Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2025-07-11 — 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)
$21,194
Incident datetime
2025-07-11 00:00 UTC
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At approximately 09:00 on 12jun25, sunoco local operations personnel, while making rounds at its sterlington lateral tie-in to the mainline location, discovered a small area on the muddy/wet surface of the ground with some occasional bubbling. Upon investigation it was determined to be ammonia vapors emitting from the ground. Sunoco management was notified, and safety personnel were notified at approximately 09:15 and were asked to begin the notification process with the national response center (nrc). Sunoco�s pipeline control center was immediately notified to shut down the mainline in this area, reduce the pressure as low as possible and local operations personnel would isolate further with manual valves until an excavation crew could arrive to investigate. Valve 1-20 (upstream) was confirmed closed at 09:27 and valve 1-25 (downstream) were confirmed closed at 09:31. Local personnel provided initial air monitoring (10:20) of the site. There was no identified danger to local residents and no notifications were made to local authorities. A call was placed and received by the nrc at 09:34. Mr. Davis took the call and provided incident number 1433855. A follow-up call was also placed to the louisianna state police at 10:10am. Report number 25-02083 was provided along with indication that they would make follow-up notifications to ladnr, ladeq, and union parish. At 10:24, a call was received from mr. Boyles with the louisianna state police, requesting an update and offering assistance as needed. A courtesy call was also placed the PHMSA (mr. Jorgenson) at 10:30. A sunoco contractor arrived on site and excavated the pipeline to discover a vapor only leak coming from a segment plug on the downstream stopple-tee on the 10� mainline. Sunoco�s contractor welded collars around all four segment plugs on the stopple tee. The upstream stopple tee was also excavated and collars welded around all four segment plugs. Repairs were completed on 13jun25 at 18:14. On 13jun25 at 19:37m valves were opened and at 19:42 the control center resumed normal operations. The nrc 48-hour notification was made at 07:54 on 14jun25. Report number 1434049 was provided. A PHMSA courtesy notification was also made at 08:02 (jake) and 08:13 (kate). Follow up was also made to louisianna deq at 08:56am.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-07-11 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250169
Supplemental Number
41230
Report Type
Supplemental
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
32.877862
Location Longitude
-92.556811
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Anhydrous Ammonia
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.17
Intentional Release Bbls
0
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
Normal Operation, Includes Pauses Between Batches And During Maintenance
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Communication State Fed Ind
No
Nrc Rpt Num
1433855
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1434049
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Downstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Remotely Controlled
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Sterlington Tie-In
Segment Name
Sterlington Lateral - 6"
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
71277
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Union
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
127.3
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
Seal Or Packing
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
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
5
Est Cost Prop Damage
21194
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
21199
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
785
Mop Psig
1340
Mop Cfr Section
Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3)
Maop Established Date
1981-06-16 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Length Segment Isolated
110000
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 leak coming from the segment plug on the stopple-tee was small enough it rendered the leak un-detectable by the control room (scada/crm).
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
Segment Plug Leak On Stopple Tee.
Preparer Name
D*** A* S*****
Preparer Title
Manager - Pipeline Safety
Preparer Email
D**********@s*****.com
Preparer Telephone
3162459695
Prepared Date
2025-08-06 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
D*** A* S*****
Local Contact Email
D**********@s*****.com
Local Contact Telephone
3162459695
Authorizer Name
D****** S*****
Authorizer Telephone
3167217036
Authorizer Title
Manager - Pipeline Safety
Authorizer Email
D**********@s*****.com
Narrative
At approximately 09:00 on 12jun25, sunoco local operations personnel, while making rounds at its sterlington lateral tie-in to the mainline location, discovered a small area on the muddy/wet surface of the ground with some occasional bubbling. Upon investigation it was determined to be ammonia vapors emitting from the ground. Sunoco management was notified, and safety personnel were notified at approximately 09:15 and were asked to begin the notification process with the national response center (nrc). Sunoco�s pipeline control center was immediately notified to shut down the mainline in this area, reduce the pressure as low as possible and local operations personnel would isolate further with manual valves until an excavation crew could arrive to investigate. Valve 1-20 (upstream) was confirmed closed at 09:27 and valve 1-25 (downstream) were confirmed closed at 09:31. Local personnel provided initial air monitoring (10:20) of the site. There was no identified danger to local residents and no notifications were made to local authorities. A call was placed and received by the nrc at 09:34. Mr. Davis took the call and provided incident number 1433855. A follow-up call was also placed to the louisianna state police at 10:10am. Report number 25-02083 was provided along with indication that they would make follow-up notifications to ladnr, ladeq, and union parish. At 10:24, a call was received from mr. Boyles with the louisianna state police, requesting an update and offering assistance as needed. A courtesy call was also placed the PHMSA (mr. Jorgenson) at 10:30. A sunoco contractor arrived on site and excavated the pipeline to discover a vapor only leak coming from a segment plug on the downstream stopple-tee on the 10� mainline. Sunoco�s contractor welded collars around all four segment plugs on the stopple tee. The upstream stopple tee was also excavated and collars welded around all four segment plugs. Repairs were completed on 13jun25 at 18:14. On 13jun25 at 19:37m valves were opened and at 19:42 the control center resumed normal operations. The nrc 48-hour notification was made at 07:54 on 14jun25. Report number 1434049 was provided. A PHMSA courtesy notification was also made at 08:02 (jake) and 08:13 (kate). Follow up was also made to louisianna deq at 08:56am.
