Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2020-06-10 — TX
Operator
Citgo Refining & Chemical Co. L.p.
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$100,000
Incident datetime
2020-06-10 11:00
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On april 6, 2020, the e05 ulsd pipeline was isolated, de-inventoried and blinded in preparation for the pipeline's 5-year DOT assessment by hydro-test. The hydro-test for this pipeline was to be conducted in three segments. The east-side segment was completed on april 12th and west-side segment was completed on april 13th. The center segment would not hold pressure after multiple attempts. Different methods of trying to get a good hydro on the line were attempted without success. The decision was made to conduct a ut smart pig on the pipeline on april 11th, and the process to award the contract was started within citgo procurement requirements. The contract was awarded and signed on may 6th. Contract surveyors mobilized on may 8th and the smart pig was successfully conducted on may 13th. On the evening of may 13th, citgo received preliminary results from the pigging contractor that indicated the presence of two underground flanges on this pipeline (one at the 91 area and one at gate 5 area). On may 18th, citgo starting hydro-excavating/pot-holing the areas in question in order to locate the underground flanges for inspection and removal. On may 20th, it was determined that one of the potholes at the 91 area had developed a layer of diesel in it at a depth of ~18 feet below grade. With the e05 pipeline out of service for testing, the source of the leak could not be determined at that time. Hydro-excavation continued at the 91 area to locate the underground flanges, with none of the other potholes indicating any sign of diesel. When the flanges were located at both locations, large excavations, utilizing hydro-excavation techniques, with the proper shoring were installed for the inspection and removal of the flanges. Over time, the excavation at the 91 area was leaching in diesel into the shore box. This material was pumped out periodically into frac tanks for containment. With the flanges exposed on june 10th, a hydro-test was conducted and indicated that the flange at the 91 area was leaking. On the evening of june 10th, notification of all agencies was conducted, with the coast guard and tglo making a site visit that evening. The tceq and rrct contacted US on june 11th and tceq also visited the site. Two dewatering wells and a recovery sump were installed in close proximity to the excavation at the 91 area to lower the groundwater table and prevent hydrocarbon leaching into the shore box. This allowed maintenance to safely enter the shore box to remove the underground flanges. Delineation and remediation activities will be performed per the tceq 30tac spill rules or texas risk reduction program (trrp-13) as required. The flanges at the gate 5 area and 91 area have been removed and replaced with piping sections. An incident investigation was conducted and determined that the root cause for the leak was an out-dated piping design. The e05 - ulsd pipeline was returned to service on 7/31/2020.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2020-07-14 00:00:00
Iyear
2020
Report Number
20200203
Supplemental Number
34231
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31023
Name
Citgo Refining & Chemical Co. L.p.
Operator Street Address
1293 Eldridge Parkway
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77077
Local Datetime
2020-06-10 11:00:00
Location Latitude
27.8141
Location Longitude
-97.4765
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel
Unintentional Release Bbls
8.5
Recovered Bbls
8.5
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Static Shut-In Test Or Other Pressure Or Leak Test
Incident Identified Datetime
2020-06-10 11:00:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Leak Identified When Line Was Isolated For 5 Yr Assessment
On Site Datetime
2020-06-10 11:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-06-10 18:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1279314
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
E05 - Ulsd
Segment Name
E05 91 Area Pig Launcher Area
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78409
Onshore City Name
Corpus Christi
Onshore County Name
Nueces
Designated Location
Milepost/valve Station
Designated Name
91 Area
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
144
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
1976
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
Yes
Remediation Ind
Yes
Groundwater Remed Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Groundwater Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
1
Rel Water Name
Unknown
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
2000
Est Cost Prop Damage
100000
Est Cost Emergency
3000
Est Cost Environmental
150000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
255000
Accident Psig
150
Mop Psig
285
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
17580
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
> 20% Smys Regulated Transmission
Scada In Place Ind
No
Cpm In Place Ind
No
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the accident
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
Other
Other Non Threaded Details
Investigation Determined That Root Cause Was Underground Flange Leak Due To Outdated Piping Design. Citgo Has Not Allowed Underground Slip-On Flanges Within Its Piping Specification (M-200) Since At Least 1995.
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Outdated Piping Design
Preparer Name
D**** R* G*****
Preparer Title
Psm Advisor
Preparer Email
D******@c****.com
Preparer Telephone
361-844-5479
Prepared Date
2020-09-03 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
D**** R* G*****
Authorizer Telephone
361-844-5479
Authorizer Title
Psm Advisor
Authorizer Email
D******@c****.com
Narrative
On april 6, 2020, the e05 ulsd pipeline was isolated, de-inventoried and blinded in preparation for the pipeline's 5-year DOT assessment by hydro-test. The hydro-test for this pipeline was to be conducted in three segments. The east-side segment was completed on april 12th and west-side segment was completed on april 13th. The center segment would not hold pressure after multiple attempts. Different methods of trying to get a good hydro on the line were attempted without success. The decision was made to conduct a ut smart pig on the pipeline on april 11th, and the process to award the contract was started within citgo procurement requirements. The contract was awarded and signed on may 6th. Contract surveyors mobilized on may 8th and the smart pig was successfully conducted on may 13th. On the evening of may 13th, citgo received preliminary results from the pigging contractor that indicated the presence of two underground flanges on this pipeline (one at the 91 area and one at gate 5 area). On may 18th, citgo starting hydro-excavating/pot-holing the areas in question in order to locate the underground flanges for inspection and removal. On may 20th, it was determined that one of the potholes at the 91 area had developed a layer of diesel in it at a depth of ~18 feet below grade. With the e05 pipeline out of service for testing, the source of the leak could not be determined at that time. Hydro-excavation continued at the 91 area to locate the underground flanges, with none of the other potholes indicating any sign of diesel. When the flanges were located at both locations, large excavations, utilizing hydro-excavation techniques, with the proper shoring were installed for the inspection and removal of the flanges. Over time, the excavation at the 91 area was leaching in diesel into the shore box. This material was pumped out periodically into frac tanks for containment. With the flanges exposed on june 10th, a hydro-test was conducted and indicated that the flange at the 91 area was leaking. On the evening of june 10th, notification of all agencies was conducted, with the coast guard and tglo making a site visit that evening. The tceq and rrct contacted US on june 11th and tceq also visited the site. Two dewatering wells and a recovery sump were installed in close proximity to the excavation at the 91 area to lower the groundwater table and prevent hydrocarbon leaching into the shore box. This allowed maintenance to safely enter the shore box to remove the underground flanges. Delineation and remediation activities will be performed per the tceq 30tac spill rules or texas risk reduction program (trrp-13) as required. The flanges at the gate 5 area and 91 area have been removed and replaced with piping sections. An incident investigation was conducted and determined that the root cause for the leak was an out-dated piping design. The e05 - ulsd pipeline was returned to service on 7/31/2020.
