Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-07-28 — 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)
$3,500
Incident datetime
2023-07-28 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
GA
Narrative
On 7/10/23, an employee at allentown station was conducting a station check. While walking through the yard the employee identified product at approximately 09:30 am near unit 3's suction and discharge valves. It was determined at 10:35 am the product discovered was an active release. The unit 3 discharge valve was found to be weeping through 3 bolts on the bonnet. The osro was already at the station performing alternative work at the time the release was discovered. Nrc was notified once it was determined the $50k threshold was going to be exceeded. Subsequent analysis determined that the release started on 6/30/23 the cause of the failure is under investigation. Update 9/20/23 - an investigation determined the release was coming from three bolts on the unit 3 discharge valve bonnet as per visual confirmation of the same. The bonnet was separated to investigate and repair and reassemble with a new o-ring. The removed o-ring was examined and found to be in a good condition without visual damage or defects and without evidence of being pinched or displaced from the sealing groove in the installation. The bonnet and valve body sealing surfaces were inspected and confirmed to have adequate surface quality for desired seal performance. As a preemptive measure, the sealing surfaces were cleaned again before repair. The same bolting procedure was followed to the same torque values. A specific failure mode could not be identified as the o-ring and sealing surfaces were in good condition and the recommended assembly and torque methods were followed.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-07-28 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230173
Supplemental Number
38579
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
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
40.15365176
Location Longitude
-74.65859531
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
0.82
Recovered Bbls
0.82
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 Pump/meter Station 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
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Nrc Rpt Num
1372649
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1372745
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
Yes
Osro Arrived On Site Dt
7/10/2023 10:35
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Colonial Pipeline Company/allentown Station
Segment Name
Line 03
Onshore State Abbreviation
Nj
Onshore Postal Code
08505
Onshore City Name
Bordentown
Onshore County Name
Burlington
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
446.5
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
24
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Mainline
Valve Mainline Type
Gate
Valve Manufacturer
Wkm
Installation Year
1963
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
210
Est Cost Prop Damage
3500
Est Cost Emergency
99000
Est Cost Environmental
16000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
118710
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
557
Mop Psig
920
Mop Cfr Section
Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3)
Maop Established Date
1963-01-01 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
The controller(s) or control room actions were not the cause of or a contributing factor to the accident
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
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Unable To Determine
Preparer Name
A**** T***** S****
Preparer Title
Senior Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
A******@c******.com
Preparer Telephone
703 405 5501
Prepared Date
2023-09-22 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
Q****** F******
Authorizer Telephone
770 687 9672
Authorizer Title
Director Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email
Q*******@c******.com
Narrative
On 7/10/23, an employee at allentown station was conducting a station check. While walking through the yard the employee identified product at approximately 09:30 am near unit 3's suction and discharge valves. It was determined at 10:35 am the product discovered was an active release. The unit 3 discharge valve was found to be weeping through 3 bolts on the bonnet. The osro was already at the station performing alternative work at the time the release was discovered. Nrc was notified once it was determined the $50k threshold was going to be exceeded. Subsequent analysis determined that the release started on 6/30/23 the cause of the failure is under investigation. Update 9/20/23 - an investigation determined the release was coming from three bolts on the unit 3 discharge valve bonnet as per visual confirmation of the same. The bonnet was separated to investigate and repair and reassemble with a new o-ring. The removed o-ring was examined and found to be in a good condition without visual damage or defects and without evidence of being pinched or displaced from the sealing groove in the installation. The bonnet and valve body sealing surfaces were inspected and confirmed to have adequate surface quality for desired seal performance. As a preemptive measure, the sealing surfaces were cleaned again before repair. The same bolting procedure was followed to the same torque values. A specific failure mode could not be identified as the o-ring and sealing surfaces were in good condition and the recommended assembly and torque methods were followed.
| Report Received Date | 2023-07-28 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230173 |
| Supplemental Number | 38579 |
| 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 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 40.15365176 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -74.65859531 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 | 0.82 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.82 |
| 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 Pump/meter Station 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 | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1372649 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1372745 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | Yes |
| Osro Arrived On Site Dt | 7/10/2023 10:35 |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Colonial Pipeline Company/allentown Station |
| Segment Name | Line 03 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Nj |
| Onshore Postal Code | 08505 |
| Onshore City Name | Bordentown |
| Onshore County Name | Burlington |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 446.5 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 24 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Mainline |
| Valve Mainline Type | Gate |
| Valve Manufacturer | Wkm |
| Installation Year | 1963 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 210 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 3500 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 99000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 16000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 118710 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 557 |
| Mop Psig | 920 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1963-01-01 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 | The controller(s) or control room actions were not the cause of or a contributing factor to the accident |
| 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 |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Unable To Determine |
| Preparer Name | A**** T***** S**** |
| Preparer Title | Senior Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | A******@c******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 703 405 5501 |
| Prepared Date | 2023-09-22 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | Q****** F****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 770 687 9672 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Pipeline Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | Q*******@c******.com |
| Narrative | On 7/10/23, an employee at allentown station was conducting a station check. While walking through the yard the employee identified product at approximately 09:30 am near unit 3's suction and discharge valves. It was determined at 10:35 am the product discovered was an active release. The unit 3 discharge valve was found to be weeping through 3 bolts on the bonnet. The osro was already at the station performing alternative work at the time the release was discovered. Nrc was notified once it was determined the $50k threshold was going to be exceeded. Subsequent analysis determined that the release started on 6/30/23 the cause of the failure is under investigation. Update 9/20/23 - an investigation determined the release was coming from three bolts on the unit 3 discharge valve bonnet as per visual confirmation of the same. The bonnet was separated to investigate and repair and reassemble with a new o-ring. The removed o-ring was examined and found to be in a good condition without visual damage or defects and without evidence of being pinched or displaced from the sealing groove in the installation. The bonnet and valve body sealing surfaces were inspected and confirmed to have adequate surface quality for desired seal performance. As a preemptive measure, the sealing surfaces were cleaned again before repair. The same bolting procedure was followed to the same torque values. A specific failure mode could not be identified as the o-ring and sealing surfaces were in good condition and the recommended assembly and torque methods were followed. |
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