TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION, LP (SPECTRA ENERGY PARTNERS, LP)

Incident Narrative

ORIGINAL REPORT: 48 HR NRC REPORT 1244152 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:03 AM EDT ON APRIL 27, 2019, AN EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN (ESD) SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED AT ACCIDENT COMPRESSOR STATION ON THE TEXAS EASTERN TRANSMISSION (TETLP) SYSTEM IN GARRETT COUNTY, MARYLAND. THE ESD OCCURRED WHILE RETURNING A SALT BATH HEATER (SBH) BACK TO NORMAL OPERATIONS. THIS PROCESS INVOLVES USING GAS FIRED AUXILIARY BURNERS TO HEAT THE SALT TO A LIQUID STATE AND USING THE MAIN BURNERS TO KEEP THE SALT AT A LIQUID STATE AFTER THE GAS FIRED AUXILIARY BURNER IS DEACTIVATED. THIS PROCESS WAS BEING PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDED PROCEDURE. THE ESD WAS TRIGGERED BY THE FIRE DETECTOR NEAR THE GAS FIRED AUXILIARY BURNER THAT DETECTED THE FLAME SIGNATURE. TETLP'S INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT BOTH THE AUXILIARY BURNER AND THE FIRE DETECTOR WERE FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED AT THE TIME OF THE ESD. AS PART OF THE MITIGATIVE PLAN, THE TEMPERATURE OF THE GAS POWERED AUXILIARY BURNER WAS LOWERED DURING STARTUP. FOLLOWING THIS ESD AT THE STATION, REVISIONS WERE MADE TO THE MITIGATIVE PLAN THAT NOW REQUIRES THE FIRE DETECTOR TO BE DISABLED WHEN RETURNING THE SBH TO OPERATIONS AND THE STATION MANNED LOCALLY UNTIL THE FIRE DETECTOR IS ACTIVATED. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT 10/14/19: CAUSE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCORRECT OPERATION.