Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2024-12-19 — AK
Operator
Mid-Alaska Pipeline, Llc
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$40,000
Incident datetime
2024-12-19 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
AK
Narrative
Mid-alaska pipeline's system transports crude oil between the trans alaska pipeline (operated by alyeska) and the north pole refinery operated by petro star inc. (psi). At 22:59 (ast) on 11/23/24, psi called map and notified map of a leak occurring inside map's metering building (psims) located at the north pole refinery. Map directed psi to begin pipeline shutdown procedures (which is map's standard procedure for shutting down the pipeline in an emergency situation). Map then immediately began internal emergency response notifications and mobilized the incident command team. The pipeline was shut down by approximately 23:05. The first map personnel arrived onsite at about 23:25. Map's cpm did not detect the leak because the densitometers are located a short distance upstream of the meters inside the metering building. The building has local gas detection alarms for life safety purposes (audible and strobe) which did alarm and assisted in alarming petro star personnel that there was an issue inside map's building. After response personnel arrived, atmospheric conditions inside the building were too hazardous for entry due to the crude oil vapors. The oil was primarily contained to inside the building with a small quantity (estimated at less than 1 gallon) traveling between the building's exterior wall and slab on grade onto the concrete apron or gravel outside the building. It took several hours for the vapors to subside sufficiently to allow personnel to enter with proper ppe and began assessing the situation and clean up. Clean up began immediately once entry could be made into the building safely. Republic services vac truck and personnel were dispatched and arrived onsite to assist. The bulk of the crude oil was cleaned and the source of the leak determined to be a densitometer instrument which was then isolated from the system. After several operational leak tests and holds to verify the system was acceptable for resuming operations, the system was started at approximately 15:10 on 11/24/24. Clean-up continued for several days by map and republic service personnel. There will be intermittent clean-up inside the building as small amounts of oil seep from the underside of stationary equipment and metering skids inside the building. After onsite investigation, map determined a densitometer instrument inside the psims building failed for currently unknown reasons at approximately 22:24 on 11/23/24. Review of the system data shows no abnormal temperatures, pressure, or flows at time of operation. The densitometer was sent for analysis. The analysis determined cyclical fatigue in the bellows of the densitometer was the failure point.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-12-19 00:00:00
Iyear
2024
Report Number
20240294
Supplemental Number
41168
Report Type
Supplemental
Operator Id
39956
Name
Mid-Alaska Pipeline, Llc
Operator Street Address
615 Bidwell Avenue Suite 100
Operator City Name
Fairbanks
Operator State Abbreviation
AK
Operator Postal Code
99701
Time Zone
Alaska
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
64.732008
Location Longitude
-147.342679
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
14.3
Recovered Bbls
14.3
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Notification From Third Party - Refinery Personnel
System Part Involved
Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping
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
Operator
Nrc Rpt Num
1417196
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Petro Star Inc. Metering Building
Segment Name
Mid-Alaska Pipeline - Resid
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ak
Onshore Postal Code
99705
Onshore City Name
North Pole
Onshore County Name
Fairbanks North Star Borough
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
Psims
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Inside A Building
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Instrumentation
Installation Year
2007
Manufactured Year
2007
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
316 Stainless Steel
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Unknown- Sending Densitometer To Laboratory For Further Analysis
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
Other Pop Ind
Yes
Other Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
10
Est Cost Prop Damage
40000
Est Cost Emergency
150000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
10000
Est Cost Other Details
Disposal Of Absorbs Used In Cleanup
Prpty
200010
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
790
Mop Psig
1350
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2022-08-19 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
Yes
Cpm Operating Ind
Yes
Cpm Functional Ind
Yes
Cpm Detection Ind
No
Cpm Conf Ind
No
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest Other Ind
Yes
Invest Other Ind Details
The Leak Occurred Inside The Metering Building Upstream From The Incoming Flow Meters So The Cpm Did Not Alarm.
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
Densitometer Failed Inside Metering Building
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Cyclical Fatigue In Bellows Of Densitometer Tube.
Preparer Name
L*** F*******
Preparer Title
Pipeline Director
Preparer Email
L********@m********.com
Preparer Telephone
907-374-4627
Prepared Date
2025-07-23 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
L*** F*******
Local Contact Email
L********@m********.com
Local Contact Telephone
907-374-4627
Authorizer Name
L*** F*******
Authorizer Telephone
907-374-4627
Authorizer Title
Pipeline Director
Authorizer Email
L********@m********.com
Narrative
Mid-alaska pipeline's system transports crude oil between the trans alaska pipeline (operated by alyeska) and the north pole refinery operated by petro star inc. (psi). At 22:59 (ast) on 11/23/24, psi called map and notified map of a leak occurring inside map's metering building (psims) located at the north pole refinery. Map directed psi to begin pipeline shutdown procedures (which is map's standard procedure for shutting down the pipeline in an emergency situation). Map then immediately began internal emergency response notifications and mobilized the incident command team. The pipeline was shut down by approximately 23:05. The first map personnel arrived onsite at about 23:25. Map's cpm did not detect the leak because the densitometers are located a short distance upstream of the meters inside the metering building. The building has local gas detection alarms for life safety purposes (audible and strobe) which did alarm and assisted in alarming petro star personnel that there was an issue inside map's building. After response personnel arrived, atmospheric conditions inside the building were too hazardous for entry due to the crude oil vapors. The oil was primarily contained to inside the building with a small quantity (estimated at less than 1 gallon) traveling between the building's exterior wall and slab on grade onto the concrete apron or gravel outside the building. It took several hours for the vapors to subside sufficiently to allow personnel to enter with proper ppe and began assessing the situation and clean up. Clean up began immediately once entry could be made into the building safely. Republic services vac truck and personnel were dispatched and arrived onsite to assist. The bulk of the crude oil was cleaned and the source of the leak determined to be a densitometer instrument which was then isolated from the system. After several operational leak tests and holds to verify the system was acceptable for resuming operations, the system was started at approximately 15:10 on 11/24/24. Clean-up continued for several days by map and republic service personnel. There will be intermittent clean-up inside the building as small amounts of oil seep from the underside of stationary equipment and metering skids inside the building. After onsite investigation, map determined a densitometer instrument inside the psims building failed for currently unknown reasons at approximately 22:24 on 11/23/24. Review of the system data shows no abnormal temperatures, pressure, or flows at time of operation. The densitometer was sent for analysis. The analysis determined cyclical fatigue in the bellows of the densitometer was the failure point.
