Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2025-08-15 — PA
Operator
Buckeye Partners, Lp
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)
$2,100
Incident datetime
2025-08-15 09:10
Report number
Location
PA
Narrative
On august 15, 2025, at 09:10 est, local operation personnel were conducting a post-startup quality check at the detroit metro terminal (betxd) and identified a failure in a gammon differential pressure gauge that was actively in service. Approximately 30 gallons of jet fuel were released and fully contained within the facility�s concrete secondary containment area. Upon discovery, local operations promptly isolated the leak by closing the valves connected to the pressure gauge. The operations manager (om) was notified immediately. A vacuum truck was deployed to recover the released jet fuel from the containment area, and oil dry was applied to absorb residual product. The used absorbent material was collected and placed into barrels for proper disposal. The faulty gammon differential pressure gauge was removed and replaced with a new unit. The affected area was monitored during system restart to confirm the absence of further leaks or safety concerns. Internal notifications were completed per company protocol. No external notifications were required. There were no injuries, fires, or environmental impacts beyond the containment area. Update 10/29/2025: buckeye has identified two additional operating locations where these pressure gauges are installed. In total, there are twenty-one gauges in service, one of which was replaced because of this accident. Buckeye, out of an abundance of caution, has developed a plan to replace the remaining twenty differential pressure gauges over the next year.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-09-12 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250220
Supplemental Number
41519
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
1845
Name
Buckeye Partners, Lp
Operator Street Address
The Buckeye Building 6161 Hamilton Boulevar
Operator City Name
Allentown
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
18106
Local Datetime
2025-08-15 09:10:00
Time Zone
Eastern
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
42.241886
Location Longitude
-83.319167
Commodity Released Type
Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions
Commodity Subtype
Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel
Unintentional Release Bbls
0.72
Recovered Bbls
0.72
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Incident Identified Datetime
2025-08-15 09:10:00
System Part Involved
Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping
On Off Shore
Onshore
Status When Identified
Routine Start-Up
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
Equipment Was Able To Be Isolated, Stopping The Release, And No Shutdown Was Req
Communication State Fed Ind
No
On Site Datetime
2025-08-15 09:05:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2025-08-15 09:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Nrc Notification Not Required
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
None
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Qualified Indiv Notif Datetime
2025-08-15 09:10:00
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
Yes
Osro Activated Datetime
2025-08-15 09:11:00
Osro Arrived On Site Dt
8/15/2025 10:00
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Detroit Metro Terminal
Segment Name
Betxd
Onshore State Abbreviation
Mi
Onshore Postal Code
48174
Onshore City Name
Romulus
Onshore County Name
Wayne
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
1
Federal
No
Location Type
Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
Item Involved
Other
Item Involved Details
Differential Pressure Gauge
Installation Year
Unknown
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Aluminum Housing With Sightglass
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Sight Glass On Gauge Cracked And Failed
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
High Pop Ind
Yes
High Pop Yes No
Yes
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Gas Released
180
Est Cost Prop Damage
2100
Est Cost Emergency
5000
Est Cost Environmental
0
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
7280
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
50
Mop Psig
275
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2020-01-22 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 point of failure was outside the control center purview.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Other Equipment Failure
Eq Failure Type
Other Equipment Failure
Failure Details
Differential Pressure Gauge And Sight Glass.
Eq Additional Other Ind
Yes
Eq Additional Other Details
Apparent Sight Glass Failure Under Investigation
Preparer Name
A*** S******
Preparer Title
Dot Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
A*******@b******.com
Preparer Telephone
4192505361
Prepared Date
2025-10-29 00:00:00
Local Contact Name
A*** S******
Local Contact Email
A*******@b******.com
Local Contact Telephone
4192505361
Authorizer Name
R***** C* O****
Authorizer Telephone
6109044524
Authorizer Title
Director Dot Compliance
Authorizer Email
R*****@b******.com
Narrative
On august 15, 2025, at 09:10 est, local operation personnel were conducting a post-startup quality check at the detroit metro terminal (betxd) and identified a failure in a gammon differential pressure gauge that was actively in service. Approximately 30 gallons of jet fuel were released and fully contained within the facility�s concrete secondary containment area. Upon discovery, local operations promptly isolated the leak by closing the valves connected to the pressure gauge. The operations manager (om) was notified immediately. A vacuum truck was deployed to recover the released jet fuel from the containment area, and oil dry was applied to absorb residual product. The used absorbent material was collected and placed into barrels for proper disposal. The faulty gammon differential pressure gauge was removed and replaced with a new unit. The affected area was monitored during system restart to confirm the absence of further leaks or safety concerns. Internal notifications were completed per company protocol. No external notifications were required. There were no injuries, fires, or environmental impacts beyond the containment area. Update 10/29/2025: buckeye has identified two additional operating locations where these pressure gauges are installed. In total, there are twenty-one gauges in service, one of which was replaced because of this accident. Buckeye, out of an abundance of caution, has developed a plan to replace the remaining twenty differential pressure gauges over the next year.
