SFPP, LP

Incident Narrative

ON DECEMBER 15TH, 2019, AN ELECTRICAL BREAKER AT THE INDUSTRY PUMP STATION AUTOMATICALLY OPENED IN ORDER TO SHUT DOWN THE PUMPING UNIT FOR THE WATSON-COLTON 24-INCH PIPELINE. THE BREAKER OPENED BECAUSE THE PUMPING UNIT FAILED TO RESPOND TO A SHUTDOWN COMMAND ISSUED BY THE PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER (PLC) SYSTEM. A TECHNICIAN WAS DISPATCHED TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE. DURING THE COURSE OF TROUBLE SHOOTING THE BREAKER, THE TECHNICIAN OBSERVED SMOKE FROM THE PUMPING UNIT. HE CONTACTED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT, WHO RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND PUT OUT THE FIRE USING PORTABLE DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT IS CURRENTLY UNDER INVESTIGATION. UPDATE FOR SUPPLEMENTAL/FINAL 3/31/2020- THE CAUSE WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILURE OF THE PLC TO PROVIDE A RUN INDICATION. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRE RUNNING FROM THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THE PLC WAS FOUND DISCONNECTED AT THE PLC, WHICH RESULTED IN THE SYSTEM OPERATING FOR AN UNKNOWN PERIOD WITH A CRITICAL PROTECTION FUNCTION DISABLED. IT IS UNKNOWN WHEN, WHY OR BY WHOM THE RUN INDICATION WIRE WAS DISCONNECTED UPDATE 11/19/2020 - AT REQUEST OF PHMSA INVESTIGATION DIVISION, CAUSE BEING CHANGED TO ""INCORRECT OPERATION"" FROM ""EQUIPMENT FAILURE"".