SEADRIFT PIPELINE CORP

Incident Narrative

ON APRIL 19, AT ~ 21:34, THE WINFREE PUMP WAS SHUTDOWN DUE TO HIGH LEL WAS DETECTED. AFTER THIS NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED BY HOUSTON PRODUCT CONTROL (HPC), THE ON-CALL TECHNICIAN FOR THE LOMAX TEAM WAS NOTIFIED. WHEN THE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AT THE WINFREE STATION, HE CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS A LARGE LEAK. THE TECHNICIAN NOTIFIED THE AREA ACTIVITY LEADER. ADDITIONAL TECHNICIANS WERE NOTIFIED TO HELP THE ON-CALL TECHNICIAN. THE TECHNICIANS BEGAN ISOLATING THE LEAK LOCATION. THIS CAUSED THE PRESSURE ON THE LEAK LOCATION TO SPIKE UP TO 1300 PSIG. THE RESPONDING TECHNICIAN ATTACHED A HOSE TO THE NEARBY FLARE HEADER. FOLLOWING THE ATTACHMENT, THE PIPE CIRCUIT WAS DEPRESSURED TO THE STATION FLARE. AFTER THE LEAK WAS STOPPED, THE AREA RUN PLANT ENGINEER CALCULATED THE ESTIMATED LEAK QUANTITY AND MADE THE APPROPRIATE NOTIFICATIONS. THE LEAK WAS STOPPED AT 12:41. THE ESTIMATED LEAKED MASS WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 431.8 LBS (195.9 KG). MAINTENANCE AND RUN PLANT ENGINEERS DOUBLE CHECKED THE AREA AND FOUND EXACT LEAK LOCATION. THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF THE INSULATOR GASKET FAILURE. THE DESIGN OF THE GASKET THAT FAILED DIDN'T MEET THE DESIGN OF DOW'S COMMON PRODUCT PIPING SPECIFICATION. THE LACK OF ELASTOMER ENCAPSULATION ALLOWED FOR LIQUID PROPANE TO NAVIGATE A LEAK PATH TO ATMOSPHERE. THIS GASKET WAS USED DUE TO THE GENERAL MECHANICAL LABOR SUPPLIER PURCHASING THE MATERIAL FROM AN UNAPPROVED GASKET MANUFACTURER. NEW PROCESS HAS BEEN PUT IN PLACE TO MITIGATE THIS HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.