Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2024-11-08 — TX
Operator
Exxonmobil Pipeline Company Llc
Cause
Equipment 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)
$197,000
Incident datetime
2024-11-08 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On october 11, 2024 at approximately 9:20 am, an ethylene release to atmosphere was discovered from la-78. Work had been conducted to replace a block valve and during recommissioning of the pipeline there was a leak at the flange connection. At time of release, the section of piping was already isolated, and ethylene was being flared as a part of maintenance activities. An estimated 13,300 lbs. Of ethylene was released to the atmosphere. Supplemental update: investigation determined that misaligned flanges caused uneven loading on the gasket and prevented a complete seal. Part e9b: answered "no" to this question because motor operated valves were closed and powered off due to the maintenance activities as described above.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-11-08 00:00:00
Iyear
2024
Report Number
20240263
Supplemental Number
40298
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
4906
Name
Exxonmobil Pipeline Company Llc
Operator Street Address
22777 Springwoods Village Parkway E2.2b-Emp
Operator City Name
Spring
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77389
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Latitude
30.25709444
Location Longitude
-91.25910556
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
997
Intentional Release Bbls
2662
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
Post-Construction Commissioning
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Nrc Rpt Num
1413426
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1413530
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Upstream Valve Was Previously Isolated Pipeline From Grid For Maintenance Work.
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
Disconnected From 3rd Party. Portable Flare Connected For Maintenance Work.
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
La-78
Segment Name
Choctaw - Shintech 8" Ethylene / 6895
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70764
Onshore City Name
Plaquemine
Onshore County Name
Iberville
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
274+73
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
60
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Flange Assembly
Installation Year
1980
Manufactured Year
1979
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
655
Est Cost Gas Released
1995
Est Cost Prop Damage
197000
Est Cost Emergency
24100
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
223750
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
377
Mop Psig
2160
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2003-09-30 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
Yes
Exceed Restriction Ind
No
Phmsa Restriction Ind
Not Mandated
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
No
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Cpm In Place Ind
No
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the accident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Eq Failure Type
Non-Threaded Connection Failure
Other Non Threaded Ind
Gasket
Ief Addl Misalignment Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
A***** M*****
Preparer Title
Dot Regulatory Compliance Advisor
Preparer Email
A**************@e*********.com
Preparer Telephone
281-755-3984
Prepared Date
2024-12-06 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
L**** B******
Authorizer Telephone
346-474-9151
Authorizer Title
Dot Regulatory Compliance Supervisor
Authorizer Email
L**************@e*********.com
Narrative
On october 11, 2024 at approximately 9:20 am, an ethylene release to atmosphere was discovered from la-78. Work had been conducted to replace a block valve and during recommissioning of the pipeline there was a leak at the flange connection. At time of release, the section of piping was already isolated, and ethylene was being flared as a part of maintenance activities. An estimated 13,300 lbs. Of ethylene was released to the atmosphere. Supplemental update: investigation determined that misaligned flanges caused uneven loading on the gasket and prevented a complete seal. Part e9b: answered "no" to this question because motor operated valves were closed and powered off due to the maintenance activities as described above.
| Report Received Date | 2024-11-08 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2024 |
| Report Number | 20240263 |
| Supplemental Number | 40298 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 4906 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Exxonmobil Pipeline Company Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 22777 Springwoods Village Parkway E2.2b-Emp |
| Operator City Name | Spring |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77389 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Latitude | 30.25709444 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -91.25910556 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 | 997 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 2662 |
| 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 | Post-Construction Commissioning |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1413426 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1413530 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Upstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Upstream Valve Was Previously Isolated Pipeline From Grid For Maintenance Work. |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | Disconnected From 3rd Party. Portable Flare Connected For Maintenance Work. |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | La-78 |
| Segment Name | Choctaw - Shintech 8" Ethylene / 6895 |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70764 |
| Onshore City Name | Plaquemine |
| Onshore County Name | Iberville |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 274+73 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 60 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Flange Assembly |
| Installation Year | 1980 |
| Manufactured Year | 1979 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 655 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 1995 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 197000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 24100 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 223750 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 377 |
| Mop Psig | 2160 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2003-09-30 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | Yes |
| Exceed Restriction Ind | No |
| Phmsa Restriction Ind | Not Mandated |
| 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 | No |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Cpm In Place Ind | No |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the accident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Non-Threaded Connection Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Non-Threaded Connection Failure |
| Other Non Threaded Ind | Gasket |
| Ief Addl Misalignment Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | A***** M***** |
| Preparer Title | Dot Regulatory Compliance Advisor |
| Preparer Email | A**************@e*********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 281-755-3984 |
| Prepared Date | 2024-12-06 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | L**** B****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 346-474-9151 |
| Authorizer Title | Dot Regulatory Compliance Supervisor |
| Authorizer Email | L**************@e*********.com |
| Narrative | On october 11, 2024 at approximately 9:20 am, an ethylene release to atmosphere was discovered from la-78. Work had been conducted to replace a block valve and during recommissioning of the pipeline there was a leak at the flange connection. At time of release, the section of piping was already isolated, and ethylene was being flared as a part of maintenance activities. An estimated 13,300 lbs. Of ethylene was released to the atmosphere. Supplemental update: investigation determined that misaligned flanges caused uneven loading on the gasket and prevented a complete seal. Part e9b: answered "no" to this question because motor operated valves were closed and powered off due to the maintenance activities as described above. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA