Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-08-25 — TX
Operator
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Commodity
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$108,800
Incident datetime
2023-08-25 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At 11:13 edc personnel notified nustar of a possible ammonia leak bubbling up under their retention pond. The pipeline was already shut down due to a planned hydrotest from peace valley, ar to salem, mo. Local personnel arrived on-site at 11:48 and confirmed a leak, isolated the pipeline by closing manual valves and verified that an mov (23-4) was closed. In that area there is around 741 feet between manual valves with an estimated 2500 pounds that was released during the event. No vapor cloud present as it was being released into the retention pond. The retention pond is used by edc to hold their process wastewater. Metallurgical analysis concluded, "the failure was the result of selective seam weld corrosion (sswc). Multiple weld defects, including lack of fusion (lof), were observed at the inner diameter (id).
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-08-25 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230194
Supplemental Number
38964
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
10012
Name
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
Operator Street Address
8111 Westchester Drive
Operator City Name
Dallas
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
75225
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
33.263307
Location Longitude
-92.689986
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Anhydrous Ammonia
Unintentional Release Bbls
11.57
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
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 Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
On Off Shore
Onshore
Status When Identified
Routine Shutdown
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Nrc Rpt Num
1374395
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1374596
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Ammonia Mainline
Segment Name
El Dorado Chemical Lateral - 4-Inch
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ar
Onshore Postal Code
71730
Onshore City Name
El Dorado
Onshore County Name
Union
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
685+51
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Other
Incident Area Details
Under Soil And Under A Retention Pond
Depth Of Cover
20
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Seam
Pipe Diameter
4.5
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.188
Pipe Smys
35000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l-B
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
Fusion Bonded Epoxy(Fbe)
Coating Applied Ind
No
Installation Year
1969
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Other
Leak Type Other
Crack Like Feature-Tbd
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
11.57
Rel Water Name
El Dorado Chemical Retention Pond
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
338
Est Cost Prop Damage
108800
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
33000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
142138
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
673
Mop Psig
1340
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1969-07-31 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
741
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
> 20% Smys Regulated Transmission
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
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
Very small pin hole leak undiscoverable by control center.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details
Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field)
Field Exam Ind
Yes
Metallurgical Ind
Yes
Failure Type
Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field)
Other Factor
Yes
Other Factor Details
Angled Orientation Of The Seam Weld Bond Line Influenced The Weld Grain Flow
Additional Lack Fusion Ind
Yes
Pwf Additional Other Ind
Yes
Collected Data Ind
Yes
Axial Magnetic Flx Lkg Ind
Yes
Geometry Deformation Ind
Yes
Axial Recent Year
2018
Axial Rcnt Propul Method
Free Swimming
Axial Rcnt Attuned Detect
Metal Loss
Axial Rcnt Atnd Dtct Metal
Standard Resolution
Axial Previous Year
2013
Axial Prev Propul Method
Free Swimming
Axial Prev Attuned Detect
Metal Loss
Axial Prev Atnd Dtct Metal
Standard Resolution
Geometry Recent Year
2018
Geometry Rcnt Propul Method
Free Swimming
Geometry Rcnt Resolution
Standard Resolution
Geometrt Rcnt Measur Cups
No Cups
Geometry Previous Year
2013
Geometry Prev Propul Method
Free Swimming
Geometry Prev Resolution
Standard Resolution
Geometrt Prev Measur Cups
No Cups
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Extrnl Cor Selective Seam Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
D***** T******
Preparer Title
Director - Hse
Preparer Email
D**********@n***********.com
Preparer Telephone
3167217056
Prepared Date
2023-12-14 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
A**** G***
Local Contact Email
A*********@n***********.com
Local Contact Telephone
5732808181
Authorizer Name
D***** T******
Authorizer Telephone
3167217056
Authorizer Title
Director - Hse
Authorizer Email
D**********@n***********.com
Narrative
At 11:13 edc personnel notified nustar of a possible ammonia leak bubbling up under their retention pond. The pipeline was already shut down due to a planned hydrotest from peace valley, ar to salem, mo. Local personnel arrived on-site at 11:48 and confirmed a leak, isolated the pipeline by closing manual valves and verified that an mov (23-4) was closed. In that area there is around 741 feet between manual valves with an estimated 2500 pounds that was released during the event. No vapor cloud present as it was being released into the retention pond. The retention pond is used by edc to hold their process wastewater. Metallurgical analysis concluded, "the failure was the result of selective seam weld corrosion (sswc). Multiple weld defects, including lack of fusion (lof), were observed at the inner diameter (id).
