Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-10-19 — TX
Operator
Nustar Permian Transportation And Storage, Llc
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$14,524
Incident datetime
2023-10-19 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
A third-party producer notified nustar operations personnel of a leak at nustar's xto nail ranch site. A crude oil leak was discovered originating at an above-grade horizontal 8-inch flange connecting nustar's south curtis ranch lateral and the nail ranch mainline. The system was immediately shutdown, and the leak was isolated using valves between the trap facilities at the site. The apparent cause of the leak is internal corrosion at the 6 o'clock position of the flange. The failed flange was removed from service and replaced. The contributing cause(s) of the leak is under investigation. Update - the corrosion was caused by current leaving the internal surface of the pipe close to the isolating joint on the anodic side. It is likely multiphase products and water created an electrolytic path across the isolation flange and contributed to the corrosion. Nustar investigated the response to a leak detection alarm received prior to the discovery of the release, and it was determined the alarm was mistaken for one of several false alarms on another segment earlier in the shift. This did not cause the accident, but likely, in part, contributed to the total volume of the release.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-10-19 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230242
Supplemental Number
38977
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
39348
Name
Nustar Permian Transportation And Storage, Llc
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
32.15025
Location Longitude
-101.97124
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
258.5
Recovered Bbls
210
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Notification From Public
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
No
Nrc Rpt Num
1379754
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1379824
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
103p Nail Ranch Lateral Pipeline System
Segment Name
Xto Nail Ranch
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
79782
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Martin
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
0
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
2015
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
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
4353
Est Cost Prop Damage
14524
Est Cost Emergency
23079
Est Cost Environmental
87070
Est Cost Other
6765
Est Cost Other Details
Failure Analysis
Prpty
135791
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
214
Mop Psig
1440
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2015-10-06 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
Bi-Directional
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
5
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
No
Cpm In Place Ind
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
Yes
Cpm Conf Ind
No
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Schedule Ind
Yes
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest Incorrect Action Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Cause Details
Internal Corrosion
Internal External
Internal Corrosion
Int Visual Exam Results
Other
Int Visual Exam Details
Internal Stray Current Corrosion At Electrical Isolation Flange
Int Other Corrosion Ind
Yes
Int Corrosion Type Details
Internal Stray Current Corrosion At Electrical Isolation Flange
Int Field Exam Basis Ind
Yes
Int Metallurgical Basis Ind
Yes
Int Other Loc Ind
Yes
Corrosion Location Details
Electrical Isolation Flange Connection
Corrosion Inhibitors
Yes
Corrosion Lining
No
Cleaning Dewatering
Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe
Corrosion Coupons
Yes
Io Follow Procedure Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
R****** P****
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Manager
Preparer Email
R************@n***********.com
Preparer Telephone
3612499417
Prepared Date
2023-12-18 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
R***** F*****
Authorizer Telephone
18063711304
Authorizer Title
General Manager
Authorizer Email
R************@n***********.com
Narrative
A third-party producer notified nustar operations personnel of a leak at nustar's xto nail ranch site. A crude oil leak was discovered originating at an above-grade horizontal 8-inch flange connecting nustar's south curtis ranch lateral and the nail ranch mainline. The system was immediately shutdown, and the leak was isolated using valves between the trap facilities at the site. The apparent cause of the leak is internal corrosion at the 6 o'clock position of the flange. The failed flange was removed from service and replaced. The contributing cause(s) of the leak is under investigation. Update - the corrosion was caused by current leaving the internal surface of the pipe close to the isolating joint on the anodic side. It is likely multiphase products and water created an electrolytic path across the isolation flange and contributed to the corrosion. Nustar investigated the response to a leak detection alarm received prior to the discovery of the release, and it was determined the alarm was mistaken for one of several false alarms on another segment earlier in the shift. This did not cause the accident, but likely, in part, contributed to the total volume of the release.
| Report Received Date | 2023-10-19 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230242 |
| Supplemental Number | 38977 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 39348 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Nustar Permian Transportation And Storage, Llc |
| 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 | 32.15025 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -101.97124 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 258.5 |
| Recovered Bbls | 210 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Public |
| 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 | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1379754 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1379824 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | 103p Nail Ranch Lateral Pipeline System |
| Segment Name | Xto Nail Ranch |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 79782 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Martin |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 0 |
| 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 | 2015 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| 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 | 4353 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 14524 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 23079 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 87070 |
| Est Cost Other | 6765 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Failure Analysis |
| Prpty | 135791 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 214 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2015-10-06 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | Bi-Directional |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 5 |
| 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 | No |
| Cpm In Place Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Operating Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Functional Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Detection Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Conf Ind | No |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest Schedule Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest Incorrect Action Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Corrosion Failure |
| Cause Details | Internal Corrosion |
| Internal External | Internal Corrosion |
| Int Visual Exam Results | Other |
| Int Visual Exam Details | Internal Stray Current Corrosion At Electrical Isolation Flange |
| Int Other Corrosion Ind | Yes |
| Int Corrosion Type Details | Internal Stray Current Corrosion At Electrical Isolation Flange |
| Int Field Exam Basis Ind | Yes |
| Int Metallurgical Basis Ind | Yes |
| Int Other Loc Ind | Yes |
| Corrosion Location Details | Electrical Isolation Flange Connection |
| Corrosion Inhibitors | Yes |
| Corrosion Lining | No |
| Cleaning Dewatering | Not Applicable - Not Mainline Pipe |
| Corrosion Coupons | Yes |
| Io Follow Procedure Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | R****** P**** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Safety Manager |
| Preparer Email | R************@n***********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 3612499417 |
| Prepared Date | 2023-12-18 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | R***** F***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 18063711304 |
| Authorizer Title | General Manager |
| Authorizer Email | R************@n***********.com |
| Narrative | A third-party producer notified nustar operations personnel of a leak at nustar's xto nail ranch site. A crude oil leak was discovered originating at an above-grade horizontal 8-inch flange connecting nustar's south curtis ranch lateral and the nail ranch mainline. The system was immediately shutdown, and the leak was isolated using valves between the trap facilities at the site. The apparent cause of the leak is internal corrosion at the 6 o'clock position of the flange. The failed flange was removed from service and replaced. The contributing cause(s) of the leak is under investigation. Update - the corrosion was caused by current leaving the internal surface of the pipe close to the isolating joint on the anodic side. It is likely multiphase products and water created an electrolytic path across the isolation flange and contributed to the corrosion. Nustar investigated the response to a leak detection alarm received prior to the discovery of the release, and it was determined the alarm was mistaken for one of several false alarms on another segment earlier in the shift. This did not cause the accident, but likely, in part, contributed to the total volume of the release. |
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