Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2019-10-29 — TX
Operator
Epic Consolidated Operations, Llc
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)
$10,000
Incident datetime
2019-10-29 09:00
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At approximately 09:00am on october 29, 2019, epic operator randy moore and a contract crew were performing bi-annual valve inspection and maintenance on mlbv #3 located in bee county, texas. After pumping grease into one of the fillings on the mlbv body the crew removed the grease hose and a small vapor cloud began to form from the fitting. The grease fitting failed to re-seat after removing the hose. There was approximately 10-bbls of ngl release at the site and an ice-ball formed around the fitting and sealed it off. The line segment was isolated and then blown down through two controlled flares. After the pressure was released the grease fitting was replaced and the line was put back into service. There were no fatalities, injuries, fires, or explosions as a result of the release. Mr. Moore provided traffic control until bee county sheriff's department arrived and took over traffic control. After the line segment was isolated, an upstream meter skid had a high-pressure event that caused a psv to actuate and 50-bbls of ngl were flared through another operator's flare that the opp was piped into, no product was released into the atmosphere. The pipeline system did not exceed 110% of the mop at any time. The failed grease fitting has been sent to be examined to determine the cause of failure. Preliminary visual leads to unknown debris obstructing the seating mechanism of the grease fitting. Once the fitting has been examined by a third-party epic will complete the investigation and develop a mitigation plan to prevent future re-occurrence of the failure, if possible and/or applicable. Update: it has been determined that the grease fitting is in good condition and shows no evidence of why it failed. It is believed that there was unknown debris obstructing the seating mechanism of the fitting at the time of failure. To mitigate future re-occurrence of the same type of failure epic has revised its valve maintenance procedure and implemented it into their o&m manual.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2019-11-25 00:00:00
Iyear
2019
Report Number
20190355
Supplemental Number
33283
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
39785
Name
Epic Consolidated Operations, Llc
Operator Street Address
18615 Tuscany Stone, Suite 300
Operator City Name
San Antonio
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
78258
Local Datetime
2019-10-29 09:05:00
Location Latitude
28.26072
Location Longitude
-97.71679
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Ngl
Unintentional Release Bbls
10
Intentional Release Bbls
7340
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
2019-10-29 09:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2019-10-29 09:06:00
Restart Datetime
2019-11-01 12:10:00
On Site Datetime
2019-10-29 09:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2019-10-29 10:45:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1262503
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Southcross Y Grade 12"
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78389
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Bee County
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Mlbv #3
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
Other
Item Involved Details
Grease Fitting
Installation Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Stainless Steel Fittling
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
220000
Est Cost Prop Damage
10000
Est Cost Emergency
40000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
270000
Accident Psig
1028
Mop Psig
1440
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
36960
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
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 leak occurred during a maintenance activity and operators personnel were on-site at the time of the release.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Type
Other Equipment Failure
Failure Details
Grease Fitting Failed To Re-Seat After Greasing.
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Grease Fitting Did Not Re-Seat After Greesing The Mlbv.
Preparer Name
C**** W*******
Preparer Title
Sr. Pipeline Compliance Professional
Preparer Email
C*************@f*************.net
Preparer Telephone
8067596499
Prepared Date
2020-02-05 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D***** V** D****
Authorizer Telephone
2109202255
Authorizer Title
Director Of Operations
Authorizer Email
D**************@e******.com
Narrative
At approximately 09:00am on october 29, 2019, epic operator randy moore and a contract crew were performing bi-annual valve inspection and maintenance on mlbv #3 located in bee county, texas. After pumping grease into one of the fillings on the mlbv body the crew removed the grease hose and a small vapor cloud began to form from the fitting. The grease fitting failed to re-seat after removing the hose. There was approximately 10-bbls of ngl release at the site and an ice-ball formed around the fitting and sealed it off. The line segment was isolated and then blown down through two controlled flares. After the pressure was released the grease fitting was replaced and the line was put back into service. There were no fatalities, injuries, fires, or explosions as a result of the release. Mr. Moore provided traffic control until bee county sheriff's department arrived and took over traffic control. After the line segment was isolated, an upstream meter skid had a high-pressure event that caused a psv to actuate and 50-bbls of ngl were flared through another operator's flare that the opp was piped into, no product was released into the atmosphere. The pipeline system did not exceed 110% of the mop at any time. The failed grease fitting has been sent to be examined to determine the cause of failure. Preliminary visual leads to unknown debris obstructing the seating mechanism of the grease fitting. Once the fitting has been examined by a third-party epic will complete the investigation and develop a mitigation plan to prevent future re-occurrence of the failure, if possible and/or applicable. Update: it has been determined that the grease fitting is in good condition and shows no evidence of why it failed. It is believed that there was unknown debris obstructing the seating mechanism of the fitting at the time of failure. To mitigate future re-occurrence of the same type of failure epic has revised its valve maintenance procedure and implemented it into their o&m manual.
