TARGA RESOURCES OPERATING LLC

Incident Narrative

"A PROJECT WAS INITIATED TO INSTALL A PIG TRAP APPROXIMATELY ONE MILE FROM THE IRION COMPRESSOR STATION. ORIGINALLY DELAYED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER, THE PIPELINE WAS SUCCESSFULLY ISOLATED AND VENTED TO A FLARE ON JANUARY 29, 2025. A CONTRACT INSPECTOR WORKING FOR APPLIED CONSULTANTS, ISSUED THE WORK PERMIT, AUTHORIZING THE NIGHT CONTRACT CREW TO COMMENCE COLD-CUTTING AND WELDING OPERATIONS WITHIN A BELL HOLE. TO MITIGATE THE PRESENCE OF FUMES EMANATING FROM BOTH ENDS OF THE PIPELINE INSIDE THE BELL HOLE, CONTRACTORS INSTALLED PLUGS TO FACILITATE HOT WORK. A FORMANS PLUG WAS PLACED AT THE OPPOSITE END OF THE WORKSITE, WHILE A MUD PLUG WAS POSITIONED BEHIND THE AREA WHERE THE WELDER WOULD BE BEVELING AND WELDING. ONCE THE VISIBLE GAS FUMES DISSIPATED FROM THE BELL HOLE, THE WELDER AND HIS ASSISTANT ENTERED THE SPACE TO PREPARE FOR BEVELING. THE FOUR-GAS MONITOR WAS CHECKED TO CONFIRM THE ABSENCE OF LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMITS (LELS) IN THE AREA. AT APPROXIMATELY 3:00 AM, THE WELDER IGNITED HIS TORCH AT THE END OF THE PIPE TO VERIFY THE PRESENCE OF ANY RESIDUAL GAS. MOMENTS LATER, A FLASH FIRE ERUPTED AROUND THE WELDER, IGNITING HIS CLOTHING AND RESULTING IN BURN INJURIES. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE MUD PLUG LOCATED BEHIND THE WELDER WAS LEAKING GAS FUMES INTO THE IMMEDIATE AREA. THE FOUR-GAS MONITOR USED TO DETECT THE LELS, WAS SITTING AT THE TOP OF THE BELL HOLE WITH A THREE-FOOT HOSE HANGING INTO THE SIX-FOOT HOLE, APPROXIMATELY SIX TO EIGHT FEET FROM THE WORK LOCATION. AT THIS DISTANCE AND LOCATION, THE MONITOR WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE ATMOSPHERE IN THE WORK AREA. THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE INCORRECT OPERATION OF GAS MONITORING EQUIPMENT. TARGA HAS INITIATED MULTIPLE EFFORTS TO MITIGATE AND PREVENT RECURRENCE. A MUD PLUG INSTALLATION PROCEDURE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AS GUIDANCE FOR CONTRACTORS WORKING FOR TARGA. ADDITIONALLY ALL CONTRACT INSPECTORS HAVE BEEN RETRAINED ON SAFETY ENFORCEMENT EXPECTATIONS AND PROPER USE OF GAS MONITORING."