PRODUCTS (SE) PIPE LINE CORPORATION

Incident Narrative

ON 2/22/2022, THE PRODUCTS (SE) PIPE LINE CORPORATIONS ALPHARETTA CONTROL CENTER RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE GWINNETT COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORTING DIESEL IN A STORM DRAIN IN THE GRAYLAND HILLS SUBDIVISION IN LAWRENCEVILLE, GEORGIA. THE 26-INCH CNG PIPELINE WAS IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN AND FIELD PERSONNEL WERE DISPATCHED TO INVESTIGATE. THE NRC WAS NOTIFIED OF A POTENTIAL RELEASE (NRC#1329448), AND OSRO AND REPAIR CONTRACTORS WERE DISPATCHED TO CONTINUE INVESTIGATION AND TO BEGIN EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES. ON 2/23/2022 AT 2000, SUFFICIENT INFORMATION WAS OBTAINED TO CONFIRM THE THE ORIGIN OF THE RELEASE AS COMING FROM THE PIPELINE. A CALL WAS MADE TO THE NRC TO CONFIRM AND UPDATE (NRC#1329579). EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES CONTINUED AND THE POINT OF THE RELEASE WAS FOUND ON 2/25/2022 AND REPAIRED BY USE OF A B-SLEEVE. THE FAILED PIPE IS SCHEDULED TO BE CUT OUT AND REPLACED LATER SO THAT A ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS CAN BE PERFORMED. FIVE HOUSEHOLDS IN THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACTED BY THE ACCIDENT WERE PLACED IN HOTELS DUE TO POTENTIAL DISRUPTIONS AND DISTURBANCES CAUSED BY EXCAVATION ACTIVITIES THAT WERE OCCURRING AROUND-THE-CLOCK, INCLUDING THE USE OF HEAVY EQUIPMENT THAT CAN PRODUCE LOUD NOISES, NOT FOR SAFETY CONCERNS. A THIRD PARTY WAS HIRED TO ASSIST WITH OUR ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS. THE ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THE FAILED PIPELINE SAT ON ROCK. THE INTERACTION WITH THE ROCK RESULTED IN A DENT, AND PRESSURE CYCLING OVER THE YEARS PROVIDED SUFFICIENT CONDITIONS FOR CRACK GROWTH IN THE DENT, RESULTING IN THE LEAK. BASED OFF THE ANALYSIS, PART G WAS CHANGED TO G8 OTHER ACCIDENT CAUSE - MISCELLANEOUS. 7/25/2023: AT PHMSA'S REQUEST, THE APPARENT CAUSE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO ""G5 - MATERIAL FAILURE OF PIPE OR WELD"" WITH A SUB-CAUSE OF ""DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSTALLATION OR FABRICATION RELATED"". HOWEVER, PPL'S ROOT CAUSE FAILURE ANALYSIS WILL REMAIN THE SAME.