| Report Received Date | 2019-11-25 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2019 |
| Report Number | 20190355 |
| Supplemental Number | 33283 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 39785 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Epic Consolidated Operations, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 18615 Tuscany Stone, Suite 300 |
| Operator City Name | San Antonio |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 78258 |
| Local Datetime | 2019-10-29 09:05:00 |
| Location Latitude | 28.26072 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -97.71679 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 | Ngl |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 10 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 7340 |
| 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 | 2019-10-29 09:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2019-10-29 09:06:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2019-11-01 12:10:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2019-10-29 09:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2019-10-29 10:45:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1262503 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Southcross Y Grade 12" |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 78389 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Bee County |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | Mlbv #3 |
| 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 | Other |
| Item Involved Details | Grease Fitting |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Stainless Steel Fittling |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 220000 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 10000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 40000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 270000 |
| Accident Psig | 1028 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 36960 |
| 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 | 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 leak occurred during a maintenance activity and operators personnel were on-site at the time of the release. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Other Equipment Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Other Equipment Failure |
| Failure Details | Grease Fitting Failed To Re-Seat After Greasing. |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Grease Fitting Did Not Re-Seat After Greesing The Mlbv. |
| Preparer Name | C**** W******* |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Pipeline Compliance Professional |
| Preparer Email | C*************@f*************.net |
| Preparer Telephone | 8067596499 |
| Prepared Date | 2020-02-05 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D***** V** D**** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 2109202255 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Of Operations |
| Authorizer Email | D**************@e******.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 09:00am on october 29, 2019, epic operator randy moore and a contract crew were performing bi-annual valve inspection and maintenance on mlbv #3 located in bee county, texas. After pumping grease into one of the fillings on the mlbv body the crew removed the grease hose and a small vapor cloud began to form from the fitting. The grease fitting failed to re-seat after removing the hose. There was approximately 10-bbls of ngl release at the site and an ice-ball formed around the fitting and sealed it off. The line segment was isolated and then blown down through two controlled flares. After the pressure was released the grease fitting was replaced and the line was put back into service. There were no fatalities, injuries, fires, or explosions as a result of the release. Mr. Moore provided traffic control until bee county sheriff's department arrived and took over traffic control. After the line segment was isolated, an upstream meter skid had a high-pressure event that caused a psv to actuate and 50-bbls of ngl were flared through another operator's flare that the opp was piped into, no product was released into the atmosphere. The pipeline system did not exceed 110% of the mop at any time. The failed grease fitting has been sent to be examined to determine the cause of failure. Preliminary visual leads to unknown debris obstructing the seating mechanism of the grease fitting. Once the fitting has been examined by a third-party epic will complete the investigation and develop a mitigation plan to prevent future re-occurrence of the failure, if possible and/or applicable. Update: it has been determined that the grease fitting is in good condition and shows no evidence of why it failed. It is believed that there was unknown debris obstructing the seating mechanism of the fitting at the time of failure. To mitigate future re-occurrence of the same type of failure epic has revised its valve maintenance procedure and implemented it into their o&m manual. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA