Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2020-11-01 — TX
Operator
Equistar Chemicals, L.p.
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
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)
$5,000
Incident datetime
2020-11-01 08:48
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On october 31st, 2020 nine pipeline anomalies reported as immediate conditions were excavated for purposes of examination and repair on equistar's 6 inch cross country propylene pipeline in refugio county, texas in the o'connor ranch. The investigations revealed localized corrosion pitting co-incident with the erw seam. All anomalies were confined to a 5 foot segment of the pipeline. On november 1st, 2020 pipeline technicians sprayed a soapy solution on an anomaly and found that there were small bubbles forming at one of the anomaly locations and a slight hissing could be heard. The approximate gps coordinates of the leak site are: 28.28081765, -97.15374630 2021-03-16- the metallurgical analysis was completed in mid-february 2021. The results from the report indicate that the pipe joint type is low frequency erw. There was no through wall corrosion at the location of the leak. Investigation is continuing and is due for completion by march 31. 2021-04-12 - following are the corrective actions from our investigation. 1-develop an integrity plan to manage lf-erw threats to include inspection of the pipe, classification of the anomalies, remediation plan. 2-replace the four existing, failed groundbeds on the pipeline system. 3-review previous ili repairs in relation to the seam to determine if the appropriate repair method was used. Remediate identified repairs as needed. 4-conduct a coating survey known as direct current voltage gradient survey to determine areas of degraded coating. Repair coating as needed. 2021-03-29 - investigation complete. Corrective actions are above. Immediate cause of incident was aggressive external corrosion and low frequency-erw seam failure.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2020-11-30 00:00:00
Iyear
2020
Report Number
20200323
Supplemental Number
36220
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
25146
Name
Equistar Chemicals, L.p.
Operator Street Address
16055 Space Center Blvd. Suite 350
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77062
Local Datetime
2020-11-01 08:48:00
Location Latitude
28.28081765
Location Longitude
-97.1537463
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Propylene
Unintentional Release Bbls
7.9
Intentional Release Bbls
1953
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
2020-11-01 08:48:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2020-11-02 13:10:00
Restart Datetime
2020-11-05 13:15:00
On Site Datetime
2020-11-01 08:48:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2020-11-01 13:36:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1291187
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
32_corpus_to_mko
Segment Name
Line 32 Cc05
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78377
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Refugio County
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
2394+21
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
59
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Pipe Diameter
6.625
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.219
Pipe Smys
42000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - Low Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
Coal Tar
Installation Year
1979
Manufactured Year
1979
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
External Corrosion Coincident With The Erw Seam
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
122192
Est Cost Prop Damage
5000
Est Cost Emergency
17000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
750000
Est Cost Other Details
Corpus Christi Propylene Plant Outage
Prpty
894192
Accident Psig
766
Mop Psig
1440
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
Yes
Exceed Restriction Ind
No
Phmsa Restriction Ind
Not Mandated
Length Segment Isolated
52800
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
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
No
Cpm Conf 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 was material related and discovered after excavating the area to inspect ili anomalies.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details
Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field)
Metallurgical Ind
Yes
Failure Type
Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field)
Fatigue Vibr Related
Yes
Failure Subtype
Pressure-Related
Additional Lack Fusion Ind
Yes
Collected Data Ind
Yes
Axial Magnetic Flx Lkg Ind
Yes
Geometry Deformation Ind
Yes
Axial Recent Year
2020
Geometry Recent Year
2020
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
Yes, And An Investigative Dig Was Cunducted At The Point Of The Accident
Direct Asmnt At Pnt Accdnt Yr
2020
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
S**** T******
Preparer Title
Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
S************@l**.com
Prepared Date
2022-01-11 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
K******* L***
Authorizer Telephone
281-709-0634
Authorizer Title
Hse Manager
Authorizer Email
K************@l**.com
Narrative
On october 31st, 2020 nine pipeline anomalies reported as immediate conditions were excavated for purposes of examination and repair on equistar's 6 inch cross country propylene pipeline in refugio county, texas in the o'connor ranch. The investigations revealed localized corrosion pitting co-incident with the erw seam. All anomalies were confined to a 5 foot segment of the pipeline. On november 1st, 2020 pipeline technicians sprayed a soapy solution on an anomaly and found that there were small bubbles forming at one of the anomaly locations and a slight hissing could be heard. The approximate gps coordinates of the leak site are: 28.28081765, -97.15374630 2021-03-16- the metallurgical analysis was completed in mid-february 2021. The results from the report indicate that the pipe joint type is low frequency erw. There was no through wall corrosion at the location of the leak. Investigation is continuing and is due for completion by march 31. 2021-04-12 - following are the corrective actions from our investigation. 1-develop an integrity plan to manage lf-erw threats to include inspection of the pipe, classification of the anomalies, remediation plan. 2-replace the four existing, failed groundbeds on the pipeline system. 3-review previous ili repairs in relation to the seam to determine if the appropriate repair method was used. Remediate identified repairs as needed. 4-conduct a coating survey known as direct current voltage gradient survey to determine areas of degraded coating. Repair coating as needed. 2021-03-29 - investigation complete. Corrective actions are above. Immediate cause of incident was aggressive external corrosion and low frequency-erw seam failure.
