Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2025-08-02 — TX
Operator
Nustar Pipeline Operating Partnership L.p.
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
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)
$64,000
Incident datetime
2025-08-02 12:14
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On saturday august 2, 2025, a hunting club member called the sunoco control center reporting some dead vegetation near our pipeline marker near farmerville, la on the sterlington 6-inch lateral in union parish louisiana. Sunoco local operations then verified an ammonia odor in the area of dead vegetation and notified management, and the pipeline was shut down. Valve 43-14 was closed, and the line was allowed to drain into a delivery site at the end of the lateral. Sunoco maintenance arrived on site and uncovered the pipe to discover what appears to be an erw seam failure leaking vapor only. A clamp was put on to stop the leak and a double stopple was performed to cut out the leak point and repair the line. The cut-out portion of the pipe has been sent for metallurgical analysis to determine the cause of the leak. **update** metallurgical analysis: the leak originated from a defect in the weld seam on the inner wall. The primary failure mechanism was a manufacturing linear defect in the weld.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-08-28 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250202
Supplemental Number
41585
Report Type
Supplemental Final
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
Local Datetime
2025-08-02 10:44:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
32.77793
Location Longitude
-92.28436
Commodity Released Type
Hvl Or Other Flammable Or Toxic Fluid Which Is A Gas At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Anhydrous Ammonia
Unintentional Release Bbls
2.48
Intentional Release Bbls
0
Recovered Bbls
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Notification From Public
Incident Identified Datetime
2025-08-02 12:14:00
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
Shutdown Datetime
2025-08-02 12:14:00
Restart Datetime
2025-08-06 17:00:00
Communication State Fed Ind
No
On Site Datetime
2025-08-02 12:14:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2025-08-02 12:14:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2025-08-02 13:38:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1438668
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1438856
Ignite Ind
No
Upstream Action Taken
Valve Closure
Upstream Valve Close Datetime
2025-08-02 12:14:00
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Action Taken
Operational Control
Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail
The Line Was Allowed To Bleed Off To Downstream Customer Site.
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Ammonia Mainline
Segment Name
Sterlington 6-Inch Lateral
Onshore State Abbreviation
La
Onshore Postal Code
71241
Onshore City Name
Farmerville
Onshore County Name
Union
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
14.3
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
54
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Pipe
Pipe Type
Pipe Seam
Pipe Diameter
6.625
Pipe Wall Thickness
0.188
Pipe Smys
42000
Pipe Specification
Api 5lx-42
Pipe Seam Type
Erw - High Frequency
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Pipe Coating Type
Cold Applied Tape
Coating Applied Ind
No
Installation Year
1981
Manufactured Year
1981
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Pinhole
Leak Type Other
Sent Metallurgical Analysis
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
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
75
Est Cost Prop Damage
64000
Est Cost Emergency
0
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
64075
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
650
Mop Psig
1340
Mop Cfr Section
Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3)
Maop Established Date
1981-08-17 00:00:00
Maop Reversal Flow Ind
No
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Internal Inspection Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Incompat Commod Ind
Yes
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 from the pipeline was small enough that it rendered the leak un-detectable by the control center (scada/crm)
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld
Cause Details
Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field)
Metallurgical Ind
Yes
Failure Type
Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field)
Other Factor
Yes
Other Factor Details
The Primary Failure Mechanism Was A Manufacturing Linear Defect In The Weld.
Other Type
Unknown
Unknown Subtype
Still Under Investigation, Cause Of Accident To Be Determined* (*supplemental Report Required)
Collected Data Ind
No
Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind
No
Direct Asmnt Conducted
No
Non Destructive Exam Ind
No
Preparer Name
D** T******
Preparer Title
Sr Manager - Health And Safety
Preparer Email
D**********@s*****.com
Preparer Telephone
3167217056
Prepared Date
2025-11-13 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
D** T******
Local Contact Email
D**********@s*****.com
Local Contact Telephone
3167217056
Authorizer Name
D** T******
Authorizer Telephone
3167217056
Authorizer Title
Sr Manager - Health And Safety
Authorizer Email
D**********@s*****.com
Narrative
On saturday august 2, 2025, a hunting club member called the sunoco control center reporting some dead vegetation near our pipeline marker near farmerville, la on the sterlington 6-inch lateral in union parish louisiana. Sunoco local operations then verified an ammonia odor in the area of dead vegetation and notified management, and the pipeline was shut down. Valve 43-14 was closed, and the line was allowed to drain into a delivery site at the end of the lateral. Sunoco maintenance arrived on site and uncovered the pipe to discover what appears to be an erw seam failure leaking vapor only. A clamp was put on to stop the leak and a double stopple was performed to cut out the leak point and repair the line. The cut-out portion of the pipe has been sent for metallurgical analysis to determine the cause of the leak. **update** metallurgical analysis: the leak originated from a defect in the weld seam on the inner wall. The primary failure mechanism was a manufacturing linear defect in the weld.
