Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2022-11-04 — TX
Operator
High Point Gas Gathering, Llc
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$2,562,053
Incident datetime
2022-11-04 05:45
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On 11/04/22 at approximately 5:45am a third-party operator while conducting under water (770ft) inspections with a remotely operated vehicle (rov) on their subsea tie-in within 20 feet of our pipe and valve site; noticed bubbles coming from a hot tap completion valve on our (high point gas gathering) mc 109 lateral (bsee 14970). The operator contacted our engineers to report the release. From reports the bubbles being release are minor. The area was flown, and no bubbles were visible on the water surface. This was also confirmed by the boat present on location. Control center did not see a pressure drop either. At 10:30am it was determined that the monetary amount for repair would exceed the threshold for immediate notification and a call was placed to the nrc at 10:53am on 11/04/22 (nrc # 1351712). On 11/07/22 at 7:10am a 48hr update to the nrc was placed (nrc# 1351906). On 11/18/22 a saturation dive crew arrived on site to preform work for the operator that identified the release within 20ft of the release. High point gas gathering was able to contract the dive crew to investigate and report on the release. The pin hole leak seems to be coming from the stopple weld-o-let. Due to the depth (770ft) and the availability of dive boat/crews and minimal size of the release; repair plans/logistics are still being developed and submitted to bsee for approval. Approximately 0.601 mcf of natural gas has been released. A supplemental report will be filed once repairs are complete. *update* 10/29/24 after being delayed by the multiple hurricanes and storms in the gulf of mexico, we were able to get on scene and get divers down to the 792ft at the end of the week of oct 14th. But unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions starting oct 22 we had to leave the area. Divers were able to confirm that the leak has not worsen and is still a very minor leak (no bubbles reaching the surface and no sheen). The crew was able to complete some preparations for the repair but had to leave due to weather. Again, due to the depth, time of year, leak size, weather conditions I do not have a time frame for 2024 and will likely move into spring 2025. Repair plan will be to install a temporary launcher, insert a stopple in the trap, push it to just past the leaking flange, engage the stopple, replace the leaking component, disengage the stopple, and let the product pressure push the stopple back into the trap, remove the launcher replace blind flange. October 2025, a saturation dive spread arrived on location and started the repair process and the leak was stopped on 10/22/25 and repairs completed per the original approved repair plan.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2022-12-02 00:00:00
Iyear
2022
Report Number
20220126
Supplemental Number
41565
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
32595
Name
High Point Gas Gathering, Llc
Operator Street Address
Third Coast Midstream, Llc Po Box 1227
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77251
Local Datetime
2022-11-04 05:45:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Latitude
28.8689619
Location Longitude
-88.9867319
Nrc Rpt Num
1351712
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2022-11-04 10:53:00
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1351906
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
22
Intentional Release
0
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Status When Identified
Normal Operation, Includes Pauses During Maintenance
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Minimal Release On A Section Of Pipe Not Affecting Main Pipe
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Release Does Not Impact Flow Bubbles Not Reaching Surface Control Center Monitoring Pressure
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Release Does Not Impact Flow Bubbles Not Reaching Surface Control Center Monitoring Pressure
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2022-11-04 05:45:00
On Site Datetime
2022-11-18 11:00:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2022-11-18 11:00:00
On Off Shore
Offshore
Pipe Fac Name
Mc 194 16" Hpgt
Segment Name
Mc 109 Lateral 12" (Bsee 14970)
Off Water Depth
770
Off Accident Origin
On The Outer Continental Shelf (Ocs)
Ocs Type
Ocs-Gulf Of Mexico
Off Ocs Area
Mississippi Canyon
Off Ocs Block
108
Off Area Accident Type
Below Water, Pipe On Or Above Seabed
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Offshore Pipeline, Including Riser And Riser Bend
Item Involved
Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.)
