MARKWEST UTICA EMG, L.L.C.
hazardous_liquid Incident — — July 2, 2019
Incident Information
| Incident Date | July 2, 2019 |
| Operator | MARKWEST UTICA EMG, L.L.C. |
| Commodity | HVL OR OTHER FLAMMABLE OR TOXIC FLUID WHICH IS A GAS AT AMBI |
| Pipeline Type | hazardous_liquid |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 40.25565, -81.02988 |
Cause
| Cause | EQUIPMENT FAILURE |
| Subcause | THREADED CONNECTION/COUPLING FAILURE |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $20 |
| Emergency Response | $300 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
EXPLANATION: THIS LINE WAS SHUT IN DUE TO NO FLOW IN FEBRUARY 2019. WHEN SHUT IN THE LINE WAS PULLED FROM A NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE OF 500-600 PSI DOWN TO 300 PSI. AS THE GROUND TEMPERATURE INCREASED THROUGH THE SPRING AND SUMMER CAUSING THE LINE TO PRESSURE UP FROM 300 PSI TO JUST OVER 800 PSI. WHILE WELL BELOW THE 2200 PSI MOP THE LINE WAS BUILT AND HYDRO TESTED TO, IT IS A HIGHER PRESSURE THAN THE LINE HAS SEEN SINCE IT WAS COMMISSIONED. WHEN THE LINE REACHED 803 PSI A 3/8"" STAINLESS STEEL SWAGELOK TUBING FITTING, ON THE PIG TRAP INSIDE OUR CADIZ PROCESSING PLANT, CAME APART AND RELEASED ETHANE. ALL THE ETHANE RELEASED INSTANTLY FLASHED TO VAPOR, NO LIQUIDS WERE SPILLED ON THE GROUND. THIS RELEASE CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MINUTES UNTIL OPERATIONS PERSONAL COULD GET TO THE PIG TRAP TO SHUT IN THE LEAKING FITTING. AFTER INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FERRULE ON THE 3/8"" STAINLESS STEEL TUBING FITTING WAS NOT PROPERLY SET WHEN IT WAS INSTALLED PRIOR TO COMMISSIONING IN 2015. SINCE DISCOVERY ALL STAINLESS STEEL TUBING FITTINGS THROUGHOUT THE SYSTEM PIPING HAVE BEEN CHECKED FOR PROPER INSTALLATION WITH A SWAGELOK GO/NO-GO GAUGE WHICH ENSURES PROPER INSTALLATION. NO OTHER FITTING CONNECTION ISSUES WERE IDENTIFIED.
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.