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EXXONMOBIL PIPELINE COMPANY LLC

hazardous_liquid Incident —

Incident Information

Report Date—
OperatorEXXONMOBIL PIPELINE COMPANY LLC
Commodity—
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates29.71707, -95.16331

Cause

CauseINCORRECT OPERATION
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage—
Lost Commodity—
Public/Private Damage—
Emergency Response—
Environmental Remediation—
Other Costs—

Location Map

Incident Narrative

INCIDENT DESCRIPTION: TANK 2177 WAS BEING COMMISSIONED AFTER REPAIRS. THE SUCTION FILL LINE (TANK LEG) IS A 40"" LINE WITH A 40"" SHELL VALVE. THE SHELL VALVE WAS REMOVED TO AIR GAP THE TANK TO ALLOW FOR SAFE CONFINED SPACE WORK. AFTER REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED, THE SHELL VALVE WAS REINSTALLED. COMMISSIONING COMMENCED ON 11/14 AT 10:44 A.M. EMPCO LLC PERSONNEL AND A CONTRACTOR CREW WERE STAGED AT THE TANK VALVE ALONG WITH CONTAINMENT TUB UNDER THE VALVE TO CAPTURE ANY POTENTIAL DRIPS. AT 11:11 A.M., 27 MINUTES INTO THE COMMISSIONING PERSONNEL NOTICED A DRIP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE FLANGE. EMPCO LLC. IMMEDIATELY INSTRUCTED OPERATIONS TO SHUT DOWN THE DELIVERY. WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF THE DRIP STARTING, GASOLINE BEGAN TO RELEASE FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE FLANGE INTO THE CONTAINMENT TUB. (4 O'CLOCK TO 8 O'CLOCK POSITION BOTTOM OF THE FLANGE) AT 11:12 A.M. OPERATIONS MANUALLY CLOSED THE DELIVERY VALVE. AT THAT SAME TIME EMPCO DROVE TO THE MANIFOLD TO OPEN A 6"" WATER DRAIN VALVE TO REMOVE ALL PRODUCT FROM TANK LEG. DELIVERY VALVE WAS FULLY CLOSED AROUND 11:15 A.M. AT APPROXIMATELY 11:46 PRODUCT STOPPED LEAKING FROM FLANGE. ROOT CAUSE: ADHESIVE WAS UTILIZED TO MAINTAIN GASKET ALIGNMENT BUT DUE TO THE TIGHT SPACING, THE GAR-LOC GASKET SLIPPED OUT OF ALIGNMENT ON THE TOP OF THE FLANGE DURING INSTALLATION OF THE 40"" VALVE. THIS CAUSED THE RELEASE OF PRODUCT FROM THE TOP OF THE FLANGE. IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTIONS WERE TAKEN TO ISOLATE AND DRAIN DOWN THE TANK LINE. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS THAT THE INSTALLATION TECHNICIAN DID NOT USE A SELF-CENTERING GASKET. PREVENTION OF RE-OCCURRENCE: BELOW ARE THE ACTIONS EMPCO HAS TAKEN TO PREVENT THE INCIDENT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN: -THE BOLT UP PROCEDURE FOR THIS VALVE WAS UPDATED TO UTILIZE A SELF-CENTERING GASKET. -GAR-LOC GASKET MAKER WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TRAINING TO ASSIST WITH SELF-CENTERING GASKET OPTIONS FOR TIGHT SPACES. UPDATES TO THE INITIAL REPORT: -UPDATED THE TIME ACCIDENT CRITERIA WAS MET -UPDATED THE TIME THE QI WAS NOTIFIED -UPDATED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT -UPDATED THE COSTS FOR EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION -UPDATED THE NARRATIVE

About This Pipeline Incident

Pipeline incident data is reported to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). All significant incidents involving fatalities, injuries, or property damage over $50,000 must be reported.

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