| Report Received Date | 2020-11-30 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2020 |
| Report Number | 20200323 |
| Supplemental Number | 36220 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 25146 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Equistar Chemicals, L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 16055 Space Center Blvd. Suite 350 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77062 |
| Local Datetime | 2020-11-01 08:48:00 |
| Location Latitude | 28.28081765 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -97.1537463 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 | Propylene |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 7.9 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 1953 |
| 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 | 2020-11-01 08:48:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2020-11-02 13:10:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2020-11-05 13:15:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2020-11-01 08:48:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2020-11-01 13:36:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1291187 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 | 32_corpus_to_mko |
| Segment Name | Line 32 Cc05 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 78377 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Refugio County |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 2394+21 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 59 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.625 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.219 |
| Pipe Smys | 42000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - Low Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | Coal Tar |
| Installation Year | 1979 |
| Manufactured Year | 1979 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | External Corrosion Coincident With The Erw Seam |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 122192 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 5000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 17000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 750000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Corpus Christi Propylene Plant Outage |
| Prpty | 894192 |
| Accident Psig | 766 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | Yes |
| Exceed Restriction Ind | No |
| Phmsa Restriction Ind | Not Mandated |
| Length Segment Isolated | 52800 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Cpm Operating Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Functional Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Detection Ind | No |
| Cpm Conf 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 was material related and discovered after excavating the area to inspect ili anomalies. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld |
| Cause Details | Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field) |
| Metallurgical Ind | Yes |
| Failure Type | Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field) |
| Fatigue Vibr Related | Yes |
| Failure Subtype | Pressure-Related |
| Additional Lack Fusion Ind | Yes |
| Collected Data Ind | Yes |
| Axial Magnetic Flx Lkg Ind | Yes |
| Geometry Deformation Ind | Yes |
| Axial Recent Year | 2020 |
| Geometry Recent Year | 2020 |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | No |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | Yes, And An Investigative Dig Was Cunducted At The Point Of The Accident |
| Direct Asmnt At Pnt Accdnt Yr | 2020 |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | S**** T****** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | S************@l**.com |
| Prepared Date | 2022-01-11 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | K******* L*** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 281-709-0634 |
| Authorizer Title | Hse Manager |
| Authorizer Email | K************@l**.com |
| Narrative | On october 31st, 2020 nine pipeline anomalies reported as immediate conditions were excavated for purposes of examination and repair on equistar's 6 inch cross country propylene pipeline in refugio county, texas in the o'connor ranch. The investigations revealed localized corrosion pitting co-incident with the erw seam. All anomalies were confined to a 5 foot segment of the pipeline. On november 1st, 2020 pipeline technicians sprayed a soapy solution on an anomaly and found that there were small bubbles forming at one of the anomaly locations and a slight hissing could be heard. The approximate gps coordinates of the leak site are: 28.28081765, -97.15374630 2021-03-16- the metallurgical analysis was completed in mid-february 2021. The results from the report indicate that the pipe joint type is low frequency erw. There was no through wall corrosion at the location of the leak. Investigation is continuing and is due for completion by march 31. 2021-04-12 - following are the corrective actions from our investigation. 1-develop an integrity plan to manage lf-erw threats to include inspection of the pipe, classification of the anomalies, remediation plan. 2-replace the four existing, failed groundbeds on the pipeline system. 3-review previous ili repairs in relation to the seam to determine if the appropriate repair method was used. Remediate identified repairs as needed. 4-conduct a coating survey known as direct current voltage gradient survey to determine areas of degraded coating. Repair coating as needed. 2021-03-29 - investigation complete. Corrective actions are above. Immediate cause of incident was aggressive external corrosion and low frequency-erw seam failure. |
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