FLINT HILLS RESOURCES, LC

Incident Narrative

UPDATED PART G: G6 EQUIPMENT FAILURE SUB-CAUSE ADDITIONAL FACTORS UPDATED PART H: NARRATIVE UPDATE: THE MECHANICAL SEAL WAS SENT TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR FAILURE ANALYSIS. THE MANUFACTURER VERIFIED THAT THE OPERATIONAL CONDITIONS THE SEAL WAS SUBJECTED TO WERE WITHIN THE SEAL'S DESIGN PARAMETERS. THE FAILURE ANALYSIS REVEALED MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO THE ROTATING AND STATIONARY SEAL FACES, AND DAMAGE TO THE O-RINGS. ORIGINAL: ON FEBRUARY 21, 2024, AT 12:41, FLINT HILLS RESOURCES (FHR) OPERATIONS PERSONNEL DISCOVERED A CRUDE OIL RELEASE DURING A STATION WALK THROUGH AT THE CLEARBROOK TERMINAL. AN ESTIMATED 2.3 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL WAS RELEASED FROM A BOOSTER PUMP DUE TO A FAILED SEAL. THE BOOSTER PUMP WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF DISCOVERY. THE SUCTION AND DISCHARGE VALVES WERE CONFIRMED CLOSED AND ISOLATED. THE IMPACTED AREA WAS CLEANED UP, AND THE SEAL WAS REPLACED FEBRUARY 22, 2024. THE MN DUTY OFFICE WAS NOTIFIED ON FEBRUARY 21, 2024, AT 13:17 AND THE NRC WAS NOTIFIED ON FEBRUARY 21, 2024, AT 13:22. AS PART OF THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUCTION AND DISCHARGE VALVES ON THE BOOSTER PUMP HELD, SUGGESTING THAT THERE WAS NO ACTIVE RELEASE AFTER TANK PUMPING ENDED. THE LAST CONFIRMED BOOSTER PUMP SHIPMENT WAS ON FEBRUARY 15, 2024, 14:25-19:15 CST. THROUGHOUT THE DURATION OF THAT BATCH, THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN VIBRATION OR PRESSURE THAT WOULD INDICATE A RELEASE. HOWEVER, WITH THE VERIFICATION OF THE SUCTION AND DISCHARGE VALVES HOLDING, WE BELIEVE THE SEAL FAILED DURING THE LAST SHIPMENT ON FEBRUARY 15TH. THE SEAL WAS SENT TO A THIRD PARTY FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS.