Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2020-05-08 — TX
Operator
Epic Consolidated Operations, Llc
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2020-05-08 15:32
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
Update: on may 8, 2020 at approximately 2:06 pm, an epic operator and one contractor were on valve site 72 commissioning the new 30' underground mainline block valve in scada and control room. While performing the valve checks to ensure it was fully operational the valve was stroked remotely by the control room operator. When the valve was given the close command it began to close, after it traveled 6-8 inches the personnel on site witnessed oil spraying the ground at the valve location. The men manually stopped the valve from continuing to close and the controller reset the close command and gave the open command. Once the valve was fully open the release stopped. Pipeline pressure at the time of release was 220 psig. The pipeline system was shut-in at the time of the accident and the pipeline segment was isolated using mainline block valves 71 and 73, after isolation the pipeline pressure was 199 psig. The pipeline system never exceeded the mop. The site was made safe and the personnel contacted operations supervisor and epic operations management to notify them of the release. Personnel was sent to the site and epic's post-accident procedure was used to determine the estimated release volume and damages. During this time release volume calculations were being performed per the o&m procedure and confirmed by epic operations. The discovery time was 3:32 pm and was based on the estimated release volume of 29 bbl. Epic dispatched an environmental person to the site to assist operations with the cleanup of the site. After environmental made its initial assessment it was determined that the damages may meet or exceed $50,000, this was confirmed at 6:03 pm and an nrc report was made within one hour of confirmed discovery. Environmental remediation started on may 8, 2020 and continued through may 12,2020. During the inspection of the valve after the release it was discovered that there was a 1.5-inch threaded port on the top of the valve body that was missing a threaded plug. The valve was capable of holding full pressure while in the open position and but while closing the threaded port released pressure from the pipeline system. After reviewing records and receiving information requested from the contractor and valve supply company it was determined that the contractor removed the plug from the valve body at some point during the installation of the valve. This was determined by the photo evidence provide by the valve supplier that shows the plug installed at the time of delivery. Epic developed and implemented a mainline block valve pre-commissioning process to include a mainline valve pre-commissioning checklist, valve positioning guidance, additional flange torque documentation, and threaded connection tightening documentation.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2020-06-04 00:00:00
Iyear
2020
Report Number
20200163
Supplemental Number
34336
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
2020-05-08 14:06:00
Location Latitude
28.044016
Location Longitude
-98.776443
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
20
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
2020-05-08 15:32:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2020-05-08 14:10:00
Restart Datetime
2020-05-10 05:10:00
On Site Datetime
2020-05-08 14:06:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-05-08 18:43:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1276933
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
Line 100-Benedum To Robstown 30-Inch
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78357
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Duval
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
Valve Site 72
Federal
No
Location Type
Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
72
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Mainline
Valve Mainline Type
Gate
Valve Manufacturer
Vitas-Valvitalia Group
Installation Year
2019
Manufactured Year
2019
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
1.5-Inch Port Was Missing Plug
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Vegetation Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
560
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
22065
Est Cost Environmental
56064
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
78689
Accident Psig
220
Mop Psig
1440
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
Unknown
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
No
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 accident was caused by a plug missing from an underground valve in the field. The controller actions had no impact on the incident.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related No Proc Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
C**** W*******
Preparer Title
Sr. Pipeline Compliance Professional
Preparer Email
C*************@f*************.net
Preparer Telephone
806-759-6499
Prepared Date
2020-10-05 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D***** V** D****
Authorizer Telephone
210-840-6622
Authorizer Title
Director Of Operations
Authorizer Email
D**************@e******.com
Narrative
Update: on may 8, 2020 at approximately 2:06 pm, an epic operator and one contractor were on valve site 72 commissioning the new 30' underground mainline block valve in scada and control room. While performing the valve checks to ensure it was fully operational the valve was stroked remotely by the control room operator. When the valve was given the close command it began to close, after it traveled 6-8 inches the personnel on site witnessed oil spraying the ground at the valve location. The men manually stopped the valve from continuing to close and the controller reset the close command and gave the open command. Once the valve was fully open the release stopped. Pipeline pressure at the time of release was 220 psig. The pipeline system was shut-in at the time of the accident and the pipeline segment was isolated using mainline block valves 71 and 73, after isolation the pipeline pressure was 199 psig. The pipeline system never exceeded the mop. The site was made safe and the personnel contacted operations supervisor and epic operations management to notify them of the release. Personnel was sent to the site and epic's post-accident procedure was used to determine the estimated release volume and damages. During this time release volume calculations were being performed per the o&m procedure and confirmed by epic operations. The discovery time was 3:32 pm and was based on the estimated release volume of 29 bbl. Epic dispatched an environmental person to the site to assist operations with the cleanup of the site. After environmental made its initial assessment it was determined that the damages may meet or exceed $50,000, this was confirmed at 6:03 pm and an nrc report was made within one hour of confirmed discovery. Environmental remediation started on may 8, 2020 and continued through may 12,2020. During the inspection of the valve after the release it was discovered that there was a 1.5-inch threaded port on the top of the valve body that was missing a threaded plug. The valve was capable of holding full pressure while in the open position and but while closing the threaded port released pressure from the pipeline system. After reviewing records and receiving information requested from the contractor and valve supply company it was determined that the contractor removed the plug from the valve body at some point during the installation of the valve. This was determined by the photo evidence provide by the valve supplier that shows the plug installed at the time of delivery. Epic developed and implemented a mainline block valve pre-commissioning process to include a mainline valve pre-commissioning checklist, valve positioning guidance, additional flange torque documentation, and threaded connection tightening documentation.
