Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2020-09-08 — GA
Operator
Colonial Pipeline Co
Cause
Corrosion 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)
$258,239
Incident datetime
2020-09-08 13:52
Report number
Location
GA
Narrative
On 9/8/2020, a pipeline crew was preparing for the line 03 - unit 2 check valve cutout at bel air station. At 13:52 (local), they noticed a sheen in the unit 2 check valve excavation, suspected to be residual product from a historical leak. This sheen was not present earlier in the day. The colonial crew inspector notified the dorsey facility operator of the sheen, who then notified alpharetta control center at 13:54. The inspector continued to performing additional investigation in the station. The alpharetta controller shut down line 03 - unit 1 at bel air station at 13:59. At 14:04 the alpharetta control center, lead controller, called the inspector and the inspector did confirmed product/water mix in the wells around line 03 - unit 3. Alpharetta control center initiated controlled shut down sequence at 14:06 of line 03 (mainline). Shortly thereafter, the crew on site began to excavate around unit 3. Local er team was mobilized to site and began setting up ics for response. Unit 3 piping was excavated during the response phase and the point source was determined to be 6-inch diameter loop drain line piping of unit 3. The piping was disconnected from the station loop piping and a flange was installed and the damaged section of the drain line was cutout and removed. Once repair was completed the station was readied for line 03 startup. The line 03 started up on 9/11/20 at 20:01 (local) to allow the station to be pressured from the mainline and allow venting to ready the station for startup. After venting, the station was then unlocked and returned to normal operations on 9/11/20 at 20:49. During the response and post response, all free product and water were removed via vacuum trucks and placed in on-site frac tanks. The free product and contaminated soils were localized and contained on site. No product was identified in the ows or on the site pond. All excavated contaminated soils were segregated and were placed in either lined roll offs or segregated in stockpiles on plastic following bmps for soil containment. During post response activities contaminated soils were excavated under the direction of environmental and in cooperation with the maryland department of environment. All required soils were excavated and will be hauled off site to the disposal/recycling facilities as directed by environmental. All pcw is on site and waiting on direction from environmental for disposal/recycling. 03-26-2021 update: colonial conducted an incident analysis of this event and concluded that the primary cause of the leak was material failure - a small pin hole was discovered at the bottom of the drain line from line 03 - unit 3. The hole was a result of internal corrosion on the 6 inch drain line. The cut out pipe will be sent off for lab analysis. All accessible soils were hauled off site to disposal/recycling facilities. All petroleum-contaminated waste (pcw) was sent for off-site disposal/recycling. The updated volume was calculated from scale tickets and laboratory analyses of soil excavated and soil borings. The cost estimates have been updated. 2/7/22 update: colonial contracted the southwest research institute (swri) to analyze portions of the removed drain system and evaluate the cause of the leak. Swri determined that the leak was a result of internal corrosion most likely caused by microbiologically induced corrosion (mic). Colonial mitigated the risk of future leaks by replacing the entire drain system and establishing a periodic flushing program. In part to the investigation events discussed above, the environmental team found no indication of a historical leak. The lab analysis associated to this update was received after an initial analysis attempt was rejected due to sampling error, thereby causing delay in the closure of this incident. Colonial continues to develop processes relative to a flushing program in accordance with developing procedures and applying lessons learned to mitigate reoccurrences