| Report Received Date | 2020-07-14 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2020 |
| Report Number | 20200203 |
| Supplemental Number | 34231 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31023 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Citgo Refining & Chemical Co. L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 1293 Eldridge Parkway |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77077 |
| Local Datetime | 2020-06-10 11:00:00 |
| Location Latitude | 27.8141 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -97.4765 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 8.5 |
| Recovered Bbls | 8.5 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Static Shut-In Test Or Other Pressure Or Leak Test |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2020-06-10 11:00:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Leak Identified When Line Was Isolated For 5 Yr Assessment |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-06-10 11:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-06-10 18:30:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1279314 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | E05 - Ulsd |
| Segment Name | E05 91 Area Pig Launcher Area |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 78409 |
| Onshore City Name | Corpus Christi |
| Onshore County Name | Nueces |
| Designated Location | Milepost/valve Station |
| Designated Name | 91 Area |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 144 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Flange Assembly |
| Installation Year | 1976 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | Yes |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Groundwater Remed Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Groundwater Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 1 |
| Rel Water Name | Unknown |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 2000 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 100000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 3000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 150000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 255000 |
| Accident Psig | 150 |
| Mop Psig | 285 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 17580 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | > 20% Smys Regulated Transmission |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Cpm In Place Ind | No |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the accident |
| 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 | Other |
| Other Non Threaded Details | Investigation Determined That Root Cause Was Underground Flange Leak Due To Outdated Piping Design. Citgo Has Not Allowed Underground Slip-On Flanges Within Its Piping Specification (M-200) Since At Least 1995. |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Outdated Piping Design |
| Preparer Name | D**** R* G***** |
| Preparer Title | Psm Advisor |
| Preparer Email | D******@c****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 361-844-5479 |
| Prepared Date | 2020-09-03 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | D**** R* G***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 361-844-5479 |
| Authorizer Title | Psm Advisor |
| Authorizer Email | D******@c****.com |
| Narrative | On april 6, 2020, the e05 ulsd pipeline was isolated, de-inventoried and blinded in preparation for the pipeline's 5-year DOT assessment by hydro-test. The hydro-test for this pipeline was to be conducted in three segments. The east-side segment was completed on april 12th and west-side segment was completed on april 13th. The center segment would not hold pressure after multiple attempts. Different methods of trying to get a good hydro on the line were attempted without success. The decision was made to conduct a ut smart pig on the pipeline on april 11th, and the process to award the contract was started within citgo procurement requirements. The contract was awarded and signed on may 6th. Contract surveyors mobilized on may 8th and the smart pig was successfully conducted on may 13th. On the evening of may 13th, citgo received preliminary results from the pigging contractor that indicated the presence of two underground flanges on this pipeline (one at the 91 area and one at gate 5 area). On may 18th, citgo starting hydro-excavating/pot-holing the areas in question in order to locate the underground flanges for inspection and removal. On may 20th, it was determined that one of the potholes at the 91 area had developed a layer of diesel in it at a depth of ~18 feet below grade. With the e05 pipeline out of service for testing, the source of the leak could not be determined at that time. Hydro-excavation continued at the 91 area to locate the underground flanges, with none of the other potholes indicating any sign of diesel. When the flanges were located at both locations, large excavations, utilizing hydro-excavation techniques, with the proper shoring were installed for the inspection and removal of the flanges. Over time, the excavation at the 91 area was leaching in diesel into the shore box. This material was pumped out periodically into frac tanks for containment. With the flanges exposed on june 10th, a hydro-test was conducted and indicated that the flange at the 91 area was leaking. On the evening of june 10th, notification of all agencies was conducted, with the coast guard and tglo making a site visit that evening. The tceq and rrct contacted US on june 11th and tceq also visited the site. Two dewatering wells and a recovery sump were installed in close proximity to the excavation at the 91 area to lower the groundwater table and prevent hydrocarbon leaching into the shore box. This allowed maintenance to safely enter the shore box to remove the underground flanges. Delineation and remediation activities will be performed per the tceq 30tac spill rules or texas risk reduction program (trrp-13) as required. The flanges at the gate 5 area and 91 area have been removed and replaced with piping sections. An incident investigation was conducted and determined that the root cause for the leak was an out-dated piping design. The e05 - ulsd pipeline was returned to service on 7/31/2020. |
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