Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2022-07-04 — GA
Operator
Colonial Pipeline Co
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)
$500
Incident datetime
2022-07-04 22:30
Report number
Location
GA
Narrative
On 7/4/2022 at 10:30pm, the alpharetta control center (acc) was contacted by loudon county (tn 911) as a result of responding to a homeowner call of gasoline odor coming from the sugarlimb trap site on line 18. Local colonial personnel was dispatched to the site for investigation at 10:35pm, and the acc shutdown line 18 at 10:45pm by double blocking west (upstream) of the facility, depressurizing the sugarlimb trap site, and closing out knoxville delivery (downstream) on no flow. Local colonial personnel arrived onsite at 11:00pm and confirmed gasoline flowing from a 2 inch valve on line 18 downstream of the launching trap. The personnel exited the facility and secured the perimeter maintaining a safe distance until appropriate resources arrived. Additional internal notification were made to mobilize resources to address discovered conditions. At 11:54pm the loudon county fire department evacuated the neighboring residence out of an abundance of caution. External notifications were made to tema at 12:52am. Colonial issued an internal emergency notification on 7/5/2022 at 08:53am for awareness and to mobilize additional resources. An incident command post was established to support the response. A drain up of line 18 was completed on 7/5/2022 at 4:04pm removing all remaining product from the isolated segment of pipe. Once the drain up was complete, the 2 inch valve was removed from the tor fitting and the fitting was plugged and capped. The release was due to the failure of a ball valve. The screws that held the stem assembly to the valves fractured. The failure of the screws was the result of gradual mechanical overload. This is shown by the presence of arrest marks, microvoid dimples, and mixed brittle morphology on the fracture surfaces of both screws. Mechanical overload occurs when the applied forces exceed the strength of the material, and a facture occurs. Both screws had likely presence of a quench crack. Update: on 3/8/2023 an nrc notification was made when it was discovered that surface water analysis along hubbard branch creek (south of, and downgradient of the release site) resulted in concentrations above the tennessee department of environment & conservation (tdec) surface water domestic supply screening level. Since the 3/8/2023 nrc notification, there have been additional efforts to further assess groundwater and increased sampling frequency of the surface waters. The most recent sample results from 3/22/2023 demonstrated that all surface water sampling locations on hubbard branch creek were below the tdec surface water domestic supply screening level. Epa was contacted on 3/8/2023 (same day as the nrc notification) as a courtesy, and again on 3/27/2023. Colonial has also verbally communicated with tdec, in addition to submitting weekly written reports that have been occurring since the inception of event in 2022.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2022-08-03 00:00:00
Iyear
2022
Report Number
20220167
Supplemental Number
37932
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
2022-07-04 22:30:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
35.77967948
Location Longitude
-84.33629223
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Gasoline (Non-Ethanol)
Unintentional Release Bbls
591
Recovered Bbls
10.91
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Notification From Public
Incident Identified Datetime
2022-07-04 22:30:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Status When Identified
Normal Operation, Includes Pauses Between Batches And During Maintenance
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2022-07-04 22:45:00
Restart Datetime
2022-07-05 18:33:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2022-07-04 22:30:00
On Site Datetime
2022-07-04 23:00:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2022-07-04 23:00:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2022-07-05 12:27:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1340623
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1340810
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Close Datetime
2022-07-04 22:45:00
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Vlv Close Datetime
2022-07-04 22:45:00
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Qualified Indiv Notif Datetime
2022-07-04 22:45:00
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
Yes
Osro Activated Datetime
2022-07-05 23:29:00
Osro Arrived On Site Dt
7/5/2022 4:00
Num Pub Evacuated
2
Pipe Fac Name
Sugarlimb Trap Site
Segment Name
Line 18
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tn
Onshore Postal Code
37774
Onshore City Name
Loudon
Onshore County Name
Loudon
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
4224+80
Federal
No
Location Type
Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Auxiliary Or Other Valve
Installation Year
Unknown
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Valve Body 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
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Groundwater Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.8
Rel Water Name
Hubbard Creek.
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
1542000
Est Cost Gas Released
88173
Est Cost Prop Damage
500
Est Cost Emergency
3797500
Est Cost Environmental
7101475
Est Cost Other
415000
Est Cost Other Details
Landowner Interactions, Access Agreements.
Prpty
12944648
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
1
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
340
Mop Psig
1413
Mop Cfr Section
Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3)
Maop Established Date
1995-02-06 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
2
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 controller's actions did not cause or contribute.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Failure Of Equipment Body (Except Pump), Tank Plate, Or Other Material
Eq Failure Type
Failure Of Equipment Body (Except Pump), Tank Plate, Or Other Material
Additional Defect Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
The Failure Of The Screws Was The Result Of Gradual Mechanical Overload.
Preparer Name
D***** L******
Preparer Title
Compliance Coordinator
Preparer Email
D*******@c******.com
Preparer Telephone
4438211456
Prepared Date
2023-04-13 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
Q****** F******
Authorizer Telephone
6787622270
Authorizer Title
Director Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email
Q*******@c******.com
Narrative
On 7/4/2022 at 10:30pm, the alpharetta control center (acc) was contacted by loudon county (tn 911) as a result of responding to a homeowner call of gasoline odor coming from the sugarlimb trap site on line 18. Local colonial personnel was dispatched to the site for investigation at 10:35pm, and the acc shutdown line 18 at 10:45pm by double blocking west (upstream) of the facility, depressurizing the sugarlimb trap site, and closing out knoxville delivery (downstream) on no flow. Local colonial personnel arrived onsite at 11:00pm and confirmed gasoline flowing from a 2 inch valve on line 18 downstream of the launching trap. The personnel exited the facility and secured the perimeter maintaining a safe distance until appropriate resources arrived. Additional internal notification were made to mobilize resources to address discovered conditions. At 11:54pm the loudon county fire department evacuated the neighboring residence out of an abundance of caution. External notifications were made to tema at 12:52am. Colonial issued an internal emergency notification on 7/5/2022 at 08:53am for awareness and to mobilize additional resources. An incident command post was established to support the response. A drain up of line 18 was completed on 7/5/2022 at 4:04pm removing all remaining product from the isolated segment of pipe. Once the drain up was complete, the 2 inch valve was removed from the tor fitting and the fitting was plugged and capped. The release was due to the failure of a ball valve. The screws that held the stem assembly to the valves fractured. The failure of the screws was the result of gradual mechanical overload. This is shown by the presence of arrest marks, microvoid dimples, and mixed brittle morphology on the fracture surfaces of both screws. Mechanical overload occurs when the applied forces exceed the strength of the material, and a facture occurs. Both screws had likely presence of a quench crack. Update: on 3/8/2023 an nrc notification was made when it was discovered that surface water analysis along hubbard branch creek (south of, and downgradient of the release site) resulted in concentrations above the tennessee department of environment & conservation (tdec) surface water domestic supply screening level. Since the 3/8/2023 nrc notification, there have been additional efforts to further assess groundwater and increased sampling frequency of the surface waters. The most recent sample results from 3/22/2023 demonstrated that all surface water sampling locations on hubbard branch creek were below the tdec surface water domestic supply screening level. Epa was contacted on 3/8/2023 (same day as the nrc notification) as a courtesy, and again on 3/27/2023. Colonial has also verbally communicated with tdec, in addition to submitting weekly written reports that have been occurring since the inception of event in 2022.
| Report Received Date | 2022-08-03 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2022 |
| Report Number | 20220167 |
| Supplemental Number | 37932 |
| 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 | 2022-07-04 22:30:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 35.77967948 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -84.33629223 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Gasoline (Non-Ethanol) |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 591 |
| Recovered Bbls | 10.91 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Public |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2022-07-04 22:30:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Status When Identified | Normal Operation, Includes Pauses Between Batches And During Maintenance |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2022-07-04 22:45:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2022-07-05 18:33:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2022-07-04 22:30:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2022-07-04 23:00:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2022-07-04 23:00:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2022-07-05 12:27:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1340623 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1340810 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Close Datetime | 2022-07-04 22:45:00 |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Vlv Close Datetime | 2022-07-04 22:45:00 |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Indiv Notif Datetime | 2022-07-04 22:45:00 |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | Yes |
| Osro Activated Datetime | 2022-07-05 23:29:00 |
| Osro Arrived On Site Dt | 7/5/2022 4:00 |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 2 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Sugarlimb Trap Site |
| Segment Name | Line 18 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tn |
| Onshore Postal Code | 37774 |
| Onshore City Name | Loudon |
| Onshore County Name | Loudon |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 4224+80 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Auxiliary Or Other Valve |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Valve Body 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 |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Groundwater Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0.8 |
| Rel Water Name | Hubbard Creek. |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1542000 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 88173 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 500 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 3797500 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 7101475 |
| Est Cost Other | 415000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Landowner Interactions, Access Agreements. |
| Prpty | 12944648 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 1 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 340 |
| Mop Psig | 1413 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1995-02-06 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 2 |
| 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 controller's actions did not cause or contribute. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Failure Of Equipment Body (Except Pump), Tank Plate, Or Other Material |
| Eq Failure Type | Failure Of Equipment Body (Except Pump), Tank Plate, Or Other Material |
| Additional Defect Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | The Failure Of The Screws Was The Result Of Gradual Mechanical Overload. |
| Preparer Name | D***** L****** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Coordinator |
| Preparer Email | D*******@c******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 4438211456 |
| Prepared Date | 2023-04-13 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | Q****** F****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 6787622270 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Pipeline Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | Q*******@c******.com |
| Narrative | On 7/4/2022 at 10:30pm, the alpharetta control center (acc) was contacted by loudon county (tn 911) as a result of responding to a homeowner call of gasoline odor coming from the sugarlimb trap site on line 18. Local colonial personnel was dispatched to the site for investigation at 10:35pm, and the acc shutdown line 18 at 10:45pm by double blocking west (upstream) of the facility, depressurizing the sugarlimb trap site, and closing out knoxville delivery (downstream) on no flow. Local colonial personnel arrived onsite at 11:00pm and confirmed gasoline flowing from a 2 inch valve on line 18 downstream of the launching trap. The personnel exited the facility and secured the perimeter maintaining a safe distance until appropriate resources arrived. Additional internal notification were made to mobilize resources to address discovered conditions. At 11:54pm the loudon county fire department evacuated the neighboring residence out of an abundance of caution. External notifications were made to tema at 12:52am. Colonial issued an internal emergency notification on 7/5/2022 at 08:53am for awareness and to mobilize additional resources. An incident command post was established to support the response. A drain up of line 18 was completed on 7/5/2022 at 4:04pm removing all remaining product from the isolated segment of pipe. Once the drain up was complete, the 2 inch valve was removed from the tor fitting and the fitting was plugged and capped. The release was due to the failure of a ball valve. The screws that held the stem assembly to the valves fractured. The failure of the screws was the result of gradual mechanical overload. This is shown by the presence of arrest marks, microvoid dimples, and mixed brittle morphology on the fracture surfaces of both screws. Mechanical overload occurs when the applied forces exceed the strength of the material, and a facture occurs. Both screws had likely presence of a quench crack. Update: on 3/8/2023 an nrc notification was made when it was discovered that surface water analysis along hubbard branch creek (south of, and downgradient of the release site) resulted in concentrations above the tennessee department of environment & conservation (tdec) surface water domestic supply screening level. Since the 3/8/2023 nrc notification, there have been additional efforts to further assess groundwater and increased sampling frequency of the surface waters. The most recent sample results from 3/22/2023 demonstrated that all surface water sampling locations on hubbard branch creek were below the tdec surface water domestic supply screening level. Epa was contacted on 3/8/2023 (same day as the nrc notification) as a courtesy, and again on 3/27/2023. Colonial has also verbally communicated with tdec, in addition to submitting weekly written reports that have been occurring since the inception of event in 2022. |
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