SUNOCO PIPELINE L.P.

Incident Narrative

THE CHEROKEE TO BOTTLEMAN 6' HDPE PIPELINE WAS BEING EXCAVATED TO FACILITATE REMOVAL OF A LATERAL DEAD LEG. THE PIPELINE WAS SHUT DOWN AND VALVES ON EITHER SIDE OF THE EXCAVATION AREA WERE CLOSED. THE DEAD LEG SECTION HAD BEEN EXCAVATED AND WHILE CONTINUING TO EXCAVATE TO THE TIE IN WITH THE 6"" CHEROKEE TO BOTTLEMAN MAINLINE THE EXCAVATOR STRUCK THE MAINLINE CAUSING A PUNCTURE IN THE HDPE PIPE RESULTING IN A 1/2 BARREL RELEASE. THE RELEASE WAS CLEANED UP AND A CLAMP WAS INSTALLED ON THE PIPELINE IMMEDIATELY. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE 6"" HDPE MAINLINE PIPE WAS LAID IN A 5 FT WIDE DITCH. THE WIDTH OF THE DITCH ALLOWED THE PIPE TO BEND LATERALLY DURING BACKFILL WHICH CREATED DIFFICULTY IN ACCURATELY LOCATING THE LINE. FUTURE EXCAVATIONS OF AND AROUND THIS PIPELINE WILL REQUIRE ADDITIONAL MEASURES SUCH AS POTHOLING TO PREVENT RECURRENCE. SINCE THE DATE OF THE RELEASE THE LINE HAS REMAINED IN AN IDLED STATE. BUSINESS ANALYSIS CONCLUDED THAT FURTHER OPERATION OF THE LINE IS NOT NECESSARY AND AS SUCH THE LINE IS SCHEDULED TO BE DE-INVENTORIED AND PLACED IN OUT OF SERVICE STATUS IN THE 4TH QUARTER OF 2018. THE LINE WILL REMAIN IDLE UNTIL SUCH TIME.