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2020-10-07 00:00:00
Iyear
2020
Report Number
20200273
Supplemental Number
36307
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2552
Name
Colonial Pipeline Co
Operator Street Address
1000 Lake St.
Operator City Name
Alpharetta
Operator State Abbreviation
GA
Operator Postal Code
30009
Local Datetime
2020-09-08 13:52:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
39.563713
Location Longitude
-76.4788753
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Mixture Of Refined Products (Transmix Or Other Mixture)
Unintentional Release Bbls
12.1
Recovered Bbls
12.1
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2020-09-08 13:52:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
On Site Datetime
2020-09-08 13:52:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-09-09 15:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1286911
Ignite Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Colonial/bel Air Station
Segment Name
Line 03
Onshore State Abbreviation
Md
Onshore Postal Code
21047
Onshore City Name
Fallston
Onshore County Name
Harford
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
1021
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
78
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Drain Lines
Installation Year
1979
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
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
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
577
Est Cost Prop Damage
258239
Est Cost Emergency
439336
Est Cost Environmental
52979
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
751131
Accident Psig
149
Mop Psig
275
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction 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 station was running at steady state
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Cause Details
Internal Corrosion
Internal External
Internal Corrosion
Int Visual Exam Results
Localized Pitting
Int Microbiological Ind
Yes
Int Metallurgical Basis Ind
Yes
Int Low Point Pipe Loc Ind
Yes
Corrosion Inhibitors
No
Corrosion Lining
No
Cleaning Dewatering
Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe
Corrosion Coupons
Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe
Preparer Name
A**** T***********
Preparer Title
Compliance Coordinator
Preparer Email
A******@c******.com
Preparer Telephone
410 970 2157
Prepared Date
2022-02-07 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
A**** T***********
Authorizer Telephone
410 970 2157
Authorizer Title
Compliance Coordinator
Authorizer Email
A******@c******.com
Narrative
On 9/8/2020, a pipeline crew was preparing for the line 03 - unit 2 check valve cutout at bel air station. At 13:52 (local), they noticed a sheen in the unit 2 check valve excavation, suspected to be residual product from a historical leak. This sheen was not present earlier in the day. The colonial crew inspector notified the dorsey facility operator of the sheen, who then notified alpharetta control center at 13:54. The inspector continued to performing additional investigation in the station. The alpharetta controller shut down line 03 - unit 1 at bel air station at 13:59. At 14:04 the alpharetta control center, lead controller, called the inspector and the inspector did confirmed product/water mix in the wells around line 03 - unit 3. Alpharetta control center initiated controlled shut down sequence at 14:06 of line 03 (mainline). Shortly thereafter, the crew on site began to excavate around unit 3. Local er team was mobilized to site and began setting up ics for response. Unit 3 piping was excavated during the response phase and the point source was determined to be 6-inch diameter loop drain line piping of unit 3. The piping was disconnected from the station loop piping and a flange was installed and the damaged section of the drain line was cutout and removed. Once repair was completed the station was readied for line 03 startup. The line 03 started up on 9/11/20 at 20:01 (local) to allow the station to be pressured from the mainline and allow venting to ready the station for startup. After venting, the station was then unlocked and returned to normal operations on 9/11/20 at 20:49. During the response and post response, all free product and water were removed via vacuum trucks and placed in on-site frac tanks. The free product and contaminated soils were localized and contained on site. No product was identified in the ows or on the site pond. All excavated contaminated soils were segregated and were placed in either lined roll offs or segregated in stockpiles on plastic following bmps for soil containment. During post response activities contaminated soils were excavated under the direction of environmental and in cooperation with the maryland department of environment. All required soils were excavated and will be hauled off site to the disposal/recycling facilities as directed by environmental. All pcw is on site and waiting on direction from environmental for disposal/recycling. 03-26-2021 update: colonial conducted an incident analysis of this event and concluded that the primary cause of the leak was material failure - a small pin hole was discovered at the bottom of the drain line from line 03 - unit 3. The hole was a result of internal corrosion on the 6 inch drain line. The cut out pipe will be sent off for lab analysis. All accessible soils were hauled off site to disposal/recycling facilities. All petroleum-contaminated waste (pcw) was sent for off-site disposal/recycling. The updated volume was calculated from scale tickets and laboratory analyses of soil excavated and soil borings. The cost estimates have been updated. 2/7/22 update: colonial contracted the southwest research institute (swri) to analyze portions of the removed drain system and evaluate the cause of the leak. Swri determined that the leak was a result of internal corrosion most likely caused by microbiologically induced corrosion (mic). Colonial mitigated the risk of future leaks by replacing the entire drain system and establishing a periodic flushing program. In part to the investigation events discussed above, the environmental team found no indication of a historical leak. The lab analysis associated to this update was received after an initial analysis attempt was rejected due to sampling error, thereby causing delay in the closure of this incident. Colonial continues to develop processes relative to a flushing program in accordance with developing procedures and applying lessons learned to mitigate reoccurrences
| Report Received Date | 2020-10-07 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2020 |
| Report Number | 20200273 |
| Supplemental Number | 36307 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2552 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Colonial Pipeline Co |