Installation Year
1985
Manufactured Year
1985
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
253
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Did Occur In Mca Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
134
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
2562053
Est Cost Emergency
102000
Est Cost Other
0
Gas Cost In Mcf
6.11
Prpty
2664187
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Accident Psig
828
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
0
Mop Psig
1200
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1985-12-31 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
1
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
Pipe Blinded Off 8 Feet From Leaking Hot Tap Stopple
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Low Flow Ind
Yes
Pipeline Function
Offshore Gathering
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Contractor Working For Another Operator
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
A review of the accident determined that there were no control room actions that contributed to the event.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Eq Failure Type
Threaded Connection/coupling Failure
Other Stripped Ind
Pipe Nipple
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Normal Wear
Preparer Name
N****** P********
Preparer Title
Manager Pipeline Regulatory Compliance
Preparer Email
N*********@t**********.com
Preparer Telephone
3462413368
Authorizer Name
N****** P********
Authorizer Title
Manager Pipeline Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
3462413368
Authorizer Email
N*********@t**********.com
Narrative
On 11/04/22 at approximately 5:45am a third-party operator while conducting under water (770ft) inspections with a remotely operated vehicle (rov) on their subsea tie-in within 20 feet of our pipe and valve site; noticed bubbles coming from a hot tap completion valve on our (high point gas gathering) mc 109 lateral (bsee 14970). The operator contacted our engineers to report the release. From reports the bubbles being release are minor. The area was flown, and no bubbles were visible on the water surface. This was also confirmed by the boat present on location. Control center did not see a pressure drop either. At 10:30am it was determined that the monetary amount for repair would exceed the threshold for immediate notification and a call was placed to the nrc at 10:53am on 11/04/22 (nrc # 1351712). On 11/07/22 at 7:10am a 48hr update to the nrc was placed (nrc# 1351906). On 11/18/22 a saturation dive crew arrived on site to preform work for the operator that identified the release within 20ft of the release. High point gas gathering was able to contract the dive crew to investigate and report on the release. The pin hole leak seems to be coming from the stopple weld-o-let. Due to the depth (770ft) and the availability of dive boat/crews and minimal size of the release; repair plans/logistics are still being developed and submitted to bsee for approval. Approximately 0.601 mcf of natural gas has been released. A supplemental report will be filed once repairs are complete. *update* 10/29/24 after being delayed by the multiple hurricanes and storms in the gulf of mexico, we were able to get on scene and get divers down to the 792ft at the end of the week of oct 14th. But unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions starting oct 22 we had to leave the area. Divers were able to confirm that the leak has not worsen and is still a very minor leak (no bubbles reaching the surface and no sheen). The crew was able to complete some preparations for the repair but had to leave due to weather. Again, due to the depth, time of year, leak size, weather conditions I do not have a time frame for 2024 and will likely move into spring 2025. Repair plan will be to install a temporary launcher, insert a stopple in the trap, push it to just past the leaking flange, engage the stopple, replace the leaking component, disengage the stopple, and let the product pressure push the stopple back into the trap, remove the launcher replace blind flange. October 2025, a saturation dive spread arrived on location and started the repair process and the leak was stopped on 10/22/25 and repairs completed per the original approved repair plan.