| Report Received Date | 2025-09-12 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250220 |
| Supplemental Number | 41519 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 1845 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Buckeye Partners, Lp |
| Operator Street Address | The Buckeye Building 6161 Hamilton Boulevar |
| Operator City Name | Allentown |
| Operator State Abbreviation | PA |
| Operator Postal Code | 18106 |
| Local Datetime | 2025-08-15 09:10:00 |
| Time Zone | Eastern |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 42.241886 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -83.319167 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Refined And/or Petroleum Product (Non-Hvl) Which Is A Liquid At Ambient Conditions |
| Commodity Subtype | Diesel, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Jet Fuel |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 0.72 |
| Recovered Bbls | 0.72 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2025-08-15 09:10:00 |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Terminal/tank Farm Equipment And Piping |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Status When Identified | Routine Start-Up |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | Equipment Was Able To Be Isolated, Stopping The Release, And No Shutdown Was Req |
| Communication State Fed Ind | No |
| On Site Datetime | 2025-08-15 09:05:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2025-08-15 09:10:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | Nrc Notification Not Required NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | None |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Indiv Notif Datetime | 2025-08-15 09:10:00 |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | Yes |
| Osro Activated Datetime | 2025-08-15 09:11:00 |
| Osro Arrived On Site Dt | 8/15/2025 10:00 |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Detroit Metro Terminal |
| Segment Name | Betxd |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Mi |
| Onshore Postal Code | 48174 |
| Onshore City Name | Romulus |
| Onshore County Name | Wayne |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 1 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Totally Contained On Operator-Controlled Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| Item Involved | Other |
| Item Involved Details | Differential Pressure Gauge |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Aluminum Housing With Sightglass |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Sight Glass On Gauge Cracked And Failed |
| 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 |
| High Pop Ind | Yes |
| High Pop Yes No | Yes |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 180 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 2100 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5000 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 7280 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 50 |
| Mop Psig | 275 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2020-01-22 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 point of failure was outside the control center purview. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Other Equipment Failure |
| Eq Failure Type | Other Equipment Failure |
| Failure Details | Differential Pressure Gauge And Sight Glass. |
| Eq Additional Other Ind | Yes |
| Eq Additional Other Details | Apparent Sight Glass Failure Under Investigation |
| Preparer Name | A*** S****** |
| Preparer Title | Dot Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | A*******@b******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 4192505361 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-10-29 00:00:00 |
| Local Contact Name | A*** S****** |
| Local Contact Email | A*******@b******.com |
| Local Contact Telephone | 4192505361 |
| Authorizer Name | R***** C* O**** |
| Authorizer Telephone | 6109044524 |
| Authorizer Title | Director Dot Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | R*****@b******.com |
| Narrative | On august 15, 2025, at 09:10 est, local operation personnel were conducting a post-startup quality check at the detroit metro terminal (betxd) and identified a failure in a gammon differential pressure gauge that was actively in service. Approximately 30 gallons of jet fuel were released and fully contained within the facility�s concrete secondary containment area. Upon discovery, local operations promptly isolated the leak by closing the valves connected to the pressure gauge. The operations manager (om) was notified immediately. A vacuum truck was deployed to recover the released jet fuel from the containment area, and oil dry was applied to absorb residual product. The used absorbent material was collected and placed into barrels for proper disposal. The faulty gammon differential pressure gauge was removed and replaced with a new unit. The affected area was monitored during system restart to confirm the absence of further leaks or safety concerns. Internal notifications were completed per company protocol. No external notifications were required. There were no injuries, fires, or environmental impacts beyond the containment area. Update 10/29/2025: buckeye has identified two additional operating locations where these pressure gauges are installed. In total, there are twenty-one gauges in service, one of which was replaced because of this accident. Buckeye, out of an abundance of caution, has developed a plan to replace the remaining twenty differential pressure gauges over the next year. |
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