Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-09-15 — TX
Operator
Energy Transfer Company
Cause
Notification Issue
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)
$132,000
Incident datetime
2023-09-15 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On august 18, 2023, at approximately 16:29, energy transfer (et) gas control noticed a sudden drop in pipeline pressure on the tx-107 viola pipeline. Gas control and operations decided to initiate an area shutdown as field personnel were traveling to the site in order to visually confirm the leak. Both upstream and downstream valves were remotely closed at 17:03. At 17:36, et personnel arrived on site and confirmed that the pipeline had been punctured by a contracted farmer. Tx-107 viola is an 8-inch natural gas liquid (ngl) pipeline in a rural area located in nueces county in driscoll, tx. The failed section of pipe was cut out, replaced and line was returned to service as of august 20, 2023, at 09:12. The investigation revealed that the 3rd party contractor was plowing the field across the right-of-way and hit the pipeline with a cultivation plow. Contractor failed to make a one call notification prior to excavating. This pipeline is under the jurisdiction of the texas railroad commission (tx rrc). On august 18, 2023, this incident was telephonically reported to the national response center (nrc #1376623) at 17:58. Tx rrc was notified shortly after. A 48-hour nrc update (nrc #1376739) was made on june 20, 2023 at 13:38. To prevent reoccurrence, et will continue to raise awareness on the importance of making a one-call notification prior to excavation.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-09-15 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230215
Supplemental Number
38553
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
32099
Name
Energy Transfer Company
Operator Street Address
1300 Main Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
27.66989292
Location Longitude
-97.71409777
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Lpg (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) / Ngl (Natural Gas Liquid)
Unintentional Release Bbls
1615.2
Intentional Release Bbls
1928.8
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations)
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
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
Local/state/federal Emergency Responder
Nrc Rpt Num
1376623
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1376739
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Tx-107 Viola
Segment Name
Tx-107 Viola
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
78351
Onshore City Name
Driscoll
Onshore County Name
Nueces
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
1363+85
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
26
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Puddle Weld Ind
No
Pipe Diameter
8
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.203
Pipe Smys
46000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - Low Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
Coal Tar
Coating Applied Ind
Yes
Installation Year
1959
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Mechanical Puncture
Puncture Axial
2.5
Puncture Circum
2.4
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
153457
Est Cost Prop Damage
132000
Est Cost Emergency
9360
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
294817
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
313
Mop Psig
650
Mop Cfr Section
Other
Mop Cfr Section Details
Mop As Used By Previous Operator And Supported By Hydrotest
Maop Established Date
2015-03-19 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
28070
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
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
Investigation identified no controller issues. Controller actions were consistent with company protocol.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
No
State Law Exempt Ind
Unknown
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Private Row Ind
Yes
Private Subtype
Private Landowner
Pipeline Easement Row Ind
Yes
Joint Trench Ind
No
Cross Bore Ind
No
Depth Of Grade
Measured Depth From Grade
Depth Of Grade Detail
22
Excavator Type
Farmer
Excavator Equipment
Farm Equipment
Work Performed
Agriculture
One Call Notified Ind
No
Locator Type
Unknown/other
Visible Marks
No
Service Interruption
Yes
Service Interruption Hours
40
Root Cause Category
Notification Issue
Root Cause Type
No Notification Made To The One-Call Center/811
Preparer Name
T****** B****
Preparer Title
Sr. Engineer - Regulatory Compliance
Preparer Email
T************@e*************.com
Preparer Telephone
832-294-5324
Prepared Date
2023-09-15 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
S**** S*****
Authorizer Telephone
405-557-5271
Authorizer Title
Director - Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Email
S***********@e*************.com
Narrative
On august 18, 2023, at approximately 16:29, energy transfer (et) gas control noticed a sudden drop in pipeline pressure on the tx-107 viola pipeline. Gas control and operations decided to initiate an area shutdown as field personnel were traveling to the site in order to visually confirm the leak. Both upstream and downstream valves were remotely closed at 17:03. At 17:36, et personnel arrived on site and confirmed that the pipeline had been punctured by a contracted farmer. Tx-107 viola is an 8-inch natural gas liquid (ngl) pipeline in a rural area located in nueces county in driscoll, tx. The failed section of pipe was cut out, replaced and line was returned to service as of august 20, 2023, at 09:12. The investigation revealed that the 3rd party contractor was plowing the field across the right-of-way and hit the pipeline with a cultivation plow. Contractor failed to make a one call notification prior to excavating. This pipeline is under the jurisdiction of the texas railroad commission (tx rrc). On august 18, 2023, this incident was telephonically reported to the national response center (nrc #1376623) at 17:58. Tx rrc was notified shortly after. A 48-hour nrc update (nrc #1376739) was made on june 20, 2023 at 13:38. To prevent reoccurrence, et will continue to raise awareness on the importance of making a one-call notification prior to excavation.
