Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-08-08 — TX
Operator
Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, Llc
Cause
Incorrect Operation
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)
$1,582,759
Incident datetime
2023-08-08 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On 07/09/2023, at approximately 1120, a third-party contractor was performing new construction activities and staging piping in preparation for a hydrotest near the targa skid (active). Activities included lifting a new section of 6-inch pipe using a telescopic forklift with jib attachment. As the new pipe spool was being lifted it impacted an adjacent flange assembly (equipped with a 2-inch threaded nipple and valve) installed on an existing 6-inch high sulfur natural gasoline pipeline. The third-party contractor failed to follow the process and did not notify company personnel of the lifting activity that caused the accident. The consequence of the impact was a release of 17.3 barrels of product outside of containment that found an ignition source resulting in a fire. Subsequently, due to emergency management response efforts, a small amount of runoff water (contaminated with a small amount of product) reached the houston ship channel. The area was isolated by operator with hard boom at 1340. Osro was dispatched at 1220 to assist with the cleaning efforts. Environmental cleanup was completed at 2230. Approximately 0.01 barrels of product was recovered by the osro. The remaining product was consumed by the fire. The pipeline is still out of service until repairs can be performed. The pipeline was returned back in service on 8/9/2023.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-08-08 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230180
Supplemental Number
38664
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
26041
Name
Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, Llc
Operator Street Address
1001 Louisiana St, Suite 1000
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
29.73064
Location Longitude
-95.20349
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other
Commodity Details
High Sulfur Natural Gasoline Blend Stock
Unintentional Release Bbls
17.3
Recovered Bbls
0.01
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
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
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Nrc Rpt Num
1372563
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1372673
Ignite Ind
Yes
How Extinguished
Operator/contractor
Consumed By Fire In Barrels
17.29
Explode Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
Yes
Osro Arrived On Site Dt
7/9/2023 13:30
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Kmlt Pasadena Terminal
Segment Name
Targa Inbound Manifold
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77506
Onshore City Name
Pasadena
Onshore County Name
Harris
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
Targa Skid
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
Intrastate
Item Involved
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
Unknown
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
External Mechanical Impact
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Ocean Seawater Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.01
Rel Water Name
Houston Ship Channel
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Commercially Nav Ind
Yes
Commercially Nav Yes No
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
1000000
Est Cost Gas Released
1089
Est Cost Prop Damage
1582759
Est Cost Emergency
70358
Est Cost Environmental
71433
Est Cost Other
0
Est Cost Other Details
Targa Pipeline Company Estimated Cost
Prpty
2725639
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
36
Mop Psig
740
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2012-08-06 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
640
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Other Inspection Ind
Yes
Internal Inspection Details
Facility Piping
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
Facility Piping Configuration
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
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
Incident did not involve controller action
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
10
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage
Operation Type
Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Io Damage By Operator Ind
Yes
Io Follow Procedure Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
R****** E*******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Engineer
Preparer Email
R***************@k***********.com
Preparer Telephone
713-420-6396
Prepared Date
2023-10-16 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
K**** C******
Local Contact Email
K************@k***********.com
Local Contact Telephone
346-352-5942
Authorizer Name
R****** E*******
Authorizer Telephone
7134202600
Authorizer Title
Pipeline Engineer
Authorizer Email
R***************@k***********.com
Narrative
On 07/09/2023, at approximately 1120, a third-party contractor was performing new construction activities and staging piping in preparation for a hydrotest near the targa skid (active). Activities included lifting a new section of 6-inch pipe using a telescopic forklift with jib attachment. As the new pipe spool was being lifted it impacted an adjacent flange assembly (equipped with a 2-inch threaded nipple and valve) installed on an existing 6-inch high sulfur natural gasoline pipeline. The third-party contractor failed to follow the process and did not notify company personnel of the lifting activity that caused the accident. The consequence of the impact was a release of 17.3 barrels of product outside of containment that found an ignition source resulting in a fire. Subsequently, due to emergency management response efforts, a small amount of runoff water (contaminated with a small amount of product) reached the houston ship channel. The area was isolated by operator with hard boom at 1340. Osro was dispatched at 1220 to assist with the cleaning efforts. Environmental cleanup was completed at 2230. Approximately 0.01 barrels of product was recovered by the osro. The remaining product was consumed by the fire. The pipeline is still out of service until repairs can be performed. The pipeline was returned back in service on 8/9/2023.
| Report Received Date | 2023-08-08 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230180 |
| Supplemental Number | 38664 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 26041 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Kinder Morgan Liquid Terminals, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 1001 Louisiana St, Suite 1000 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 29.73064 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -95.20349 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Other |
| Commodity Details | High Sulfur Natural Gasoline Blend Stock |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 17.3 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.01 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| 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 | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1372563 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1372673 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| How Extinguished | Operator/contractor |
| Consumed By Fire In Barrels | 17.29 |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | Yes |
| Osro Arrived On Site Dt | 7/9/2023 13:30 |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Kmlt Pasadena Terminal |
| Segment Name | Targa Inbound Manifold |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77506 |
| Onshore City Name | Pasadena |
| Onshore County Name | Harris |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | Targa Skid |
| 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 | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Flange Assembly |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | External Mechanical Impact |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Ocean Seawater Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0.01 |
| Rel Water Name | Houston Ship Channel |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Ind | Yes |
| Commercially Nav Yes No | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1000000 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 1089 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 1582759 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 70358 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 71433 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Targa Pipeline Company Estimated Cost |
| Prpty | 2725639 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 36 |
| Mop Psig | 740 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2012-08-06 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 640 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Other Restrictions Ind | Yes |
| Other Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Internal Inspection Details | Facility Piping |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Other Complications Ind | Yes |
| Inspect Comp Details | Facility Piping Configuration |
| 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 | 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 | Incident did not involve controller action |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 10 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage |
| Operation Type | Damage By Operator Or Operator's Contractor Not Related To Excavation And Not Due To Motorized Vehicle/equipment Damage |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Io Damage By Operator Ind | Yes |
| Io Follow Procedure Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | R****** E******* |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Engineer |
| Preparer Email | R***************@k***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713-420-6396 |
| Prepared Date | 2023-10-16 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | K**** C****** |
| Local Contact Email | K************@k***********.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 346-352-5942 |
| Authorizer Name | R****** E******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7134202600 |
| Authorizer Title | Pipeline Engineer |
| Authorizer Email | R***************@k***********.com |
| Narrative | On 07/09/2023, at approximately 1120, a third-party contractor was performing new construction activities and staging piping in preparation for a hydrotest near the targa skid (active). Activities included lifting a new section of 6-inch pipe using a telescopic forklift with jib attachment. As the new pipe spool was being lifted it impacted an adjacent flange assembly (equipped with a 2-inch threaded nipple and valve) installed on an existing 6-inch high sulfur natural gasoline pipeline. The third-party contractor failed to follow the process and did not notify company personnel of the lifting activity that caused the accident. The consequence of the impact was a release of 17.3 barrels of product outside of containment that found an ignition source resulting in a fire. Subsequently, due to emergency management response efforts, a small amount of runoff water (contaminated with a small amount of product) reached the houston ship channel. The area was isolated by operator with hard boom at 1340. Osro was dispatched at 1220 to assist with the cleaning efforts. Environmental cleanup was completed at 2230. Approximately 0.01 barrels of product was recovered by the osro. The remaining product was consumed by the fire. The pipeline is still out of service until repairs can be performed. The pipeline was returned back in service on 8/9/2023. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA