"ENBRIDGE ENERGY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP"

hazardous_liquid Incident — — May 18, 2023

Incident Information

Incident DateMay 18, 2023
Operator"ENBRIDGE ENERGY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP"
CommodityCRUDE OIL
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates48.21194, -96.43532

Cause

CauseEQUIPMENT FAILURE
SubcauseNON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$20,500
Emergency Response$150,000
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"ON MAY 18, 2023, AT APPROXIMATELY 8:15 AM CDT, AN ENBRIDGE TECHNICIAN PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES AT THE VIKING STATION FOUND CRUDE OIL ON THE GROUND AT THE BASE OF THE LINE 2 PUMPHOUSE COOLING FAN PIPE. THE EDMONTON CONTROL CENTER WAS NOTIFIED, AND LINE 2 WAS SHUT DOWN. OPERATIONS PERSONNEL IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO INVESTIGATE THE SOURCE OF THE RELEASE. LINE 2 WAS RESTARTED AT REDUCED RATES WITH VIKING STATION ISOLATED. ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT AND RESOURCES WERE CALLED IN TO ASSIST IN EXCAVATION AND CLEANUP OF THE AREA. IT WAS DETERMINED AT 12:10 PM CDT THAT THE COST WOULD EXCEED THE NRC REPORTING THRESHOLD DUE TO THE EXTENT OF EXCAVATION NEEDED TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE RELEASE. THE NRC WAS NOTIFIED ON MAY 18, 2023, AT 12:26 PM CDT (NRC# 1367607). THE MINNESOTA DUTY OFFICER WAS ALSO CONTACTED (#213599). EXCAVATION AND CLEAN UP PROCEEDED UNTIL THE SOURCE OF THE RELEASE WAS IDENTIFY AS A FAILED O-RING ON A BURIED CHECK VALVE. THE 48-HOUR NRC UPDATE WAS MADE ON MAY 20, 2023, AT 9:55 AM CDT (NRC #1367759). THE O-RING WAS REPLACED, AND VIKING STATION WAS DEISOLATED. APPROXIMATELY 5 GALLONS OF CRUDE OIL WAS RELEASED. THE INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE RELEASE WAS DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE O-RING FROM YEARS OF SERVICE. APPROXIMATELY 100 CUBIC YARDS OF CONTAMINATED SOIL WAS REMOVED FROM THE RELEASE SITE AND PROPERLY DISPOSED OF."

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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