Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2020-03-26 — TX
Operator
Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
1 fatality
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2020-03-26 14:00
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On march 26, 2020, employee was receiving a cleaning pig on the ten-inch east line at borchers station when the pig became lodged in the receiver. The door to the receiver was opened, and employee had positioned himself in front of the pig receiver in an attempt to dislodge the stuck pig. Suddenly, the pig became dislodged and discharged out of the barrel, striking employee. Another employee called 911 and assisted injured employee until medical assistance arrived. Highway patrol arrived and assisted with first aid until the ambulance arrived. Employee was transported to meade county hospital where the employee passed away. Please refer to part g (apparent cause). As it applies to part k (contributing factors), sop I.13 pigging and pig trap operation requires a site specific pigging procedure. However, at the time of the incident, a site specific pigging procedure was not located. It has not been determined that the presence of a site specific pigging procedure at borchers station would have prevented this incident. In terms of process improvement, we have created a site specific pigging plan for borchers east 10" trap. A safety alert has been distributed company-wide in order to reinforce our current pigging procedures and stress the importance of proper safety protocols when engaging in pigging activities. We have worked with local field personnel to reinforce our pigging procedures. Also, we have developed a team to review and assess current pigging procedures.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2020-04-22 00:00:00
Iyear
2020
Report Number
20200036
Supplemental Number
34060
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15105
Name
Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co
Operator Street Address
1300 Main Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2020-03-26 14:00:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
37.21043
Location Longitude
-100.35364
Nrc Rpt Num
1274304
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-03-26 16:04:00
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1274395
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
0.3
Intentional Release
285
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
1
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
0
Fatal
1
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Status When Identified
Normal Operation, Includes Pauses During Maintenance
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2020-03-27 07:00:00
Restart Datetime
2020-07-15 13:00:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2020-03-26 14:09:00
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
No Failure Therefore No Action Taken.
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
No Failure Therefore No Action Taken.
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2020-03-26 14:00:00
On Site Datetime
2020-03-26 14:00:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ks
Onshore Postal Code
67864
Onshore City Name
Meade
Onshore County Name
Meade
Designated Location
Not Applicable
Pipe Fac Name
Borchers Storage Field
Segment Name
East 10" Lateral - Receiver
Federal
No
Location Type
Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Scraper/pig Trap
Installation Year
1981
Manufactured Year
1981
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Incident Was Result Of Release Of Stored Energy During Pigging Receipt Operations
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
381
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
0
Est Cost Intentional Release
194
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
305
Est Cost Other
20640
Est Cost Other Details
Incident Investigation.
Gas Cost In Mcf
0.68
Prpty
21139
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
1
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Accident Psig
936
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
50000
Mop Psig
1875
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1981-11-17 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Gas Required Odorized Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
14
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
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 pigging operation is a manual operation; therefore, it would not generate an actionable response from the control center. Nothing would be observable within scada for the control center to see as it pertains to pulling the pig cleaner from the pig receiver.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Num Employees Tested
6
Num Employees Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Although The Trap Door Was Open, Employee Positioned Himself In Front Of The Open Receiver In The Projected Path Of The Pig Without Verifying That The Pressure Behind The Pig Had Been Relieved. Sop I.13 Pigging And Pig Trap Operation Warns Of The Dangers Of Standing In Front Of The Receiver Door And Instructs Employees To Ensure That The Trap Is Depressurized. As Part Of On The Job Training, Employees Are Taught The Dangers Of Standing In Front Of The Receiver.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Routine Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Io Follow Procedure Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
K****** H*******
Preparer Title
Senior Specialist Regulatory Compliance
Preparer Email
K***************@e*************.com
Preparer Telephone
832-660-5977
Authorizer Name
D**** N******
Authorizer Title
Senior Director Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
713-989-7232
Authorizer Email
D************@e*************.com
Narrative
On march 26, 2020, employee was receiving a cleaning pig on the ten-inch east line at borchers station when the pig became lodged in the receiver. The door to the receiver was opened, and employee had positioned himself in front of the pig receiver in an attempt to dislodge the stuck pig. Suddenly, the pig became dislodged and discharged out of the barrel, striking employee. Another employee called 911 and assisted injured employee until medical assistance arrived. Highway patrol arrived and assisted with first aid until the ambulance arrived. Employee was transported to meade county hospital where the employee passed away. Please refer to part g (apparent cause). As it applies to part k (contributing factors), sop I.13 pigging and pig trap operation requires a site specific pigging procedure. However, at the time of the incident, a site specific pigging procedure was not located. It has not been determined that the presence of a site specific pigging procedure at borchers station would have prevented this incident. In terms of process improvement, we have created a site specific pigging plan for borchers east 10" trap. A safety alert has been distributed company-wide in order to reinforce our current pigging procedures and stress the importance of proper safety protocols when engaging in pigging activities. We have worked with local field personnel to reinforce our pigging procedures. Also, we have developed a team to review and assess current pigging procedures.
| Report Received Date | 2020-04-22 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2020 |
| Report Number | 20200036 |
| Supplemental Number | 34060 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15105 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Panhandle Eastern Pipeline Co |
| Operator Street Address | 1300 Main Street |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2020-03-26 14:00:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 37.21043 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -100.35364 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1274304 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-03-26 16:04:00 |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1274395 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 0.3 |
| Intentional Release | 285 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 1 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 0 |
| Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Status When Identified | Normal Operation, Includes Pauses During Maintenance |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2020-03-27 07:00:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2020-07-15 13:00:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2020-03-26 14:09:00 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | No Failure Therefore No Action Taken. |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | No Failure Therefore No Action Taken. |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2020-03-26 14:00:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-03-26 14:00:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ks |
| Onshore Postal Code | 67864 |
| Onshore City Name | Meade |
| Onshore County Name | Meade |
| Designated Location | Not Applicable |
| Pipe Fac Name | Borchers Storage Field |
| Segment Name | East 10" Lateral - Receiver |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Scraper/pig Trap |
| Installation Year | 1981 |
| Manufactured Year | 1981 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Incident Was Result Of Release Of Stored Energy During Pigging Receipt Operations |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 381 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 194 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 305 |
| Est Cost Other | 20640 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Incident Investigation. |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 0.68 |
| Prpty | 21139 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 1 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Accident Psig | 936 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 50000 |
| Mop Psig | 1875 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1981-11-17 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Gas Required Odorized Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 14 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| 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 pigging operation is a manual operation; therefore, it would not generate an actionable response from the control center. Nothing would be observable within scada for the control center to see as it pertains to pulling the pig cleaner from the pig receiver. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Num Employees Tested | 6 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | Although The Trap Door Was Open, Employee Positioned Himself In Front Of The Open Receiver In The Projected Path Of The Pig Without Verifying That The Pressure Behind The Pig Had Been Relieved. Sop I.13 Pigging And Pig Trap Operation Warns Of The Dangers Of Standing In Front Of The Receiver Door And Instructs Employees To Ensure That The Trap Is Depressurized. As Part Of On The Job Training, Employees Are Taught The Dangers Of Standing In Front Of The Receiver. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Routine Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Io Follow Procedure Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | K****** H******* |
| Preparer Title | Senior Specialist Regulatory Compliance |
| Preparer Email | K***************@e*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 832-660-5977 |
| Authorizer Name | D**** N****** |
| Authorizer Title | Senior Director Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-989-7232 |
| Authorizer Email | D************@e*************.com |
| Narrative | On march 26, 2020, employee was receiving a cleaning pig on the ten-inch east line at borchers station when the pig became lodged in the receiver. The door to the receiver was opened, and employee had positioned himself in front of the pig receiver in an attempt to dislodge the stuck pig. Suddenly, the pig became dislodged and discharged out of the barrel, striking employee. Another employee called 911 and assisted injured employee until medical assistance arrived. Highway patrol arrived and assisted with first aid until the ambulance arrived. Employee was transported to meade county hospital where the employee passed away. Please refer to part g (apparent cause). As it applies to part k (contributing factors), sop I.13 pigging and pig trap operation requires a site specific pigging procedure. However, at the time of the incident, a site specific pigging procedure was not located. It has not been determined that the presence of a site specific pigging procedure at borchers station would have prevented this incident. In terms of process improvement, we have created a site specific pigging plan for borchers east 10" trap. A safety alert has been distributed company-wide in order to reinforce our current pigging procedures and stress the importance of proper safety protocols when engaging in pigging activities. We have worked with local field personnel to reinforce our pigging procedures. Also, we have developed a team to review and assess current pigging procedures. |
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