| Operator Street Address | 1000 Lake St. |
| Operator City Name | Alpharetta |
| Operator State Abbreviation | GA |
| Operator Postal Code | 30009 |
| Local Datetime | 2020-09-08 13:52:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 39.563713 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -76.4788753 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Mixture Of Refined Products (Transmix Or Other Mixture) |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 12.1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 12.1 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2020-09-08 13:52:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-09-08 13:52:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-09-09 15:10:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1286911 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Colonial/bel Air Station |
| Segment Name | Line 03 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Md |
| Onshore Postal Code | 21047 |
| Onshore City Name | Fallston |
| Onshore County Name | Harford |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 1021 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 78 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Drain Lines |
| Installation Year | 1979 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| 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 |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 577 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 258239 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 439336 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 52979 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 751131 |
| Accident Psig | 149 |
| Mop Psig | 275 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction 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 station was running at steady state |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Corrosion Failure |
| Cause Details | Internal Corrosion |
| Internal External | Internal Corrosion |
| Int Visual Exam Results | Localized Pitting |
| Int Microbiological Ind | Yes |
| Int Metallurgical Basis Ind | Yes |
| Int Low Point Pipe Loc Ind | Yes |
| Corrosion Inhibitors | No |
| Corrosion Lining | No |
| Cleaning Dewatering | Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe |
| Corrosion Coupons | Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe |
| Preparer Name | A**** T*********** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Coordinator |
| Preparer Email | A******@c******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 410 970 2157 |
| Prepared Date | 2022-02-07 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | A**** T*********** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 410 970 2157 |
| Authorizer Title | Compliance Coordinator |
| Authorizer Email | A******@c******.com |
| Narrative | On 9/8/2020, a pipeline crew was preparing for the line 03 - unit 2 check valve cutout at bel air station. At 13:52 (local), they noticed a sheen in the unit 2 check valve excavation, suspected to be residual product from a historical leak. This sheen was not present earlier in the day. The colonial crew inspector notified the dorsey facility operator of the sheen, who then notified alpharetta control center at 13:54. The inspector continued to performing additional investigation in the station. The alpharetta controller shut down line 03 - unit 1 at bel air station at 13:59. At 14:04 the alpharetta control center, lead controller, called the inspector and the inspector did confirmed product/water mix in the wells around line 03 - unit 3. Alpharetta control center initiated controlled shut down sequence at 14:06 of line 03 (mainline). Shortly thereafter, the crew on site began to excavate around unit 3. Local er team was mobilized to site and began setting up ics for response. Unit 3 piping was excavated during the response phase and the point source was determined to be 6-inch diameter loop drain line piping of unit 3. The piping was disconnected from the station loop piping and a flange was installed and the damaged section of the drain line was cutout and removed. Once repair was completed the station was readied for line 03 startup. The line 03 started up on 9/11/20 at 20:01 (local) to allow the station to be pressured from the mainline and allow venting to ready the station for startup. After venting, the station was then unlocked and returned to normal operations on 9/11/20 at 20:49. During the response and post response, all free product and water were removed via vacuum trucks and placed in on-site frac tanks. The free product and contaminated soils were localized and contained on site. No product was identified in the ows or on the site pond. All excavated contaminated soils were segregated and were placed in either lined roll offs or segregated in stockpiles on plastic following bmps for soil containment. During post response activities contaminated soils were excavated under the direction of environmental and in cooperation with the maryland department of environment. All required soils were excavated and will be hauled off site to the disposal/recycling facilities as directed by environmental. All pcw is on site and waiting on direction from environmental for disposal/recycling. 03-26-2021 update: colonial conducted an incident analysis of this event and concluded that the primary cause of the leak was material failure - a small pin hole was discovered at the bottom of the drain line from line 03 - unit 3. The hole was a result of internal corrosion on the 6 inch drain line. The cut out pipe will be sent off for lab analysis. All accessible soils were hauled off site to disposal/recycling facilities. All petroleum-contaminated waste (pcw) was sent for off-site disposal/recycling. The updated volume was calculated from scale tickets and laboratory analyses of soil excavated and soil borings. The cost estimates have been updated. 2/7/22 update: colonial contracted the southwest research institute (swri) to analyze portions of the removed drain system and evaluate the cause of the leak. Swri determined that the leak was a result of internal corrosion most likely caused by microbiologically induced corrosion (mic). Colonial mitigated the risk of future leaks by replacing the entire drain system and establishing a periodic flushing program. In part to the investigation events discussed above, the environmental team found no indication of a historical leak. The lab analysis associated to this update was received after an initial analysis attempt was rejected due to sampling error, thereby causing delay in the closure of this incident. Colonial continues to develop processes relative to a flushing program in accordance with developing procedures and applying lessons learned to mitigate reoccurrences |
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