| Report Received Date | 2020-06-04 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2020 |
| Report Number | 20200163 |
| Supplemental Number | 34336 |
| 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 | 2020-05-08 14:06:00 |
| Location Latitude | 28.044016 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -98.776443 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 20 |
| 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 | 2020-05-08 15:32:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2020-05-08 14:10:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2020-05-10 05:10:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-05-08 14:06:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-05-08 18:43:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1276933 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 | Line 100-Benedum To Robstown 30-Inch |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 78357 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Duval |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | Valve Site 72 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 72 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Mainline |
| Valve Mainline Type | Gate |
| Valve Manufacturer | Vitas-Valvitalia Group |
| Installation Year | 2019 |
| Manufactured Year | 2019 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | 1.5-Inch Port Was Missing Plug |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Vegetation Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 560 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 22065 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 56064 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 78689 |
| Accident Psig | 220 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | Unknown |
| 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 | No |
| 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 accident was caused by a plug missing from an underground valve in the field. The controller actions had no impact on the incident. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related No Proc Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | C**** W******* |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Pipeline Compliance Professional |
| Preparer Email | C*************@f*************.net |
| Preparer Telephone | 806-759-6499 |
| Prepared Date | 2020-10-05 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D***** V** D**** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 210-840-6622 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Of Operations |
| Authorizer Email | D**************@e******.com |
| Narrative | Update: on may 8, 2020 at approximately 2:06 pm, an epic operator and one contractor were on valve site 72 commissioning the new 30' underground mainline block valve in scada and control room. While performing the valve checks to ensure it was fully operational the valve was stroked remotely by the control room operator. When the valve was given the close command it began to close, after it traveled 6-8 inches the personnel on site witnessed oil spraying the ground at the valve location. The men manually stopped the valve from continuing to close and the controller reset the close command and gave the open command. Once the valve was fully open the release stopped. Pipeline pressure at the time of release was 220 psig. The pipeline system was shut-in at the time of the accident and the pipeline segment was isolated using mainline block valves 71 and 73, after isolation the pipeline pressure was 199 psig. The pipeline system never exceeded the mop. The site was made safe and the personnel contacted operations supervisor and epic operations management to notify them of the release. Personnel was sent to the site and epic's post-accident procedure was used to determine the estimated release volume and damages. During this time release volume calculations were being performed per the o&m procedure and confirmed by epic operations. The discovery time was 3:32 pm and was based on the estimated release volume of 29 bbl. Epic dispatched an environmental person to the site to assist operations with the cleanup of the site. After environmental made its initial assessment it was determined that the damages may meet or exceed $50,000, this was confirmed at 6:03 pm and an nrc report was made within one hour of confirmed discovery. Environmental remediation started on may 8, 2020 and continued through may 12,2020. During the inspection of the valve after the release it was discovered that there was a 1.5-inch threaded port on the top of the valve body that was missing a threaded plug. The valve was capable of holding full pressure while in the open position and but while closing the threaded port released pressure from the pipeline system. After reviewing records and receiving information requested from the contractor and valve supply company it was determined that the contractor removed the plug from the valve body at some point during the installation of the valve. This was determined by the photo evidence provide by the valve supplier that shows the plug installed at the time of delivery. Epic developed and implemented a mainline block valve pre-commissioning process to include a mainline valve pre-commissioning checklist, valve positioning guidance, additional flange torque documentation, and threaded connection tightening documentation. |
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