| Report Received Date | 2024-12-19 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2024 |
| Report Number | 20240294 |
| Supplemental Number | 41168 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| Operator Id | 39956 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Mid-Alaska Pipeline, Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 615 Bidwell Avenue Suite 100 |
| Operator City Name | Fairbanks |
| Operator State Abbreviation | AK |
| Operator Postal Code | 99701 |
| Time Zone | Alaska |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 64.732008 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -147.342679 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 14.3 |
| Recovered Bbls | 14.3 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Notification From Third Party - Refinery Personnel |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pump/meter Station Equipment And Piping |
| 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 | Operator |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1417196 NRC Report How to search |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Petro Star Inc. Metering Building |
| Segment Name | Mid-Alaska Pipeline - Resid |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ak |
| Onshore Postal Code | 99705 |
| Onshore City Name | North Pole |
| Onshore County Name | Fairbanks North Star Borough |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | Psims |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Inside A Building |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Instrumentation |
| Installation Year | 2007 |
| Manufactured Year | 2007 |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | 316 Stainless Steel |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Unknown- Sending Densitometer To Laboratory For Further Analysis |
| 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 |
| Other Pop Ind | Yes |
| Other Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 10 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 40000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 150000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 10000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Disposal Of Absorbs Used In Cleanup |
| Prpty | 200010 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 790 |
| Mop Psig | 1350 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2022-08-19 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 | Yes |
| Cpm Operating Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Functional Ind | Yes |
| Cpm Detection Ind | No |
| Cpm Conf Ind | No |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest Other Ind | Yes |
| Invest Other Ind Details | The Leak Occurred Inside The Metering Building Upstream From The Incoming Flow Meters So The Cpm Did Not Alarm. |
| 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 | Densitometer Failed Inside Metering Building |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Cyclical Fatigue In Bellows Of Densitometer Tube. |
| Preparer Name | L*** F******* |
| Preparer Title | Pipeline Director |
| Preparer Email | L********@m********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 907-374-4627 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-07-23 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | L*** F******* |
| Local Contact Email | L********@m********.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 907-374-4627 |
| Authorizer Name | L*** F******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 907-374-4627 |
| Authorizer Title | Pipeline Director |
| Authorizer Email | L********@m********.com |
| Narrative | Mid-alaska pipeline's system transports crude oil between the trans alaska pipeline (operated by alyeska) and the north pole refinery operated by petro star inc. (psi). At 22:59 (ast) on 11/23/24, psi called map and notified map of a leak occurring inside map's metering building (psims) located at the north pole refinery. Map directed psi to begin pipeline shutdown procedures (which is map's standard procedure for shutting down the pipeline in an emergency situation). Map then immediately began internal emergency response notifications and mobilized the incident command team. The pipeline was shut down by approximately 23:05. The first map personnel arrived onsite at about 23:25. Map's cpm did not detect the leak because the densitometers are located a short distance upstream of the meters inside the metering building. The building has local gas detection alarms for life safety purposes (audible and strobe) which did alarm and assisted in alarming petro star personnel that there was an issue inside map's building. After response personnel arrived, atmospheric conditions inside the building were too hazardous for entry due to the crude oil vapors. The oil was primarily contained to inside the building with a small quantity (estimated at less than 1 gallon) traveling between the building's exterior wall and slab on grade onto the concrete apron or gravel outside the building. It took several hours for the vapors to subside sufficiently to allow personnel to enter with proper ppe and began assessing the situation and clean up. Clean up began immediately once entry could be made into the building safely. Republic services vac truck and personnel were dispatched and arrived onsite to assist. The bulk of the crude oil was cleaned and the source of the leak determined to be a densitometer instrument which was then isolated from the system. After several operational leak tests and holds to verify the system was acceptable for resuming operations, the system was started at approximately 15:10 on 11/24/24. Clean-up continued for several days by map and republic service personnel. There will be intermittent clean-up inside the building as small amounts of oil seep from the underside of stationary equipment and metering skids inside the building. After onsite investigation, map determined a densitometer instrument inside the psims building failed for currently unknown reasons at approximately 22:24 on 11/23/24. Review of the system data shows no abnormal temperatures, pressure, or flows at time of operation. The densitometer was sent for analysis. The analysis determined cyclical fatigue in the bellows of the densitometer was the failure point. |
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