Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2024-12-26 — TX
Operator
Harvest Midstream Company
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$6,140
Incident datetime
2024-12-26 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On november 28, an operator at the southwest pass 24 terminal entered the pump room to unlock pumps and drain the sump. The sump's auto-lockout feature had engaged due to a high liquid level. Upon entry, the operator observed that the drip pan for pump 4 was full, indicating a leak caused by a seal failure. Further inspection revealed that oil had spilled onto the floor and a limited amount entered the water through the floor drains. The operator determined that approximately 3.5 gallons of oil had spilled onto the pump room floor, and 1.5 gallons had entered the water within the boomed-off containment area. Immediate containment and cleanup measures were initiated and successfully completed. The incident was then reported to the nrc due to the release of oil into waters. No injuries or fatalities occurred as a result of this incident. Following an incident investigation, the seal failure was identified as the root cause. Corrective actions included repairing and replacing the pump seals and adding a secondary check valve to enhance reliability. Additionally, the team is evaluating operational limitations associated with elevation differences, improvements to sump level alarms, and optimization of sump capacity utilization. These measures aim to prevent recurrence and improve system integrity moving forward. The investigation determined that the sump was not pumped out before reaching capacity because the sump high high-level alarm triggered a pump lock-out during the overnight hours. The alarm shutdown was acknowledged at the start of the day shift and immediately confirmed in the field. While the alarm triggered the appropriate shutdown, the absence of a data historian for the sump level in the scada system hindered real-time monitoring and historical analysis of sump levels, which could have provided earlier warnings and prevented the overfill. These factors contributed to the sump reaching capacity and escalating the incident. Improvements to the alarm system and the addition of real-time monitoring capabilities are currently being evaluated to address these issues.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2024-12-26 00:00:00
Iyear
2024
Report Number
20240299
Supplemental Number
40429
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
30782
Name
Harvest Midstream Company
Operator Street Address
1111 Travis
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
No
Location Latitude
29.052537
Location Longitude
-89.3062
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.12
Recovered Bbls
0.12
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 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
No
Shutdown Explain
Equipment Was Already Shut Down At The Time Of Discovery
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Nrc Rpt Num
1417562
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1417802
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Southwest Pass 24 Terminal
Segment Name
Southwest Pass 24 Terminal
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
70091
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Plaquemines
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
8
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
Interstate
Item Involved
Sump
Installation Year
2023
Manufactured Year
2023
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Overfill Or Overflow
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
No
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
No
Water Contam Ind
Yes
Surface Contam Ind
Yes
Amount Released
0.04
Rel Water Name
Johnson's Bayou
Could Be Hca
Yes
Commodity Reached Hca
Yes
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
8
Est Cost Prop Damage
6140
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Est Cost Other Details
Replaced Seals On Pump And Added Check Valves On Mainline Pump Unit 2 And 3
Prpty
6148
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
1
Mop Psig
285
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2023-12-01 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
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
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
Scada functioned as intended
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment
Other Pump Ind
Seal/packing Failure
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Check Valve From Sump Did Not Hold As Designed
Eqf Control Releaf Ind
Yes
Preparer Name
L**** A*****
Preparer Title
Regulatory And Compliance Specialist Iv
Preparer Email
L******@h***************.com
Preparer Telephone
2817871421
Prepared Date
2025-01-22 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
J**** P******
Local Contact Email
J*******@h***************.com
Local Contact Telephone
5049123870
Authorizer Name
L***** F*****
Authorizer Telephone
8326038532
Authorizer Title
Director Of Integrity And Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Email
L************@h***************.com
Narrative
On november 28, an operator at the southwest pass 24 terminal entered the pump room to unlock pumps and drain the sump. The sump's auto-lockout feature had engaged due to a high liquid level. Upon entry, the operator observed that the drip pan for pump 4 was full, indicating a leak caused by a seal failure. Further inspection revealed that oil had spilled onto the floor and a limited amount entered the water through the floor drains. The operator determined that approximately 3.5 gallons of oil had spilled onto the pump room floor, and 1.5 gallons had entered the water within the boomed-off containment area. Immediate containment and cleanup measures were initiated and successfully completed. The incident was then reported to the nrc due to the release of oil into waters. No injuries or fatalities occurred as a result of this incident. Following an incident investigation, the seal failure was identified as the root cause. Corrective actions included repairing and replacing the pump seals and adding a secondary check valve to enhance reliability. Additionally, the team is evaluating operational limitations associated with elevation differences, improvements to sump level alarms, and optimization of sump capacity utilization. These measures aim to prevent recurrence and improve system integrity moving forward. The investigation determined that the sump was not pumped out before reaching capacity because the sump high high-level alarm triggered a pump lock-out during the overnight hours. The alarm shutdown was acknowledged at the start of the day shift and immediately confirmed in the field. While the alarm triggered the appropriate shutdown, the absence of a data historian for the sump level in the scada system hindered real-time monitoring and historical analysis of sump levels, which could have provided earlier warnings and prevented the overfill. These factors contributed to the sump reaching capacity and escalating the incident. Improvements to the alarm system and the addition of real-time monitoring capabilities are currently being evaluated to address these issues.