| Report Received Date | 2025-07-11 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250169 |
| Supplemental Number | 41230 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| 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 | 32.877862 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -92.556811 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 | 0.17 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| 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 | Normal Operation, Includes Pauses Between Batches And During Maintenance |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1433855 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1434049 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Downstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Remotely Controlled |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Sterlington Tie-In |
| Segment Name | Sterlington Lateral - 6" |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 71277 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Union |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 127.3 |
| 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 | Seal Or Packing |
| 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 | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 5 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 21194 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 21199 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 785 |
| Mop Psig | 1340 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1981-06-16 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Length Segment Isolated | 110000 |
| 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 leak coming from the segment plug on the stopple-tee was small enough it rendered the leak un-detectable by the control room (scada/crm). |
| 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 | Segment Plug Leak On Stopple Tee. |
| Preparer Name | D*** A* S***** |
| Preparer Title | Manager - Pipeline Safety |
| Preparer Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 3162459695 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-08-06 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | D*** A* S***** |
| Local Contact Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 3162459695 |
| Authorizer Name | D****** S***** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3167217036 |
| Authorizer Title | Manager - Pipeline Safety |
| Authorizer Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 09:00 on 12jun25, sunoco local operations personnel, while making rounds at its sterlington lateral tie-in to the mainline location, discovered a small area on the muddy/wet surface of the ground with some occasional bubbling. Upon investigation it was determined to be ammonia vapors emitting from the ground. Sunoco management was notified, and safety personnel were notified at approximately 09:15 and were asked to begin the notification process with the national response center (nrc). Sunoco�s pipeline control center was immediately notified to shut down the mainline in this area, reduce the pressure as low as possible and local operations personnel would isolate further with manual valves until an excavation crew could arrive to investigate. Valve 1-20 (upstream) was confirmed closed at 09:27 and valve 1-25 (downstream) were confirmed closed at 09:31. Local personnel provided initial air monitoring (10:20) of the site. There was no identified danger to local residents and no notifications were made to local authorities. A call was placed and received by the nrc at 09:34. Mr. Davis took the call and provided incident number 1433855. A follow-up call was also placed to the louisianna state police at 10:10am. Report number 25-02083 was provided along with indication that they would make follow-up notifications to ladnr, ladeq, and union parish. At 10:24, a call was received from mr. Boyles with the louisianna state police, requesting an update and offering assistance as needed. A courtesy call was also placed the PHMSA (mr. Jorgenson) at 10:30. A sunoco contractor arrived on site and excavated the pipeline to discover a vapor only leak coming from a segment plug on the downstream stopple-tee on the 10� mainline. Sunoco�s contractor welded collars around all four segment plugs on the stopple tee. The upstream stopple tee was also excavated and collars welded around all four segment plugs. Repairs were completed on 13jun25 at 18:14. On 13jun25 at 19:37m valves were opened and at 19:42 the control center resumed normal operations. The nrc 48-hour notification was made at 07:54 on 14jun25. Report number 1434049 was provided. A PHMSA courtesy notification was also made at 08:02 (jake) and 08:13 (kate). Follow up was also made to louisianna deq at 08:56am. |
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