Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2025-05-16 — TX
Operator
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
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)
$10,000
Incident datetime
2025-05-16 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At approximately 20:00 on 08may25, sunoco / nustar local personnel received a call from a landowner that they smelled ammonia anhydrous. Local personnel dispatched to the site, arriving at approximately 21:05 to begin walking the line and looking for a leak. The leak was confirmed at 21:32 with a call to ammonia system leadership. Sunoco / nustar pipeline safety personnel were notified of the release at 22:01 to begin the notification process with the national response center (nrc). A call was placed and received by the nrc at 22:19. Mr. Davis took the call and provided incident number 1430608. A follow-up call was received by region 6 epa at 23:06 requesting an update on the incident and an offer to provide assistance, if needed. A small vapor stream was identified coming from the upstream side of valve 3-27. Control center personnel were notified of the release and asked to shut down the pipeline (22:15). Local personnel were dispatched to close the upstream valve (3-25) and the downstream valve (3-27). Local personnel provided overnight air monitoring of the site. Visqueen was used to cover the leak and keep the vapors down. There was no danger to local residents and no notifications were made to local authorities. Sunoco / nustar maintenance personnel were called and dispatched to the site for repairs. Upon excavation of the valve site, a small crack was discovered on the side seam weld of a stopple tee. Repairs were completed and the line was returned to service at 18:45 on 09may25.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-05-16 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250124
Supplemental Number
40896
Report Type
Original
Operator Id
10012
Name
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
Operator Street Address
8111 Westchester Drive
Operator City Name
Dallas
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
75225
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
35.0248
Location Longitude
-91.9321
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Anhydrous Ammonia
Unintentional Release Bbls
1
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Notification From Public
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
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
1430608
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
No
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Nustar Ammonia System - Cabot Sta. To Floral Sta.
Segment Name
Cabot Station - 10" To Floral Station
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ar
Onshore Postal Code
72176
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Lonoke
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
146
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
48
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.)
Installation Year
1997
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
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
Usa Ecological Ind
Yes
Usa Ecological Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
60
Est Cost Prop Damage
10000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
10060
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
700
Mop Psig
1340
Mop Cfr Section
Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3)
Maop Established Date
1969-04-12 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
36700
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
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 crack in the pipe was small enough it rendered the leak un-detectable by the control room (scada/cpm).
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Stopple Control Fitting Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Side Seam Weld On Stopple Tee.
Preparer Name
D*** S*****
Preparer Title
Manager - Pipeline Safety
Preparer Email
D**********@s*****.com
Preparer Telephone
3162459695
Prepared Date
2025-05-16 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
D*** S*****
Local Contact Email
D**********@s*****.com
Local Contact Telephone
3162459695
Authorizer Name
D*** S*****
Authorizer Telephone
3162459695
Authorizer Title
Manager - Pipeline Safety
Authorizer Email
D**********@s*****.com
Narrative
At approximately 20:00 on 08may25, sunoco / nustar local personnel received a call from a landowner that they smelled ammonia anhydrous. Local personnel dispatched to the site, arriving at approximately 21:05 to begin walking the line and looking for a leak. The leak was confirmed at 21:32 with a call to ammonia system leadership. Sunoco / nustar pipeline safety personnel were notified of the release at 22:01 to begin the notification process with the national response center (nrc). A call was placed and received by the nrc at 22:19. Mr. Davis took the call and provided incident number 1430608. A follow-up call was received by region 6 epa at 23:06 requesting an update on the incident and an offer to provide assistance, if needed. A small vapor stream was identified coming from the upstream side of valve 3-27. Control center personnel were notified of the release and asked to shut down the pipeline (22:15). Local personnel were dispatched to close the upstream valve (3-25) and the downstream valve (3-27). Local personnel provided overnight air monitoring of the site. Visqueen was used to cover the leak and keep the vapors down. There was no danger to local residents and no notifications were made to local authorities. Sunoco / nustar maintenance personnel were called and dispatched to the site for repairs. Upon excavation of the valve site, a small crack was discovered on the side seam weld of a stopple tee. Repairs were completed and the line was returned to service at 18:45 on 09may25.
| Report Received Date | 2025-05-16 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250124 |
| Supplemental Number | 40896 |
| Report Type | Original |
| Operator Id | 10012 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p. |
| Operator Street Address | 8111 Westchester Drive |
| Operator City Name | Dallas |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 75225 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 35.0248 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -91.9321 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Anhydrous Ammonia |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 1 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Public |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| 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 | 1430608 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | No |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Nustar Ammonia System - Cabot Sta. To Floral Sta. |
| Segment Name | Cabot Station - 10" To Floral Station |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ar |
| Onshore Postal Code | 72176 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Lonoke |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 146 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 48 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Tap Fitting(Stopple, Thread-O-Ring, Weld-O-Let, Etc.) |
| Installation Year | 1997 |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| 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 |
| Usa Ecological Ind | Yes |
| Usa Ecological Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 60 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 10000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 10060 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 700 |
| Mop Psig | 1340 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1969-04-12 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 36700 |
| 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 | 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 crack in the pipe was small enough it rendered the leak un-detectable by the control room (scada/cpm). |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Stopple Control Fitting Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Side Seam Weld On Stopple Tee. |
| Preparer Name | D*** S***** |
| Preparer Title | Manager - Pipeline Safety |
| Preparer Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 3162459695 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-05-16 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | D*** S***** |
| Local Contact Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 3162459695 |
| Authorizer Name | D*** S***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3162459695 |
| Authorizer Title | Manager - Pipeline Safety |
| Authorizer Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 20:00 on 08may25, sunoco / nustar local personnel received a call from a landowner that they smelled ammonia anhydrous. Local personnel dispatched to the site, arriving at approximately 21:05 to begin walking the line and looking for a leak. The leak was confirmed at 21:32 with a call to ammonia system leadership. Sunoco / nustar pipeline safety personnel were notified of the release at 22:01 to begin the notification process with the national response center (nrc). A call was placed and received by the nrc at 22:19. Mr. Davis took the call and provided incident number 1430608. A follow-up call was received by region 6 epa at 23:06 requesting an update on the incident and an offer to provide assistance, if needed. A small vapor stream was identified coming from the upstream side of valve 3-27. Control center personnel were notified of the release and asked to shut down the pipeline (22:15). Local personnel were dispatched to close the upstream valve (3-25) and the downstream valve (3-27). Local personnel provided overnight air monitoring of the site. Visqueen was used to cover the leak and keep the vapors down. There was no danger to local residents and no notifications were made to local authorities. Sunoco / nustar maintenance personnel were called and dispatched to the site for repairs. Upon excavation of the valve site, a small crack was discovered on the side seam weld of a stopple tee. Repairs were completed and the line was returned to service at 18:45 on 09may25. |
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