Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
HL incident on 2025-09-28 — TX
Operator
Energy Transfer Company
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Crude Oil
Program
HL
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$4,083
Incident datetime
2025-09-28 02:46
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
On 09/28/2025 at 02:46, a pipeline controller received a lock out alarm at rc smith for unit 3100 and a pipeline technician was called out to the station. The pipeline controller received a high-high sump level alarm and locked out all units. Approximately 15 barrel of crude oil was released. Cleanup contractors removed product and remediated impacted soil. The cause of the release is still under investigation and a supplemental report will be filed after the investigation is complete. Supplemental & final: the investigation determined the cause of the accident was due to a pump-related equipment failure. The packing nut loosened releasing the pressure packing that prevents oil leakage from the plunger box. The failure of the packing allowed crude flow to the sump which caused an overfill. To prevent recurrence the packing and brass components inside the stuffing box were replaced and a bolt was tapped and installed on the packing nut to prevent loosening during operation.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2025-10-29 00:00:00
Iyear
2025
Report Number
20250251
Supplemental Number
41573
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
32099
Name
Energy Transfer Company
Operator Street Address
1300 Main Street
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2025-09-28 02:46:00
Time Zone
Central
Daylight Savings Ind
Yes
Location Latitude
32.306972
Location Longitude
-101.89728
Commodity Released Type
Crude Oil
Unintentional Release Bbls
15
Recovered Bbls
15
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Accident Identifier
Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations)
Incident Identified Datetime
2025-09-28 02:46:00
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
Shutdown Datetime
2025-09-28 02:46:00
Restart Datetime
2025-09-28 21:44:00
Communication State Fed Ind
Yes
Party Initiated Communication
Operator
Initial Responder Com Datetime
2025-09-28 04:56:00
On Site Datetime
2025-09-28 03:45:00
Confirmed Discovery Datetime
2025-09-28 03:45:00
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2025-09-28 04:49:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1444004
Additional Nrc Report Numbers
1444188
Ignite Ind
No
Notify Qualified Indiv Ind
Yes
Qualified Indiv Notif Datetime
2025-09-28 03:47:00
Oil Spill Removal Org Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Pipe Fac Name
Rc Smith Station
Segment Name
23025 - 12inch Rc Smith To Sunoco Midland Terminal
Onshore State Abbreviation
Tx
Onshore Postal Code
79783
Onshore City Name
Not Within A Municipality
Onshore County Name
Martin
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
0+00
Federal
No
Location Type
Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property
Incident Area Type
Aboveground
Incident Area Subtype
Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
Item Involved
Pump
Pump Type
Positive Displacement
Pump Service Type
Mainline
Installation Year
Unknown
Manufactured Year
Unknown
Material Involved
Material Other Than Carbon Steel
Material Details
Stainless Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Wildlife Impact Ind
No
Soil Contamination
Yes
Long Term Assessment
No
Remediation Ind
Yes
Soil Remed Ind
Yes
Water Contam Ind
No
Could Be Hca
No
Commodity Reached Hca
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
7500
Est Cost Gas Released
825
Est Cost Prop Damage
4083
Est Cost Emergency
5342
Est Cost Environmental
127000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
144750
Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght
0
Num Injured Treated By Emt
0
Num Resident Building Affctd
0
Num Business Building Affctd
0
Accident Psig
265
Mop Psig
1480
Mop Cfr Section
Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2)
Maop Established Date
2013-10-01 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
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
Yes
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
A review of the accident determined that there were no control room actions that contributed to the event.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment
Other Pump Ind
Seal/packing Failure
Additional Installation Ind
Yes
Other Type
Unknown
Unknown Subtype
Still Under Investigation, Cause Of Accident To Be Determined* (*supplemental Report Required)
Preparer Name
T*** N*******
Preparer Title
Director - Dot Compliance
Preparer Email
T************@e*************.com
Preparer Telephone
713-989-7126
Prepared Date
2025-11-12 00:00:00
Authorizer Name
T*** N*******
Authorizer Telephone
713-989-7126
Authorizer Title
Director - Dot Compliance
Authorizer Email
T************@e*************.com
Narrative
On 09/28/2025 at 02:46, a pipeline controller received a lock out alarm at rc smith for unit 3100 and a pipeline technician was called out to the station. The pipeline controller received a high-high sump level alarm and locked out all units. Approximately 15 barrel of crude oil was released. Cleanup contractors removed product and remediated impacted soil. The cause of the release is still under investigation and a supplemental report will be filed after the investigation is complete. Supplemental & final: the investigation determined the cause of the accident was due to a pump-related equipment failure. The packing nut loosened releasing the pressure packing that prevents oil leakage from the plunger box. The failure of the packing allowed crude flow to the sump which caused an overfill. To prevent recurrence the packing and brass components inside the stuffing box were replaced and a bolt was tapped and installed on the packing nut to prevent loosening during operation.
