12:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2019-03-25 09:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2019-05-16 14:26:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1245896 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Taft Platform |
| Segment Name | Fortier To Donaldsonville - 6 Inch |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70057 |
| Onshore City Name | Hahnville |
| Onshore County Name | St. Charles Parish |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 39-1 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 48 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.) |
| Installation Year | 1970 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Met. Analysis Found No Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0.1 |
| Rel Water Name | Marsh |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 1265 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 731337 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 10000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 742602 |
| Accident Psig | 1000 |
| Mop Psig | 1340 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 82772 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| 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 | Yes |
| Cpm Operating Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Functional Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Detection Ind | No |
| Cpm Conf 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 | The suspected leak was very small and would not have been identified by the control room. |
| 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 |
| Stopple Control Fitting Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Met. Testing Found No Failure Mechanism Or Leak In Stopple Or Pipe |
| Preparer Name | D***** J* T****** |
| Preparer Title | Director- Hse |
| Preparer Email | D**********@n***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 316-721-7056 |
| Preparer Fax | 210-918-5568 |
| Prepared Date | 2019-10-11 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | B*** F****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 316-721-7066 |
| Authorizer Title | General Manager |
| Authorizer Email | B***********@n***********.com |
| Narrative | A small amount of distressed vegetation was found in the vicinity of our taft platform 6" fortier to donaldsonville lateral. This was found by our nustar corrosion specialist working on a cis on 3/25/19. The distressed vegetation was in the vicinity of a stopple tee. The area was monitored (air & water) and no indication of nh3. The area was monitored periodically thereafter with no nh3 present. Plans were made to complete a single stopple and cut out the stopple tee, tor, and a small length of pipe which had a corrosion anomaly called out on a smart tool run. This work was completed, new piece of pipe installed, and the pipeline was returned to service 5/18-20/19 the reason for this report was not the volume released, but the dollar amount exceeded $50,000 to access the pipeline in the marsh. Metallurgical analysis: the following approach was taken to determine a potential mechanism of failure for the stopple: 1. Visual examination 2. Non destructive testing (ndt) 3. Water leak check 4. Pressure testing to 1100 psi 5. Sectioning to remove suspect areas 6. Metallographic examination of stopple weld and through pipe weld. Conclusions: no failure mechanism or leak was found. The longitudinal welds of the stopple exhibited full penetration with no cracking. In addition, no cracks were found in the long seam of the pipe. |
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