Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-11-13 — TX
Operator
Exxonmobil Oil Corporation
Cause
Corrosion Failure
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)
$34,000
Incident datetime
2023-11-13 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At 9:12 a.M. On october 15, 2023, the operations control center (occ) received a call from arkema stating there was a release occurring from mc-49a ethylene line on the right-of-way outside of arkema. Immediately after being notified by arkema, occ alerted the on-duty beaumont operations first line supervisor (fls). The operation fls performed a visual inspection of the pipeline. The source of the release was located at 9:38 am. The operations fls called for additional personnel to assist in isolating the segment. Manual valve #40736 was closed by 11:00 am; this successfully isolated the segment from source pressure. The isolated section of the pipe was flared down until line pressure reached 0 psi. During this event, 250 pounds (2.04 barrels) of ethylene were released due to atmospheric corrosion located around a pinhole at the bottom of the aboveground 6" pipe. At the time of the release, the pipeline was inactive. The investigation has concluded. Operations replaced the pipe segment impacted by the atmospheric corrosion. Additionally, a valve has been installed to clarify the demarcation point.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-11-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230269
Supplemental Number
39035
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
12634
Name
Exxonmobil Oil Corporation
Operator Street Address
2775 Gulf States Road
Operator City Name
Beaumont
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77704
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
30.05933
Location Longitude
-94.05926
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Other Hvl
Commodity Details
Ethylene
Unintentional Release Bbls
2.04
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Notification From Third Party
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
No
Shutdown Explain
Pipeline Flow Was Paused Prior To Release; Affected Segment Was Isolated.
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Not Required
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Downstream Manual Valve Was Already Closed Prior To Release Due To Operational Downtime.
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Mc-49a Boap To Arkema Ethylene
Segment Name
Mc-49a
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
77705
Onshore City Name
Beaumont
Onshore County Name
Jefferson
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
18+00
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Other
Incident Area Details
Aboveground Elevated Pipe Rack
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Body
Puddle Weld Ind
No
Pipe Diameter
6.625
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.188
Pipe Smys
52000
Pipe Specification
Api 5l X52
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - Low Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
Paint
Coating Applied Ind
Unknown
Installation Year
1966
Manufactured Year
1966
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
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
55
Est Cost Prop Damage
34000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Est Cost Other Details
Flare/heater Truck, Materials, Crew, Nitrogen
Prpty
34055
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
1270
Mop Psig
1440
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2017-04-20 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Tight Mitered Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Other Complications Ind
Yes
Inspect Comp Details
Tight Bends As Part Of Station Piping
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
Operations control center did not conduct an investigation of the controller actions because the controller responded appropriately per the emergency response procedure.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Corrosion Failure
Cause Details
External Corrosion
Internal External
External Corrosion
Visual Exam Results
Localized Pitting
Atmosphere Corrosion Ind
Yes
Field Exam Basis Ind
Yes
Underground Location
No
Externally Coated
Yes
Prior Damage
Yes
Collected Data Ind
No
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
Yes
Hydrtst Most Rcnt Year
2017
Hydrtst Most Rcnt Pressure
1440
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
K**** B******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Safety Advisor
Preparer Email
K************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone
281-409-2853
Prepared Date
2024-01-03 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
L**** B******
Authorizer Telephone
(346) 474-9151
Authorizer Title
Regulatory Compliance Supervisor
Authorizer Email
L**************@e*********.com
Narrative
At 9:12 a.M. On october 15, 2023, the operations control center (occ) received a call from arkema stating there was a release occurring from mc-49a ethylene line on the right-of-way outside of arkema. Immediately after being notified by arkema, occ alerted the on-duty beaumont operations first line supervisor (fls). The operation fls performed a visual inspection of the pipeline. The source of the release was located at 9:38 am. The operations fls called for additional personnel to assist in isolating the segment. Manual valve #40736 was closed by 11:00 am; this successfully isolated the segment from source pressure. The isolated section of the pipe was flared down until line pressure reached 0 psi. During this event, 250 pounds (2.04 barrels) of ethylene were released due to atmospheric corrosion located around a pinhole at the bottom of the aboveground 6" pipe. At the time of the release, the pipeline was inactive. The investigation has concluded. Operations replaced the pipe segment impacted by the atmospheric corrosion. Additionally, a valve has been installed to clarify the demarcation point.
| Report Received Date | 2023-11-13 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230269 |
| Supplemental Number | 39035 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 12634 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Exxonmobil Oil Corporation |
| Operator Street Address | 2775 Gulf States Road |
| Operator City Name | Beaumont |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77704 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 30.05933 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -94.05926 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Other Hvl |
| Commodity Details | Ethylene |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 2.04 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Notification From Third Party |
| 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 | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Pipeline Flow Was Paused Prior To Release; Affected Segment Was Isolated. |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | Nrc Notification Not Required NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Downstream Manual Valve Was Already Closed Prior To Release Due To Operational Downtime. |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Mc-49a Boap To Arkema Ethylene |
| Segment Name | Mc-49a |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 77705 |
| Onshore City Name | Beaumont |
| Onshore County Name | Jefferson |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 18+00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Other |
| Incident Area Details | Aboveground Elevated Pipe Rack |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Body |
| Puddle Weld Ind | No |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.625 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.188 |
| Pipe Smys | 52000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5l X52 |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - Low Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | Paint |
| Coating Applied Ind | Unknown |
| Installation Year | 1966 |
| Manufactured Year | 1966 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| 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 | 55 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 34000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Flare/heater Truck, Materials, Crew, Nitrogen |
| Prpty | 34055 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 1270 |
| Mop Psig | 1440 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2017-04-20 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Tight Mitered Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Other Complications Ind | Yes |
| Inspect Comp Details | Tight Bends As Part Of Station Piping |
| 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 | Operations control center did not conduct an investigation of the controller actions because the controller responded appropriately per the emergency response procedure. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Corrosion Failure |
| Cause Details | External Corrosion |
| Internal External | External Corrosion |
| Visual Exam Results | Localized Pitting |
| Atmosphere Corrosion Ind | Yes |
| Field Exam Basis Ind | Yes |
| Underground Location | No |
| Externally Coated | Yes |
| Prior Damage | Yes |
| Collected Data Ind | No |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | Yes |
| Hydrtst Most Rcnt Year | 2017 |
| Hydrtst Most Rcnt Pressure | 1440 |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | K**** B****** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Safety Advisor |
| Preparer Email | K************@e*********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 281-409-2853 |
| Prepared Date | 2024-01-03 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | L**** B****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | (346) 474-9151 |
| Authorizer Title | Regulatory Compliance Supervisor |
| Authorizer Email | L**************@e*********.com |
| Narrative | At 9:12 a.M. On october 15, 2023, the operations control center (occ) received a call from arkema stating there was a release occurring from mc-49a ethylene line on the right-of-way outside of arkema. Immediately after being notified by arkema, occ alerted the on-duty beaumont operations first line supervisor (fls). The operation fls performed a visual inspection of the pipeline. The source of the release was located at 9:38 am. The operations fls called for additional personnel to assist in isolating the segment. Manual valve #40736 was closed by 11:00 am; this successfully isolated the segment from source pressure. The isolated section of the pipe was flared down until line pressure reached 0 psi. During this event, 250 pounds (2.04 barrels) of ethylene were released due to atmospheric corrosion located around a pinhole at the bottom of the aboveground 6" pipe. At the time of the release, the pipeline was inactive. The investigation has concluded. Operations replaced the pipe segment impacted by the atmospheric corrosion. Additionally, a valve has been installed to clarify the demarcation point. |
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