| Report Received Date | 2025-10-29 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2025 |
| Report Number | 20250251 |
| Supplemental Number | 41573 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 32099 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Energy Transfer Company |
| Operator Street Address | 1300 Main Street |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2025-09-28 02:46:00 |
| Time Zone | Central |
| Daylight Savings Ind | Yes |
| Location Latitude | 32.306972 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -101.89728 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Commodity Released Type | Crude Oil |
| Unintentional Release Bbls | 15 |
| Recovered Bbls | 15 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Accident Identifier | Scada-Based Information (Such As Alarm(S), Alert(S), Event(S), And/or Volume Or Pack Calculations) |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2025-09-28 02:46:00 |
| 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 |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2025-09-28 02:46:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2025-09-28 21:44:00 |
| Communication State Fed Ind | Yes |
| Party Initiated Communication | Operator |
| Initial Responder Com Datetime | 2025-09-28 04:56:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2025-09-28 03:45:00 |
| Confirmed Discovery Datetime | 2025-09-28 03:45:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2025-09-28 04:49:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1444004 NRC Report How to search |
| Additional Nrc Report Numbers | 1444188 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Notify Qualified Indiv Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Indiv Notif Datetime | 2025-09-28 03:47:00 |
| Oil Spill Removal Org Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Rc Smith Station |
| Segment Name | 23025 - 12inch Rc Smith To Sunoco Midland Terminal |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Tx |
| Onshore Postal Code | 79783 |
| Onshore City Name | Not Within A Municipality |
| Onshore County Name | Martin |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 0+00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Originated On Operator-Controlled Property, But Then Flowed Or Migrated Off The Property |
| Incident Area Type | Aboveground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Typical Aboveground Facility Piping Or Appurtenance |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| Item Involved | Pump |
| Pump Type | Positive Displacement |
| Pump Service Type | Mainline |
| Installation Year | Unknown |
| Manufactured Year | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Material Other Than Carbon Steel |
| Material Details | Stainless Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Seal Or Packing |
| Wildlife Impact Ind | No |
| Soil Contamination | Yes |
| Long Term Assessment | No |
| Remediation Ind | Yes |
| Soil Remed Ind | Yes |
| Water Contam Ind | No |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Commodity Reached Hca | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 7500 |
| Est Cost Gas Released | 825 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 4083 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5342 |
| Est Cost Environmental | 127000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 144750 |
| Num Persons Hosp Not Ovnght | 0 |
| Num Injured Treated By Emt | 0 |
| Num Resident Building Affctd | 0 |
| Num Business Building Affctd | 0 |
| Accident Psig | 265 |
| Mop Psig | 1480 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Component Design Pressure �195.406(A)(2) View CFR 49 §192 |
| Maop Established Date | 2013-10-01 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 | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | Yes |
| 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 | A review of the accident determined that there were no control room actions that contributed to the event. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Pump Or Pump-Related Equipment |
| Other Pump Ind | Seal/packing Failure |
| Additional Installation Ind | Yes |
| Other Type | Unknown |
| Unknown Subtype | Still Under Investigation, Cause Of Accident To Be Determined* (*supplemental Report Required) |
| Preparer Name | T*** N******* |
| Preparer Title | Director - Dot Compliance |
| Preparer Email | T************@e*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 713-989-7126 |
| Prepared Date | 2025-11-12 00:00:00 |
| Authorizer Name | T*** N******* |
| Authorizer Telephone | 713-989-7126 |
| Authorizer Title | Director - Dot Compliance |
| Authorizer Email | T************@e*************.com |
| Narrative | On 09/28/2025 at 02:46, a pipeline controller received a lock out alarm at rc smith for unit 3100 and a pipeline technician was called out to the station. The pipeline controller received a high-high sump level alarm and locked out all units. Approximately 15 barrel of crude oil was released. Cleanup contractors removed product and remediated impacted soil. The cause of the release is still under investigation and a supplemental report will be filed after the investigation is complete. Supplemental & final: the investigation determined the cause of the accident was due to a pump-related equipment failure. The packing nut loosened releasing the pressure packing that prevents oil leakage from the plunger box. The failure of the packing allowed crude flow to the sump which caused an overfill. To prevent recurrence the packing and brass components inside the stuffing box were replaced and a bolt was tapped and installed on the packing nut to prevent loosening during operation. |
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