| Report Received Date | 2022-12-02 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2022 |
| Report Number | 20220126 |
| Supplemental Number | 41565 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 32595 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | High Point Gas Gathering, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | Third Coast Midstream, Llc Po Box 1227 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77251 |
| Local Datetime | 2022-11-04 05:45:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Latitude | 28.8689619 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -88.9867319 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1351712 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2022-11-04 10:53:00 |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1351906 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 22 |
| Intentional Release | 0 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Status When Identified | Normal Operation, Includes Pauses During Maintenance |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Minimal Release On A Section Of Pipe Not Affecting Main Pipe |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Release Does Not Impact Flow Bubbles Not Reaching Surface Control Center Monitoring Pressure |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Release Does Not Impact Flow Bubbles Not Reaching Surface Control Center Monitoring Pressure |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2022-11-04 05:45:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2022-11-18 11:00:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2022-11-18 11:00:00 |
| On Off Shore | Offshore |
| Pipe Fac Name | Mc 194 16" Hpgt |
| Segment Name | Mc 109 Lateral 12" (Bsee 14970) |
| Off Water Depth | 770 |
| Off Accident Origin | On The Outer Continental Shelf (Ocs) |
| Ocs Type | Ocs-Gulf Of Mexico |
| Off Ocs Area | Mississippi Canyon |
| Off Ocs Block | 108 |
| Off Area Accident Type | Below Water, Pipe On Or Above Seabed |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Offshore Pipeline, Including Riser And Riser Bend |
| Item Involved | Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.) |
| Installation Year | 1985 |
| Manufactured Year | 1985 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 253 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Did Occur In Mca Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 134 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 2562053 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 102000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 6.11 |
| Prpty | 2664187 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Accident Psig | 828 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 0 |
| Mop Psig | 1200 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1985-12-31 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 | 1 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | Pipe Blinded Off 8 Feet From Leaking Hot Tap Stopple |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Low Flow Ind | Yes |
| Pipeline Function | Offshore Gathering |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Contractor Working For Another Operator |
| 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 | A review of the accident determined that there were no control room actions that contributed to the event. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Threaded Connection/coupling Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Threaded Connection/coupling Failure |
| Other Stripped Ind | Pipe Nipple |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Normal Wear |
| Preparer Name | N****** P******** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Pipeline Regulatory Compliance |
| Preparer Email | N*********@t**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 3462413368 |
| Authorizer Name | N****** P******** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Pipeline Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3462413368 |
| Authorizer Email | N*********@t**********.com |
| Narrative | On 11/04/22 at approximately 5:45am a third-party operator while conducting under water (770ft) inspections with a remotely operated vehicle (rov) on their subsea tie-in within 20 feet of our pipe and valve site; noticed bubbles coming from a hot tap completion valve on our (high point gas gathering) mc 109 lateral (bsee 14970). The operator contacted our engineers to report the release. From reports the bubbles being release are minor. The area was flown, and no bubbles were visible on the water surface. This was also confirmed by the boat present on location. Control center did not see a pressure drop either. At 10:30am it was determined that the monetary amount for repair would exceed the threshold for immediate notification and a call was placed to the nrc at 10:53am on 11/04/22 (nrc # 1351712). On 11/07/22 at 7:10am a 48hr update to the nrc was placed (nrc# 1351906). On 11/18/22 a saturation dive crew arrived on site to preform work for the operator that identified the release within 20ft of the release. High point gas gathering was able to contract the dive crew to investigate and report on the release. The pin hole leak seems to be coming from the stopple weld-o-let. Due to the depth (770ft) and the availability of dive boat/crews and minimal size of the release; repair plans/logistics are still being developed and submitted to bsee for approval. Approximately 0.601 mcf of natural gas has been released. A supplemental report will be filed once repairs are complete. *update* 10/29/24 after being delayed by the multiple hurricanes and storms in the gulf of mexico, we were able to get on scene and get divers down to the 792ft at the end of the week of oct 14th. But unfortunately, due to unfavorable weather conditions starting oct 22 we had to leave the area. Divers were able to confirm that the leak has not worsen and is still a very minor leak (no bubbles reaching the surface and no sheen). The crew was able to complete some preparations for the repair but had to leave due to weather. Again, due to the depth, time of year, leak size, weather conditions I do not have a time frame for 2024 and will likely move into spring 2025. Repair plan will be to install a temporary launcher, insert a stopple in the trap, push it to just past the leaking flange, engage the stopple, replace the leaking component, disengage the stopple, and let the product pressure push the stopple back into the trap, remove the launcher replace blind flange. October 2025, a saturation dive spread arrived on location and started the repair process and the leak was stopped on 10/22/25 and repairs completed per the original approved repair plan. |
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