Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2023-11-20 — TX
Operator
Sinclair Transportation Company
Cause
Equipment Failure
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)
$0
Incident datetime
2023-11-20 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On october 25, 2023, at approximately 11:00 am mst, personnel at the denver products terminal observed a drip from a thermal relief valve situated on a receipt line between two regulated breakout tanks. They promptly stopped the leak by pressing on the quick-connect fitting at the base of the valve and notified terminal supervision and the hep control center. Initially, personnel estimated a release of approximately 1-2 gallons, believed to be within containment (and not reportable). However, during the process of removing contaminated soil for permanent disposal, personnel realized there might have been more product leaked than initially estimated. At around 3:23 pm mst, terminal personnel contacted hep's environmental team to consult on the estimated release amount and proper disposal of the contaminated soil. By 4:21 pm mst, a determination was made that approximately 1 barrel of diesel product had been released. However, terminal personnel still considered the affected soil to be within containment and therefore not reportable. On october 26, hep's environmental team received clarifying information, which was then transferred to hep's regulatory team, who subsequently identified the event as reportable to PHMSA. Notifications were then made to nrc and the cdphe. It's important to note that at the time of the leak identification on october 25, the terminal was not receiving any batches, so the regulated mainline was not shut down. Additionally, while scada and cpm are operational for the regulated mainline, they are not for the receipt line. Furthermore, certain information and event-related costs, specifically environmental items, are currently pending (including the final recovered volume and why "0" has been entered at this time). The apparent cause of the leak is due to a failure of the spring-loaded seal within the quick-connect fitting at the base of the thermal relief valve. For clarification, the quick-connect fitting is a permanent fixture at the base of the valve, designed for easily connecting testing equipment during routine maintenance inspections. Over time, lingering residual within the valve can cause the seal to slowly depress, allowing product to leak out. Following the event, personnel removed the valve and, upon disassembly, identified the residual buildup. This has been documented in the company's incident management system to bring visibility to the event (and type of failure) as well as for tracking purposes (as a means to identify potential trends and prevent reoccurrence).
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2023-11-20 00:00:00
Iyear
2023
Report Number
20230280
Supplemental Number
39323
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15156
Name
Sinclair Transportation Company
Operator Street Address
2323 Victory Ave. Suite 1400
Operator City Name
Dallas
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
75219
Time Zone
Mountain
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Latitude
39.87211
Location Longitude
-104.885963
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel
Unintentional Release Bbls
1
Recovered Bbls
1
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 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
No
Shutdown Explain
See Narrative For Detailed Explanation.
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Nrc Rpt Num
1382732
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1382811
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Medicine Bow
Segment Name
Medicine Bow 10
Onshore State Abbreviation
Co
Onshore Postal Code
80640
Onshore City Name
Henderson
Onshore County Name
Adams
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
Denver Term.
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Relief Valve
Installation Year
Unknown
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
200
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
31200
Est Cost Environmental
5000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
36400
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
100
Mop Psig
275
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2014-06-10 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Pipeline Function
< 20% Smys Regulated Transmission
Scada In Place 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
Event did not warrant investigation into controller actions.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Type
Other Equipment Failure
Failure Details
Please Refer To Information Within The Narrative.
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Please Refer To Information Within The Narrative.
Preparer Name
B******** T*****
Preparer Title
Pipeline Regulatory Manager
Preparer Email
B***************@h**********.com
Preparer Telephone
2149546652
Prepared Date
2024-03-14 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
B******** T*****
Authorizer Telephone
2149546652
Authorizer Title
Pipeline Regulatory Manager
Authorizer Email
B***************@h**********.com
Narrative
On october 25, 2023, at approximately 11:00 am mst, personnel at the denver products terminal observed a drip from a thermal relief valve situated on a receipt line between two regulated breakout tanks. They promptly stopped the leak by pressing on the quick-connect fitting at the base of the valve and notified terminal supervision and the hep control center. Initially, personnel estimated a release of approximately 1-2 gallons, believed to be within containment (and not reportable). However, during the process of removing contaminated soil for permanent disposal, personnel realized there might have been more product leaked than initially estimated. At around 3:23 pm mst, terminal personnel contacted hep's environmental team to consult on the estimated release amount and proper disposal of the contaminated soil. By 4:21 pm mst, a determination was made that approximately 1 barrel of diesel product had been released. However, terminal personnel still considered the affected soil to be within containment and therefore not reportable. On october 26, hep's environmental team received clarifying information, which was then transferred to hep's regulatory team, who subsequently identified the event as reportable to PHMSA. Notifications were then made to nrc and the cdphe. It's important to note that at the time of the leak identification on october 25, the terminal was not receiving any batches, so the regulated mainline was not shut down. Additionally, while scada and cpm are operational for the regulated mainline, they are not for the receipt line. Furthermore, certain information and event-related costs, specifically environmental items, are currently pending (including the final recovered volume and why "0" has been entered at this time). The apparent cause of the leak is due to a failure of the spring-loaded seal within the quick-connect fitting at the base of the thermal relief valve. For clarification, the quick-connect fitting is a permanent fixture at the base of the valve, designed for easily connecting testing equipment during routine maintenance inspections. Over time, lingering residual within the valve can cause the seal to slowly depress, allowing product to leak out. Following the event, personnel removed the valve and, upon disassembly, identified the residual buildup. This has been documented in the company's incident management system to bring visibility to the event (and type of failure) as well as for tracking purposes (as a means to identify potential trends and prevent reoccurrence).