| Report Received Date | 2023-09-15 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230215 |
| Supplemental Number | 38553 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 32099 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Energy Transfer Company |
| Operator Street Address | 1300 Main Street |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 27.66989292 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -97.71409777 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Lpg (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) / Ngl (Natural Gas Liquid) |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 1615.2 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 1928.8 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations) |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| 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 | Local/state/federal Emergency Responder |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1376623 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1376739 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Tx-107 Viola |
| Segment Name | Tx-107 Viola |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 78351 |
| Onshore City Name | Driscoll |
| Onshore County Name | Nueces |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 1363+85 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 26 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Puddle Weld Ind | No |
| Pipe Diameter | 8 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.203 |
| Pipe Smys | 46000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - Low Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | Coal Tar |
| Coating Applied Ind | Yes |
| Installation Year | 1959 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Mechanical Puncture |
| Puncture Axial | 2.5 |
| Puncture Circum | 2.4 |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 153457 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 132000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 9360 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 294817 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 313 |
| Mop Psig | 650 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Other View CFR 49 §192 |
| Mop Cfr Section Details | Mop As Used By Previous Operator And Supported By Hydrotest |
| Maop Established Date | 2015-03-19 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 28070 |
| 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 | 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 | Investigation identified no controller issues. Controller actions were consistent with company protocol. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | No |
| State Law Exempt Ind | Unknown |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Private Row Ind | Yes |
| Private Subtype | Private Landowner |
| Pipeline Easement Row Ind | Yes |
| Joint Trench Ind | No |
| Cross Bore Ind | No |
| Depth Of Grade | Measured Depth From Grade |
| Depth Of Grade Detail | 22 |
| Excavator Type | Farmer |
| Excavator Equipment | Farm Equipment |
| Work Performed | Agriculture |
| One Call Notified Ind | No |
| Locator Type | Unknown/other |
| Visible Marks | No |
| Service Interruption | Yes |
| Service Interruption Hours | 40 |
| Root Cause Category | Notification Issue |
| Root Cause Type | No Notification Made To The One-Call Center/811 |
| Preparer Name | T****** B**** |
| Preparer Title | Sr. Engineer - Regulatory Compliance |
| Preparer Email | T************@e*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 832-294-5324 |
| Prepared Date | 2023-09-15 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | S**** S***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 405-557-5271 |
| Authorizer Title | Director - Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | S***********@e*************.com |
| Narrative | On august 18, 2023, at approximately 16:29, energy transfer (et) gas control noticed a sudden drop in pipeline pressure on the tx-107 viola pipeline. Gas control and operations decided to initiate an area shutdown as field personnel were traveling to the site in order to visually confirm the leak. Both upstream and downstream valves were remotely closed at 17:03. At 17:36, et personnel arrived on site and confirmed that the pipeline had been punctured by a contracted farmer. Tx-107 viola is an 8-inch natural gas liquid (ngl) pipeline in a rural area located in nueces county in driscoll, tx. The failed section of pipe was cut out, replaced and line was returned to service as of august 20, 2023, at 09:12. The investigation revealed that the 3rd party contractor was plowing the field across the right-of-way and hit the pipeline with a cultivation plow. Contractor failed to make a one call notification prior to excavating. This pipeline is under the jurisdiction of the texas railroad commission (tx rrc). On august 18, 2023, this incident was telephonically reported to the national response center (nrc #1376623) at 17:58. Tx rrc was notified shortly after. A 48-hour nrc update (nrc #1376739) was made on june 20, 2023 at 13:38. To prevent reoccurrence, et will continue to raise awareness on the importance of making a one-call notification prior to excavation. |
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