Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2023-09-07 — TX
Operator
Texas Eastern Transmission, Lp
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$827,444
Incident datetime
2023-09-07 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On the morning of august 8, 2023, texas eastern began an anomaly dig to expose a geometry feature (buckle/dent) at the 6 o-clock position. The line in this area was very deep (>11-feet). The upstream valve was closed at 09:39 e.T. To lower the line pressure for the excavation and repair. Downstream compression was used to help pull the pressure down. While excavating the anomaly, the crew identified indications of a leak at approximately 17:00 et. An operations team was then called in to investigate the suspected leak. At 19:28 et the downstream valve was closed to fully blowdown the line. At approximately 20:30 e.T. It was decided that repairs could likely exceed the PHMSA reporting cost threshold. At 21:09 et the national response center was notified. The blowdown was completed on august 9, 2023, at approximately 12:30 et. The line was then excavated and the piping in area of the suspected leak was cut out and removed. An air pressure test was then performed on the cut-out segment and a small through wall feature on the weld (12 o-clock) adjacent to the geometry feature was identified. The pipe was then transported to a lab for further analysis as to the cause. 04/24/2024 supplemental updated part g - apparent cause and part j - integrity inspections the cause of the leak was tensile overloading of the pipe resulting in a 1.5-inch ductile failure at toe of the girth weld. A bending moment exerted high tensile stress near the 12:00 o'clock location and high compressive stress the 6:00 o'clock location, causing the leak at the 12:00 o'clock location and a buckle at the 6:00 o'clock location.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-09-07 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230086
Supplemental Number
39486
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
19235
Name
Texas Eastern Transmission, Lp
Operator Street Address
915 North Eldridge Parkway
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77079
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
40.4917
Location Longitude
-80.80316
Nrc Rpt Num
1375621
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1375853
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
4.04
Intentional Release
20950
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
Yes
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Num Pub Evacuated
0
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Oh
Onshore Postal Code
43932
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Jefferson County
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
22.8
Pipe Fac Name
Texas Eastern Transmission, Line73,
Segment Name
Sali-Cole/73,vs-02
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
132
Other Underground Facilities
No
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Weld/fusion, Including Heat-Affected Zone
Pipe Diameter
30
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.329
Pipe Smys
70000
Pipe Specification
Api-5l
Pipe Seam Type
Spiral Welded
Pipe Manufacturer
Borusan Mannesmann
Pipe Coating Type
Epoxy
Coating Applied Ind
Yes
Weld Subtype
Pipe Girth Weld
Different Girth Weld Ind
Yes
Diff Girth Weld Wall Thickness
0.358
Diff Girth Weld Smys
70000
Diff Girth Weld Specification
Wphy7o
Diff Girth Weld Seam Type
Seamless
Diff Girth Weld Manufacturer
Custom Alloy Corporation
Diff Girth Weld Coating Type
Epoxy Other Than Fbe
Diff Girth Weld Ctng Appld Ind
Yes
Installation Year
2015
Manufactured Year
2015
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
654
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Did Occur In Mca Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
11
Est Cost Intentional Release
58241
Est Cost Prop Damage
827444
Est Cost Emergency
2000
Est Cost Other
0
Gas Cost In Mcf
2.78
Prpty
887696
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
450
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
0
Mop Psig
1105
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Maop Established Date
2015-10-01 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
Bi-Directional
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Gas Required Odorized Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Length Segment Isolated
97260
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
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
During An Anomaly Dig
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 segment of line was isolated and depressurized for an anomaly dig. The leak was too small to be identified by gas control. The leak was not a s
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details
Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Pwjf Failure Type
Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related
Metallurgical Ind
Yes
Mechanical Stress
Yes
Additional Buckle Ind
Yes
Post Constr Pressure Test Val
1400
Collected Data Ind
Yes
Geometry Deformation Ind
Yes
Other Tool Tech Ind
Yes
Geometry Recent Year
2023
Geometry Rcnt Propul Method
Free Swimming
Geometry Rcnt Resolution
High Resolution
Geometrt Rcnt Measur Cups
No Cups
Geometry Previous Year
2023
Geometry Prev Propul Method
Free Swimming
Geometry Prev Resolution
High Resolution
Geometrt Prev Measur Cups
No Cups
Other Tool
Inertial Measurement Unit (Imu
Other Recent Year
2023
Other Rcnt Propul Method
Free Swimming
Other Previous Year
2023
Other Prev Propul Method
Free Swimming
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
M****** M******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Performance And Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
M**************@e*******.com
Preparer Telephone
6128056542
Authorizer Name
S***** A******
Authorizer Title
Manager Operational Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
936-443-3303
Authorizer Email
Salima Abdulla
Narrative
On the morning of august 8, 2023, texas eastern began an anomaly dig to expose a geometry feature (buckle/dent) at the 6 o-clock position. The line in this area was very deep (>11-feet). The upstream valve was closed at 09:39 e.T. To lower the line pressure for the excavation and repair. Downstream compression was used to help pull the pressure down. While excavating the anomaly, the crew identified indications of a leak at approximately 17:00 et. An operations team was then called in to investigate the suspected leak. At 19:28 et the downstream valve was closed to fully blowdown the line. At approximately 20:30 e.T. It was decided that repairs could likely exceed the PHMSA reporting cost threshold. At 21:09 et the national response center was notified. The blowdown was completed on august 9, 2023, at approximately 12:30 et. The line was then excavated and the piping in area of the suspected leak was cut out and removed. An air pressure test was then performed on the cut-out segment and a small through wall feature on the weld (12 o-clock) adjacent to the geometry feature was identified. The pipe was then transported to a lab for further analysis as to the cause. 04/24/2024 supplemental updated part g - apparent cause and part j - integrity inspections the cause of the leak was tensile overloading of the pipe resulting in a 1.5-inch ductile failure at toe of the girth weld. A bending moment exerted high tensile stress near the 12:00 o'clock location and high compressive stress the 6:00 o'clock location, causing the leak at the 12:00 o'clock location and a buckle at the 6:00 o'clock location.