| Report Received Date | 2023-11-20 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2023 |
| Report Number | 20230280 |
| Supplemental Number | 39323 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15156 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Sinclair Transportation Company |
| Operator Street Address | 2323 Victory Ave. Suite 1400 |
| Operator City Name | Dallas |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 75219 |
| Time Zone | Mountain |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Latitude | 39.87211 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -104.885963 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 1 |
| Recovered Bbls | 1 |
| 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 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 | No |
| Shutdown Explain | See Narrative For Detailed Explanation. |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1382732 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1382811 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Medicine Bow |
| Segment Name | Medicine Bow 10 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Co |
| Onshore Postal Code | 80640 |
| Onshore City Name | Henderson |
| Onshore County Name | Adams |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | Denver Term. |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Relief Valve |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 200 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 31200 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 5000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 36400 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 100 |
| Mop Psig | 275 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2014-06-10 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | < 20% Smys Regulated Transmission |
| Scada In Place 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 | Event did not warrant investigation into controller actions. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Other Equipment Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Other Equipment Failure |
| Failure Details | Please Refer To Information Within The Narrative. |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Please Refer To Information Within The Narrative. |
| Preparer Name | B******** T***** |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Regulatory Manager |
| Preparer Email | B***************@h**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2149546652 |
| Prepared Date | 2024-03-14 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | B******** T***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 2149546652 |
| Authorizer Title | Pipeline Regulatory Manager |
| Authorizer Email | B***************@h**********.com |
| Narrative | On october 25, 2023, at approximately 11:00 am mst, personnel at the denver products terminal observed a drip from a thermal relief valve situated on a receipt line between two regulated breakout tanks. They promptly stopped the leak by pressing on the quick-connect fitting at the base of the valve and notified terminal supervision and the hep control center. Initially, personnel estimated a release of approximately 1-2 gallons, believed to be within containment (and not reportable). However, during the process of removing contaminated soil for permanent disposal, personnel realized there might have been more product leaked than initially estimated. At around 3:23 pm mst, terminal personnel contacted hep's environmental team to consult on the estimated release amount and proper disposal of the contaminated soil. By 4:21 pm mst, a determination was made that approximately 1 barrel of diesel product had been released. However, terminal personnel still considered the affected soil to be within containment and therefore not reportable. On october 26, hep's environmental team received clarifying information, which was then transferred to hep's regulatory team, who subsequently identified the event as reportable to PHMSA. Notifications were then made to nrc and the cdphe. It's important to note that at the time of the leak identification on october 25, the terminal was not receiving any batches, so the regulated mainline was not shut down. Additionally, while scada and cpm are operational for the regulated mainline, they are not for the receipt line. Furthermore, certain information and event-related costs, specifically environmental items, are currently pending (including the final recovered volume and why "0" has been entered at this time). The apparent cause of the leak is due to a failure of the spring-loaded seal within the quick-connect fitting at the base of the thermal relief valve. For clarification, the quick-connect fitting is a permanent fixture at the base of the valve, designed for easily connecting testing equipment during routine maintenance inspections. Over time, lingering residual within the valve can cause the seal to slowly depress, allowing product to leak out. Following the event, personnel removed the valve and, upon disassembly, identified the residual buildup. This has been documented in the company's incident management system to bring visibility to the event (and type of failure) as well as for tracking purposes (as a means to identify potential trends and prevent reoccurrence). |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA