Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2023-11-15 — TX
Operator
Gulf South Pipeline Company, Llc
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$448,724
Incident datetime
2023-11-15 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
While tracking an inline inspection tool on 10/25/2023, gulf south personnel identified a leak on its index 129 pipeline. Gulf south isolated approximately 13 miles of pipeline and utilized flares to blow down the pipeline in order to make repairs. A 16' piece of replacement pipe was installed on 10/28/2023 and the pipeline was returned to normal service that evening. The incident cause is currently under investingation and a supplemental report will be submitted when the cause has been determined. 3/7/2024 updated parts g and j and submitted final report. The root cause investigation revealed the following: the installed reinforcement saddle (installation date unknown) was not properly fitted and was attached with an insufficient single-pass fillet weld to both the pipeline and to the central branch pipe. These welds are not sufficient to properly attach this reinforcement saddle. Movement of the branch with all attached flanges, valve, and piping caused a ductile overload failure of the pipe wall that initiated at the toe of the reinforcing saddle to pipeline weld and proceeded through-wall in two or more steps. No evidence of fatigue was observed.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-11-15 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230106
Supplemental Number
39294
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31728
Name
Gulf South Pipeline Company, Llc
Operator Street Address
9 Greenway Plaza Suite 2800
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77046
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
31.5690786
Location Longitude
-93.5807822
Nrc Rpt Num
1382677
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1382832
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1478
Intentional Release
13440
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
La
Onshore Postal Code
71449
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Sabine
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
324.96
Pipe Fac Name
Index 129
Segment Name
West 30" Line
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
36
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
Weld Subtype
Fillet Weld
Installation Year
1952
Manufactured Year
1952
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Leak In Weld Area
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
677
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Did Occur In Mca Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
4079
Est Cost Intentional Release
37094
Est Cost Prop Damage
448724
Est Cost Emergency
5200
Est Cost Other
0
Gas Cost In Mcf
2.76
Prpty
495097
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
550
Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf
150000
Mop Psig
936
Mop Cfr Section
192.619(A)(1)
Maop Established Date
1970-11-12 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Gas Required Odorized Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Length Segment Isolated
72473
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
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
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
Pwf Additional Other Ind
Yes
Additional Other Details
Insufficient Single-Pass Fillet Weld To Both The Pipeline And To The Central Branch Connection.
Post Constr Pressure Test Val
Unknown
Collected Data Ind
No
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
Yes
Hydrtst Most Rcnt Year
1980
Hydrtst Most Rcnt Pressure
1248
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
S****** M********
Preparer Title
Compliance Program Leader
Preparer Email
S****************@b**********.come
Preparer Telephone
(270) 903-5764
Authorizer Name
T*** B****
Authorizer Title
Manager Compliance Services
Authorizer Telephone
(270) 314-6547
Authorizer Email
T*********@b**********.com
Narrative
While tracking an inline inspection tool on 10/25/2023, gulf south personnel identified a leak on its index 129 pipeline. Gulf south isolated approximately 13 miles of pipeline and utilized flares to blow down the pipeline in order to make repairs. A 16' piece of replacement pipe was installed on 10/28/2023 and the pipeline was returned to normal service that evening. The incident cause is currently under investingation and a supplemental report will be submitted when the cause has been determined. 3/7/2024 updated parts g and j and submitted final report. The root cause investigation revealed the following: the installed reinforcement saddle (installation date unknown) was not properly fitted and was attached with an insufficient single-pass fillet weld to both the pipeline and to the central branch pipe. These welds are not sufficient to properly attach this reinforcement saddle. Movement of the branch with all attached flanges, valve, and piping caused a ductile overload failure of the pipe wall that initiated at the toe of the reinforcing saddle to pipeline weld and proceeded through-wall in two or more steps. No evidence of fatigue was observed.
| Report Received Date | 2023-11-15 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230106 |
| Supplemental Number | 39294 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31728 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Gulf South Pipeline Company, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 9 Greenway Plaza Suite 2800 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77046 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 31.5690786 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -93.5807822 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1382677 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1382832 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1478 |
| Intentional Release | 13440 |
| 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 | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 71449 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Sabine |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 324.96 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Index 129 |
| Segment Name | West 30" Line |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 36 |
| 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 |
| Weld Subtype | Fillet Weld |
| Installation Year | 1952 |
| Manufactured Year | 1952 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Leak In Weld Area |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 677 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Did Occur In Mca Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 4079 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 37094 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 448724 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5200 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Gas Cost In Mcf | 2.76 |
| Prpty | 495097 |
| 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 | 550 |
| Gas Flow In Pipe In Mcf | 150000 |
| Mop Psig | 936 |
| Mop Cfr Section | 192.619(A)(1) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1970-11-12 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Gas Required Odorized Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Length Segment Isolated | 72473 |
| 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 | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| 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 |
| Pwf Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Additional Other Details | Insufficient Single-Pass Fillet Weld To Both The Pipeline And To The Central Branch Connection. |
| Post Constr Pressure Test Val | Unknown |
| Collected Data Ind | No |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | Yes |
| Hydrtst Most Rcnt Year | 1980 |
| Hydrtst Most Rcnt Pressure | 1248 |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | S****** M******** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Program Leader |
| Preparer Email | S****************@b**********.come |
| Preparer Telephone | (270) 903-5764 |
| Authorizer Name | T*** B**** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Compliance Services |
| Authorizer Telephone | (270) 314-6547 |
| Authorizer Email | T*********@b**********.com |
| Narrative | While tracking an inline inspection tool on 10/25/2023, gulf south personnel identified a leak on its index 129 pipeline. Gulf south isolated approximately 13 miles of pipeline and utilized flares to blow down the pipeline in order to make repairs. A 16' piece of replacement pipe was installed on 10/28/2023 and the pipeline was returned to normal service that evening. The incident cause is currently under investingation and a supplemental report will be submitted when the cause has been determined. 3/7/2024 updated parts g and j and submitted final report. The root cause investigation revealed the following: the installed reinforcement saddle (installation date unknown) was not properly fitted and was attached with an insufficient single-pass fillet weld to both the pipeline and to the central branch pipe. These welds are not sufficient to properly attach this reinforcement saddle. Movement of the branch with all attached flanges, valve, and piping caused a ductile overload failure of the pipe wall that initiated at the toe of the reinforcing saddle to pipeline weld and proceeded through-wall in two or more steps. No evidence of fatigue was observed. |
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