SHELL PIPELINE CO., L.P.

hazardous_liquid Incident —

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorSHELL PIPELINE CO., L.P.
Commodity—
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates33.83936, -118.23683

Cause

CauseCORROSION FAILURE
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

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

Location Map

Incident Narrative

SCAQMD INSPECTOR VISITED CARSON TERMINAL ON 1/20/21 IN RESPONSE TO STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. INSPECTOR DETECTED VOC LEAKS AROUND TANK BASE. INSPECTOR RETURNED TO TERMINAL ON 1/21/21 AND COMPLETED ADDITIONAL VOC INSPECTION. SCAQMD INSPECTOR DID CONFIRM TERMINAL COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING TANK RULES DUE TO TANK BEING REMOVED FROM SERVICE (DEGASSED) WITHIN 72 HOURS. THE RELEASE WAS SO SMALL THAT IT WAS NOT DETECTED BY CONTROL CENTER. THE RELEASE AMOUNT IS BELOW PHMSA REPORTABLE LIMIT. BUT LATER FOUND THAT REPAIR COST WOULD BE MORE THAT 50K AND HENCE THIS NOTIFICATION. TH INVESTIGATION IS IN PROGRESS AND WILL UPDATE THE REPORT ONCE IT IS FINALIZED. _____________________________________________ UPDATE: ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS (RCA) WAS CONDUCTED AND FOUND THAT EXTERNAL CORROSION IS REASON FOR THE PINHOLE ON BOTTOM FLOOR PLATE OF THE TANK 566. BELOW REASONS THAT INITIATED THE DAMAGE ARE: THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION AT TANK BOTTOM OVER TIME. GRAVEL INCREASES SOIL SIDE CORROSION WHEN CONTACTS BOTTOM UNEVENLY. CRUSHED GRAVEL MAKING CONTACT WITH TANK BOTTOM. NEXT API 653 OUT OF SERVICE INSPECTION IS DUE ON FEB 7,2030. IN ADDITION TO THIS, API 653 IN SERVICE INSPECTION IS ALSO DUE ON AUGUST 15,2024.

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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