MIPC LLC

Incident Narrative

ON 3/15/2021, AN MIPC PIPELINER RECEIVED A CALL FROM TROUBLE SHOOTERS RESOURCES, LLC (TSR) THAT TSR BELIEVED THE PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT (PWD) INSTALLED A TAP INTO WHAT PWD ASSUMED TO BE THEIR WATER MAINLINE. THE TSR EMPLOYEE STATED THAT A PWD EMPLOYEE DETECTED A GASOLINE ODOR, LIKELY FROM MINOR RESIDUAL LEAKAGE (LESS THAN 1 OUNCE) AROUND THE TAP THAT WAS INSTALLED ON MIPC'S PIPELINE. AN MIPC PIPELINER RESPONDED TO THE SITE AND CONFIRMED THIRD PARTY DAMAGE RESULTING FROM A TAPPED CONNECTION INSTALLED IN MIPC'S 8"" PETROLEUM PIPELINE THAT RUNS FROM PHILADELPHIA JUNCTION TO G STREET TERMINAL. THE TAP THAT WAS INSTALLED PROTRUDED THE PIPELINE ABOUT 1/8 OF AN INCH WHICH CAUSED PHYSICAL DAMAGE THAT IMPAIRED THE SERVICEABILITY OF THE PIPELINE. FORTUNATELY, THE PIPELINE WAS NOT OPERATING AT THE TIME OF THE THIRD PARTY DAMAGE AND THE LINE PRESSURE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE; THEREFORE AVOIDING SIGNIFICANT IMPACT TO PEOPLE, PROPERTY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. THE PIPELINE WAS DEPRESSURED INTO A TANK AT THE G STREET TERMINAL, THE STREET WAS CLOSED AND THE PIPELINE THIRD PARTY DAMAGE WAS MONITORED 24/7 BY TWO MIPC AND SECURITY PERSONNEL UNTIL THE REPAIR WAS COMPLETED. THE PIPELINE WAS ISOLATED BY CLOSING AND LOCKING THE MAIN LINE BLOCK VALVES AT PHILADELPHIA JUNCTION. WORK BEGAN TO DESIGN AND ENGINEER A MECHANICAL CLAMP. THE PIPELINE WAS REPAIRED USING AN ENGINEERED MECHANICAL CLAMP THAT IS RATED FOR THE PIPELINE'S MAXIMUM OPERATING PRESSURE OF 1370 PSI. THE LINE WAS THEN RETURNED TO SERVICE. ON 5/5/2021, MIPC SAFELY REMOVED THE ENGINEERED MECHANICAL CLAMP AND APPROXIMATELY 5 FEET OF DAMAGED PIPE, AND REPLACED IT WITH NEW PIPE.