| Report Received Date | 2023-08-25 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230194 |
| Supplemental Number | 38964 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 10012 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 8111 Westchester Drive |
| Operator City Name | Dallas |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 75225 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 33.263307 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -92.689986 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Anhydrous Ammonia |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 11.57 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| 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 Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Status When Identified | Routine Shutdown |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1374395 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1374596 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Ammonia Mainline |
| Segment Name | El Dorado Chemical Lateral - 4-Inch |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ar |
| Onshore Postal Code | 71730 |
| Onshore City Name | El Dorado |
| Onshore County Name | Union |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 685+51 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Other |
| Incident Area Details | Under Soil And Under A Retention Pond |
| Depth Of Cover | 20 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Seam |
| Pipe Diameter | 4.5 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.188 |
| Pipe Smys | 35000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l-B |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - High Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | Fusion Bonded Epoxy(Fbe) |
| Coating Applied Ind | No |
| Installation Year | 1969 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Other |
| Leak Type Other | Crack Like Feature-Tbd |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 11.57 |
| Rel Water Name | El Dorado Chemical Retention Pond |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 338 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 108800 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 33000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 142138 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 673 |
| Mop Psig | 1340 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1969-07-31 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 741 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | > 20% Smys Regulated Transmission |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| 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 | Very small pin hole leak undiscoverable by control center. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld |
| Cause Details | Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field) |
| Field Exam Ind | Yes |
| Metallurgical Ind | Yes |
| Failure Type | Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field) |
| Other Factor | Yes |
| Other Factor Details | Angled Orientation Of The Seam Weld Bond Line Influenced The Weld Grain Flow |
| Additional Lack Fusion Ind | Yes |
| Pwf Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Collected Data Ind | Yes |
| Axial Magnetic Flx Lkg Ind | Yes |
| Geometry Deformation Ind | Yes |
| Axial Recent Year | 2018 |
| Axial Rcnt Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Axial Rcnt Attuned Detect | Metal Loss |
| Axial Rcnt Atnd Dtct Metal | Standard Resolution |
| Axial Previous Year | 2013 |
| Axial Prev Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Axial Prev Attuned Detect | Metal Loss |
| Axial Prev Atnd Dtct Metal | Standard Resolution |
| Geometry Recent Year | 2018 |
| Geometry Rcnt Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Geometry Rcnt Resolution | Standard Resolution |
| Geometrt Rcnt Measur Cups | No Cups |
| Geometry Previous Year | 2013 |
| Geometry Prev Propul Method | Free Swimming |
| Geometry Prev Resolution | Standard Resolution |
| Geometrt Prev Measur Cups | No Cups |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | No |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Extrnl Cor Selective Seam Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | D***** T****** |
| Preparer Title | Director - Hse |
| Preparer Email | D**********@n***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 3167217056 |
| Prepared Date | 2023-12-14 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | A**** G*** |
| Local Contact Email | A*********@n***********.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 5732808181 |
| Authorizer Name | D***** T****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3167217056 |
| Authorizer Title | Director - Hse |
| Authorizer Email | D**********@n***********.com |
| Narrative | At 11:13 edc personnel notified nustar of a possible ammonia leak bubbling up under their retention pond. The pipeline was already shut down due to a planned hydrotest from peace valley, ar to salem, mo. Local personnel arrived on-site at 11:48 and confirmed a leak, isolated the pipeline by closing manual valves and verified that an mov (23-4) was closed. In that area there is around 741 feet between manual valves with an estimated 2500 pounds that was released during the event. No vapor cloud present as it was being released into the retention pond. The retention pond is used by edc to hold their process wastewater. Metallurgical analysis concluded, "the failure was the result of selective seam weld corrosion (sswc). Multiple weld defects, including lack of fusion (lof), were observed at the inner diameter (id). |
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