ET CRUDE OPERATING LLC

Incident Narrative

"ON 6/22/24 AT APPROXIMATELY 20:46, A FIRE AT THE TANK 2536 MIXER AT THE CUSHING NORTH TERMINAL WAS DISCOVERED. LOCAL OPERATING PERSONNEL CONTACTED THE TERMINAL MANAGER, THEN CALLED 911 AND REQUESTED FIRE SERVICES TO ASSIST IN EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE. THE TERMINAL MANAGER CONTACTED THE CONTROL CENTER AND REQUESTED THAT THE TERMINAL BE SHUT DOWN. ONCE THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED IT WAS DETERMINED THAT APPROXIMATELY 2 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL WAS RELEASED. A CONTRACTOR CREW CLEANED UP PRODUCT AND REMOVED CONTAMINATED SOIL. OPERATIONS PUMPED THE TANK DOWN, REPLACED THE MIXER, INSPECTED THE TANK AND RETURNED TO NORMAL SERVICE THE FOLLOWING DAY. THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION. THE REMOVED MIXER WAS EXAMINED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND A BEARING FAILURE IS SUSPECTED TO BE THE CAUSE. THE OTHER MIXER BEARING ON TANK 2536 WAS REMOVED AND IT ALONG WITH THE FAILED BEARING WERE SENT TO AN INDEPENDENT 3RD PARTY LAB FOR ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS. A SUPPLEMENTAL AND FINAL REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED ONCE THE INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE. SUPPLEMENTAL & FINAL: THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED BY EQUIPMENT FAILURE. TANK MIXER SEAL FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY MIXER BEARING FAILURE WHICH WAS LIKELY DUE TO A BEARING LUBRICATION FAILURE OR PIECE OF DEBRIS ENTERING THE BEARING ASSEMBLY. SOMETIME AFTER THE SEAL LEAK BEGAN THE POWER WIRING TO THE MIXER SHORTED TO GROUND THROUGH A WORN CONDUIT AND THE RESULTANT SPARKS CAUSED IGNITION TO THE CRUDE OIL RELEASED FROM THE SEAL FAILURE. THE INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED THAT THE POWER WIRING TO THE MIXER WAS ROUTED IN A MANNER THAT ALLOWED RUBBING AGAINST THE MIXER MOUNTING PLATE. TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE, OPERATIONS IS REROUTING CONDUITS THAT ARE CURRENTLY IN CONTACT WITH THE MIXER MOUNTING PLATE."