| Report Received Date | 2023-09-07 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230086 |
| Supplemental Number | 39486 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 19235 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Texas Eastern Transmission, Lp |
| Operator Street Address | 915 North Eldridge Parkway |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77079 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 40.4917 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -80.80316 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1375621 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1375853 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 4.04 |
| Intentional Release | 20950 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Oh |
| Onshore Postal Code | 43932 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Jefferson County |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 22.8 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Texas Eastern Transmission, Line73, |
| Segment Name | Sali-Cole/73,vs-02 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 132 |
| Other Underground Facilities | No |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Weld/fusion, Including Heat-Affected Zone |
| Pipe Diameter | 30 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.329 |
| Pipe Smys | 70000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api-5l |
| Pipe Seam Type | Spiral Welded |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Borusan Mannesmann |
| Pipe Coating Type | Epoxy |
| Coating Applied Ind | Yes |
| Weld Subtype | Pipe Girth Weld |
| Different Girth Weld Ind | Yes |
| Diff Girth Weld Wall Thickness | 0.358 |
| Diff Girth Weld Smys | 70000 |
| Diff Girth Weld Specification | Wphy7o |
| Diff Girth Weld Seam Type | Seamless |
| Diff Girth Weld Manufacturer | Custom Alloy Corporation |
| Diff Girth Weld Coating Type | Epoxy Other Than Fbe |
| Diff Girth Weld Ctng Appld Ind | Yes |
| Installation Year | 2015 |
| Manufactured Year | 2015 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 654 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Did Occur In Mca Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 11 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 58241 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 827444 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 2000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 2.78 |
| Prpty | 887696 |
| 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 | 450 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 0 |
| Mop Psig | 1105 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2015-10-01 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | Bi-Directional |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Gas Required Odorized Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Length Segment Isolated | 97260 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| 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 | During An Anomaly Dig |
| 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 segment of line was isolated and depressurized for an anomaly dig. The leak was too small to be identified by gas control. The leak was not a s |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld |
| Cause Details | Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related |
| Pwjf Failure Type | Design-, Construction-, Installation-, Or Fabrication-Related |
| Metallurgical Ind | Yes |
| Mechanical Stress | Yes |
| Additional Buckle Ind | Yes |
| Post Constr Pressure Test Val | 1400 |
| Collected Data Ind | Yes |
| Geometry Deformation Ind | Yes |
| Other Tool Tech Ind | Yes |
| Geometry Recent Year | 2023 |
| Geometry Rcnt Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Geometry Rcnt Resolution | High Resolution |
| Geometrt Rcnt Measur Cups | No Cups |
| Geometry Previous Year | 2023 |
| Geometry Prev Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Geometry Prev Resolution | High Resolution |
| Geometrt Prev Measur Cups | No Cups |
| Other Tool | Inertial Measurement Unit (Imu |
| Other Recent Year | 2023 |
| Other Rcnt Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Other Previous Year | 2023 |
| Other Prev Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | No |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | M****** M****** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Performance And Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | M**************@e*******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 6128056542 |
| Authorizer Name | S***** A****** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Operational Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 936-443-3303 |
| Authorizer Email | Salima Abdulla |
| Narrative | On the morning of august 8, 2023, texas eastern began an anomaly dig to expose a geometry feature (buckle/dent) at the 6 o-clock position. The line in this area was very deep (>11-feet). The upstream valve was closed at 09:39 e.T. To lower the line pressure for the excavation and repair. Downstream compression was used to help pull the pressure down. While excavating the anomaly, the crew identified indications of a leak at approximately 17:00 et. An operations team was then called in to investigate the suspected leak. At 19:28 et the downstream valve was closed to fully blowdown the line. At approximately 20:30 e.T. It was decided that repairs could likely exceed the PHMSA reporting cost threshold. At 21:09 et the national response center was notified. The blowdown was completed on august 9, 2023, at approximately 12:30 et. The line was then excavated and the piping in area of the suspected leak was cut out and removed. An air pressure test was then performed on the cut-out segment and a small through wall feature on the weld (12 o-clock) adjacent to the geometry feature was identified. The pipe was then transported to a lab for further analysis as to the cause. 04/24/2024 supplemental updated part g - apparent cause and part j - integrity inspections the cause of the leak was tensile overloading of the pipe resulting in a 1.5-inch ductile failure at toe of the girth weld. A bending moment exerted high tensile stress near the 12:00 o'clock location and high compressive stress the 6:00 o'clock location, causing the leak at the 12:00 o'clock location and a buckle at the 6:00 o'clock location. |
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