MAGELLAN PIPELINE COMPANY, LP

Incident Narrative

WHILE SUPERVISING THE PAINTING CONTRACTOR PERFORMING WORK ON TANK 3505, THE PAINTING INSPECTOR OBSERVED PRODUCT WEEPING FROM THE VALVE STEM ON THE TANK SUCTION VALVE. THE INSPECTOR NOTIFIED OPERATIONS PERSONNEL AND CLEANUP ACTIVITIES WERE INITIATED. THE RELEASE WAS FULLY CONTAINED WITHIN SECONDARY CONTAINMENT AND VACUUM TRUCKS WERE USED TO RECOVER 100% OF THE PRODUCT. IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE RELEASE, DURING A WALKAROUND TO INSPECT THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED TANK 3505, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE TANK SUCTION VALVE WAS MISSING THE STEM PROTECTOR. THE VALVE WAS IDENTIFIED AND THE MECHANICAL CONTRACTOR WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THE STEM PROTECTOR WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER, THIS WAS NOT COMPLETED PRIOR TO THE PAINT CREW MOBILIZING TO THE SITE. THE PAINT CONTRACTOR BEGAN SANDBLASTING THE ROOF IN PREPARATION FOR COATING ACTIVITIES. TANK VALVES WERE COVERED WITH PLASTIC SHEETING TO PROTECT THE VALVES FROM ANY DEBRIS, SANDBLASTING, PAINT, ETC. FOLLOWING THE RELEASE, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE PLASTIC SHEETING WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE TANK SUCTION VALVE, POSSIBLY LOOSENED DUE TO WIND. SANDBLAST GRIT HAD BEEN SWEPT OFF THE ROOF AND HAD FALLEN ONTO THE TANK SUCTION VALVE. DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL VALVE OPERATIONS, THE VALVE STEM AND PACKING BECAME DAMAGED FROM THE GRIT, RESULTING IN THE RELEASE. THE PACKING WAS TIGHTENED ON THE LEAKING VALVE AND THE VALVE WAS LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION. THE TANK WAS TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE AND THE VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE OTHER TANK VALVES ON T3505 WERE INSPECTED FOR DAMAGE AND TO ENSURE THE PLASTIC SHEETING WERE IN PLACE BEFORE BLASTING CONTINUED. 10/03/2024 - UPDATED BY PHMSA PER OPERATOR APPROVAL.