| Report Received Date | 2025-08-28 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250202 |
| Supplemental Number | 41585 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| 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 |
| Local Datetime | 2025-08-02 10:44:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 32.77793 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -92.28436 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 | 2.48 |
| Intentional Release Bbls | 0 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Public |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2025-08-02 12:14:00 |
| 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 |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2025-08-02 12:14:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2025-08-06 17:00:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| On Site Datetime | 2025-08-02 12:14:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2025-08-02 12:14:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2025-08-02 13:38:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1438668 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1438856 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Upstream Action Taken | Valve Closure |
| Upstream Valve Close Datetime | 2025-08-02 12:14:00 |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Action Taken | Operational Control |
| Downstream Oprtnl Cntrl Detail | The Line Was Allowed To Bleed Off To Downstream Customer Site. |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Ammonia Mainline |
| Segment Name | Sterlington 6-Inch Lateral |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | La |
| Onshore Postal Code | 71241 |
| Onshore City Name | Farmerville |
| Onshore County Name | Union |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 14.3 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 54 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Pipe |
| Pipe Type | Pipe Seam |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.625 |
| Pipe Wall Thickness | 0.188 |
| Pipe Smys | 42000 |
| Pipe Specification | Api 5lx-42 |
| Pipe Seam Type | Erw - High Frequency |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Pipe Coating Type | Cold Applied Tape |
| Coating Applied Ind | No |
| Installation Year | 1981 |
| Manufactured Year | 1981 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Pinhole |
| Leak Type Other | Sent Metallurgical Analysis |
| 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 | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 75 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 64000 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 0 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 64075 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 650 |
| Mop Psig | 1340 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Subpart E Pressure Test �195.406(A)(3) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 1981-08-17 00:00:00 |
| Maop Reversal Flow Ind | No |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Mop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Internal Inspection Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Incompat Commod Ind | Yes |
| 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 from the pipeline was small enough that it rendered the leak un-detectable by the control center (scada/crm) |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Material Failure Of Pipe Or Weld |
| Cause Details | Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field) |
| Metallurgical Ind | Yes |
| Failure Type | Original Manufacturing-Related (Not Girth Weld Or Other Welds Formed In The Field) |
| Other Factor | Yes |
| Other Factor Details | The Primary Failure Mechanism Was A Manufacturing Linear Defect In The Weld. |
| Other Type | Unknown |
| Unknown Subtype | Still Under Investigation, Cause Of Accident To Be Determined* (*supplemental Report Required) |
| Collected Data Ind | No |
| Has Hydrtst Conduc Before Ind | No |
| Direct Asmnt Conducted | No |
| Non Destructive Exam Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | D** T****** |
| Preparer Title | Sr Manager - Health And Safety |
| Preparer Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 3167217056 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-11-13 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | D** T****** |
| Local Contact Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 3167217056 |
| Authorizer Name | D** T****** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3167217056 |
| Authorizer Title | Sr Manager - Health And Safety |
| Authorizer Email | D**********@s*****.com |
| Narrative | On saturday august 2, 2025, a hunting club member called the sunoco control center reporting some dead vegetation near our pipeline marker near farmerville, la on the sterlington 6-inch lateral in union parish louisiana. Sunoco local operations then verified an ammonia odor in the area of dead vegetation and notified management, and the pipeline was shut down. Valve 43-14 was closed, and the line was allowed to drain into a delivery site at the end of the lateral. Sunoco maintenance arrived on site and uncovered the pipe to discover what appears to be an erw seam failure leaking vapor only. A clamp was put on to stop the leak and a double stopple was performed to cut out the leak point and repair the line. The cut-out portion of the pipe has been sent for metallurgical analysis to determine the cause of the leak. **update** metallurgical analysis: the leak originated from a defect in the weld seam on the inner wall. The primary failure mechanism was a manufacturing linear defect in the weld. |
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