| Report Received Date | 2024-12-26 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2024 |
| Report Number | 20240299 |
| Supplemental Number | 40429 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 30782 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Harvest Midstream Company |
| Operator Street Address | 1111 Travis |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | No |
| Location Latitude | 29.052537 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -89.3062 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.12 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.12 |
| 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 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 | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Equipment Was Already Shut Down At The Time Of Discovery |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1417562 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1417802 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Southwest Pass 24 Terminal |
| Segment Name | Southwest Pass 24 Terminal |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 70091 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Plaquemines |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 8 |
| 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 | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Sump |
| Installation Year | 2023 |
| Manufactured Year | 2023 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Overfill Or Overflow |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | No |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | No |
| Water Contam Ind | Yes |
| Surface Contam Ind | Yes |
| Amount Released | 0.04 |
| Rel Water Name | Johnson's Bayou |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Commodity Reached Hca | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 8 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 6140 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Replaced Seals On Pump And Added Check Valves On Mainline Pump Unit 2 And 3 |
| Prpty | 6148 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 1 |
| Mop Psig | 285 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2023-12-01 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 | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | Yes |
| 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 | Scada functioned as intended |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment |
| Other Pump Ind | Seal/packing Failure |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Check Valve From Sump Did Not Hold As Designed |
| Eqf Control Releaf Ind | Yes |
| Preparer Name | L**** A***** |
| Preparer Title | Regulatory And Compliance Specialist Iv |
| Preparer Email | L******@h***************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 2817871421 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-01-22 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | J**** P****** |
| Local Contact Email | J*******@h***************.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 5049123870 |
| Authorizer Name | L***** F***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 8326038532 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Of Integrity And Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | L************@h***************.com |
| Narrative | On november 28, an operator at the southwest pass 24 terminal entered the pump room to unlock pumps and drain the sump. The sump's auto-lockout feature had engaged due to a high liquid level. Upon entry, the operator observed that the drip pan for pump 4 was full, indicating a leak caused by a seal failure. Further inspection revealed that oil had spilled onto the floor and a limited amount entered the water through the floor drains. The operator determined that approximately 3.5 gallons of oil had spilled onto the pump room floor, and 1.5 gallons had entered the water within the boomed-off containment area. Immediate containment and cleanup measures were initiated and successfully completed. The incident was then reported to the nrc due to the release of oil into waters. No injuries or fatalities occurred as a result of this incident. Following an incident investigation, the seal failure was identified as the root cause. Corrective actions included repairing and replacing the pump seals and adding a secondary check valve to enhance reliability. Additionally, the team is evaluating operational limitations associated with elevation differences, improvements to sump level alarms, and optimization of sump capacity utilization. These measures aim to prevent recurrence and improve system integrity moving forward. The investigation determined that the sump was not pumped out before reaching capacity because the sump high high-level alarm triggered a pump lock-out during the overnight hours. The alarm shutdown was acknowledged at the start of the day shift and immediately confirmed in the field. While the alarm triggered the appropriate shutdown, the absence of a data historian for the sump level in the scada system hindered real-time monitoring and historical analysis of sump levels, which could have provided earlier warnings and prevented the overfill. These factors contributed to the sump reaching capacity and escalating the incident. Improvements to the alarm system and the addition of real-time monitoring capabilities are currently being evaluated to address these issues. |
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