Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-07-24 — OK
Operator
Explorer 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)
$50
Incident datetime
2023-07-24 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
OK
Narrative
On june 25, 2023, an employee was setting up to launch a pipeline batching sphere from port arthur and stepped outside to verify the load pin was open. At that time, the employee noticed a spray of jet fuel coming from the launcher door at the 2 o'clock position. The employee immediately shut down the pipeline and made the appropriate notifications. Interviews with local personnel confirmed the launcher was loaded on june 23, 2023, and sphere launching was initiated with no indication of a damaged o-ring. Third-party testing reflected that the launcher door o-ring was pinched and apparently damaged by the 1971 launcher door. Testing couldn't conclusively determine if the door was misaligned when shut and caused the pinch to the o-ring. However, communications with the manufacturer indicates they suspect that the door could have been misaligned causing the damage. The port arthur launcher door was replaced in december 2023 as part of the on-going project to replace 1971 launcher doors with new equipment.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-07-24 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230168
Supplemental Number
39450
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
4805
Name
Explorer Pipeline Co
Operator Street Address
Po Box 2650
Operator City Name
Tulsa
Operator State Abbreviation
OK
Operator Postal Code
74101
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
29.900874
Location Longitude
-94.005656
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel
Unintentional Release Bbls
1
Recovered Bbls
1
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Status When Identified
Normal Operation, Includes Pauses Between Batches And During Maintenance
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Not Required
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Port Arthur Tank Farm
Segment Name
Port Arthur Tank Farm
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77640-1963
Onshore City Name
Port Arhtur
Onshore County Name
Jefferson
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
0
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Scraper/pig Trap
Installation Year
1971
Manufactured Year
1971
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Launcher Door O-Ring
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
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
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
90
Est Cost Prop Damage
50
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
5000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
5140
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
440
Mop Psig
960
Mop Cfr Section
Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3)
Maop Established Date
1971-09-22 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction 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
Station monitored by on-site operators 24 - 7 personnel. Actions of controller did not cause or contribute to the event.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind
O-Ring
Ief Addl Misalignment Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
K**** E* B****
Preparer Title
Manager Dot And Regulatory Compliance
Preparer Email
K*****@e***.com
Preparer Telephone
9184935104
Prepared Date
2024-04-16 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
R***** J******
Local Contact Email
R*******@e***.com
Local Contact Telephone
918-591-3102
Authorizer Name
L***** S******
Authorizer Telephone
9183595471
Authorizer Title
Vp Hsse
Authorizer Email
L*******@e***.com
Narrative
On june 25, 2023, an employee was setting up to launch a pipeline batching sphere from port arthur and stepped outside to verify the load pin was open. At that time, the employee noticed a spray of jet fuel coming from the launcher door at the 2 o'clock position. The employee immediately shut down the pipeline and made the appropriate notifications. Interviews with local personnel confirmed the launcher was loaded on june 23, 2023, and sphere launching was initiated with no indication of a damaged o-ring. Third-party testing reflected that the launcher door o-ring was pinched and apparently damaged by the 1971 launcher door. Testing couldn't conclusively determine if the door was misaligned when shut and caused the pinch to the o-ring. However, communications with the manufacturer indicates they suspect that the door could have been misaligned causing the damage. The port arthur launcher door was replaced in december 2023 as part of the on-going project to replace 1971 launcher doors with new equipment.
| Report Received Date | 2023-07-24 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230168 |
| Supplemental Number | 39450 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 4805 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Explorer Pipeline Co |
| Operator Street Address | Po Box 2650 |
| Operator City Name | Tulsa |
| Operator State Abbreviation | OK |
| Operator Postal Code | 74101 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 29.900874 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -94.005656 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 1 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Status When Identified | Normal Operation, Includes Pauses Between Batches And During Maintenance |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | Nrc Notification Not Required NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Port Arthur Tank Farm |
| Segment Name | Port Arthur Tank Farm |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77640-1963 |
| Onshore City Name | Port Arhtur |
| Onshore County Name | Jefferson |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 0 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Scraper/pig Trap |
| Installation Year | 1971 |
| Manufactured Year | 1971 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Launcher Door O-Ring |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| 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 | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 90 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 50 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 5000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 5140 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 440 |
| Mop Psig | 960 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1971-09-22 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction 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 | Station monitored by on-site operators 24 - 7 personnel. Actions of controller did not cause or contribute to the event. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Non-Threaded Connection Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Non-Threaded Connection Failure |
| Other Non Threaded Ind | O-Ring |
| Ief Addl Misalignment Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | K**** E* B**** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Dot And Regulatory Compliance |
| Preparer Email | K*****@e***.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 9184935104 |
| Prepared Date | 2024-04-16 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | R***** J****** |
| Local Contact Email | R*******@e***.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 918-591-3102 |
| Authorizer Name | L***** S****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 9183595471 |
| Authorizer Title | Vp Hsse |
| Authorizer Email | L*******@e***.com |
| Narrative | On june 25, 2023, an employee was setting up to launch a pipeline batching sphere from port arthur and stepped outside to verify the load pin was open. At that time, the employee noticed a spray of jet fuel coming from the launcher door at the 2 o'clock position. The employee immediately shut down the pipeline and made the appropriate notifications. Interviews with local personnel confirmed the launcher was loaded on june 23, 2023, and sphere launching was initiated with no indication of a damaged o-ring. Third-party testing reflected that the launcher door o-ring was pinched and apparently damaged by the 1971 launcher door. Testing couldn't conclusively determine if the door was misaligned when shut and caused the pinch to the o-ring. However, communications with the manufacturer indicates they suspect that the door could have been misaligned causing the damage. The port arthur launcher door was replaced in december 2023 as part of the on-going project to replace 1971 launcher doors with new equipment. |
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