Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2025-05-09 — GA
Operator
Colonial Pipeline Co
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)
$39,000
Incident datetime
2025-05-09 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
GA
Narrative
On april 14, 2025, at approximately 13:40 (local time) while a colonial operator was on site assisting with a maintenance activity, they discovered product in 2 adjacent access wells. The access wells were in the proximity to the unit 3 suction valve. The alpharetta control center was notified of a suspected leak investigation at 14:00. The product in the wells was cleaned up with absorbents. The wells were monitored but no product came back into the wells. The right of way (row) inspector was contacted to probe both the line 3 station loop, which was operating in gasoline, and stub-line 28a, which was shut down, but had last delivered diesel fuel. When the row inspector probed along line 28a there was no detection of product. When they probed the area around the unit 3 check valve, there was a detection of product odor. A call was made to the control center at 17:06 to close out of the station loop. Spill response personnel were dispatched to begin excavation in the area where the odors were detected. At 21:56 product was observed in the excavation area. A notification was made to the nrc at 22:29 based on estimated response costs to exceed $50, 000. Excavation continued to identify the source of the product in the soil. On 4/15/25 at 14:46 the source of the product was determined to be a seep around 4 studs and nuts on the top of the unit 3 check valve caused by an o-ring failure. A repair plan was developed while ongoing excavation of impacted soil continued. On 4/16/25 at 11:15 plt repair was completed. At 16:30 plt the pipeline was reopened into the station loop. On-site monitoring of the station and the unit 3 check valve continued until 19:30 plt, repair was confirmed, and the station was turned back over to the control center.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-05-09 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250116
Supplemental Number
40865
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
2552
Name
Colonial Pipeline Co
Operator Street Address
1000 Lake St.
Operator City Name
Alpharetta
Operator State Abbreviation
GA
Operator Postal Code
30009
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
38.83496
Location Longitude
-77.39979
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Mixture Of Refined Products (Transmix Or Other Mixture)
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.88
Recovered Bbls
0.88
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
Yes
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Nrc Rpt Num
1428595
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1428754
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
Yes
Osro Arrived On Site Dt
4/15/2025 1:40
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Colonial Pipeline
Segment Name
Chantilly Station
Onshore State Abbreviation
Va
Onshore Postal Code
20124
Onshore City Name
Clifton
Onshore County Name
Fairfax
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
924
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
12
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Valve
Valve Type
Auxiliary Or Other Valve
Installation Year
1965
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Fluoropolymer Elastomer (Viton)
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
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
Usa Drinking Ind
Yes
Usa Drinking Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
79
Est Cost Prop Damage
39000
Est Cost Emergency
341000
Est Cost Environmental
44000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
424079
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
250
Mop Psig
960
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
1965-02-01 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
No
Scada Conf 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
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
The release was caused by an o-ring failure
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
O-Ring
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Deterioration
Preparer Name
A**** T***********
Preparer Title
Senior Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
A******@c******.com
Preparer Telephone
7034055501
Prepared Date
2025-05-09 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
Q****** F******
Authorizer Telephone
7706879672
Authorizer Title
Director Pipeline Compliance
Authorizer Email
Q*******@c******.com
Narrative
On april 14, 2025, at approximately 13:40 (local time) while a colonial operator was on site assisting with a maintenance activity, they discovered product in 2 adjacent access wells. The access wells were in the proximity to the unit 3 suction valve. The alpharetta control center was notified of a suspected leak investigation at 14:00. The product in the wells was cleaned up with absorbents. The wells were monitored but no product came back into the wells. The right of way (row) inspector was contacted to probe both the line 3 station loop, which was operating in gasoline, and stub-line 28a, which was shut down, but had last delivered diesel fuel. When the row inspector probed along line 28a there was no detection of product. When they probed the area around the unit 3 check valve, there was a detection of product odor. A call was made to the control center at 17:06 to close out of the station loop. Spill response personnel were dispatched to begin excavation in the area where the odors were detected. At 21:56 product was observed in the excavation area. A notification was made to the nrc at 22:29 based on estimated response costs to exceed $50, 000. Excavation continued to identify the source of the product in the soil. On 4/15/25 at 14:46 the source of the product was determined to be a seep around 4 studs and nuts on the top of the unit 3 check valve caused by an o-ring failure. A repair plan was developed while ongoing excavation of impacted soil continued. On 4/16/25 at 11:15 plt repair was completed. At 16:30 plt the pipeline was reopened into the station loop. On-site monitoring of the station and the unit 3 check valve continued until 19:30 plt, repair was confirmed, and the station was turned back over to the control center.
| Report Received Date | 2025-05-09 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250116 |
| Supplemental Number | 40865 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 2552 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Colonial Pipeline Co |
| Operator Street Address | 1000 Lake St. |
| Operator City Name | Alpharetta |
| Operator State Abbreviation | GA |
| Operator Postal Code | 30009 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 38.83496 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -77.39979 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Mixture Of Refined Products (Transmix Or Other Mixture) |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.88 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.88 |
| 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 | Yes |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1428595 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1428754 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | Yes |
| Osro Arrived On Site Dt | 4/15/2025 1:40 |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Colonial Pipeline |
| Segment Name | Chantilly Station |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Va |
| Onshore Postal Code | 20124 |
| Onshore City Name | Clifton |
| Onshore County Name | Fairfax |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 924 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 12 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Valve |
| Valve Type | Auxiliary Or Other Valve |
| Installation Year | 1965 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Fluoropolymer Elastomer (Viton) |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| 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 |
| Usa Drinking Ind | Yes |
| Usa Drinking Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 79 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 39000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 341000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 44000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 424079 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 250 |
| Mop Psig | 960 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1965-02-01 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 | No |
| Scada Conf 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 | 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 | The release was caused by an o-ring failure |
| 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 | O-Ring |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Deterioration |
| Preparer Name | A**** T*********** |
| Preparer Title | Senior Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | A******@c******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 7034055501 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-05-09 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | Q****** F****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 7706879672 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Pipeline Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | Q*******@c******.com |
| Narrative | On april 14, 2025, at approximately 13:40 (local time) while a colonial operator was on site assisting with a maintenance activity, they discovered product in 2 adjacent access wells. The access wells were in the proximity to the unit 3 suction valve. The alpharetta control center was notified of a suspected leak investigation at 14:00. The product in the wells was cleaned up with absorbents. The wells were monitored but no product came back into the wells. The right of way (row) inspector was contacted to probe both the line 3 station loop, which was operating in gasoline, and stub-line 28a, which was shut down, but had last delivered diesel fuel. When the row inspector probed along line 28a there was no detection of product. When they probed the area around the unit 3 check valve, there was a detection of product odor. A call was made to the control center at 17:06 to close out of the station loop. Spill response personnel were dispatched to begin excavation in the area where the odors were detected. At 21:56 product was observed in the excavation area. A notification was made to the nrc at 22:29 based on estimated response costs to exceed $50, 000. Excavation continued to identify the source of the product in the soil. On 4/15/25 at 14:46 the source of the product was determined to be a seep around 4 studs and nuts on the top of the unit 3 check valve caused by an o-ring failure. A repair plan was developed while ongoing excavation of impacted soil continued. On 4/16/25 at 11:15 plt repair was completed. At 16:30 plt the pipeline was reopened into the station loop. On-site monitoring of the station and the unit 3 check valve continued until 19:30 plt, repair was confirmed, and the station was turned back over to the control center. |
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