ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC

hazardous_liquid Incident — — January 4, 2019

Incident Information

Incident DateJanuary 4, 2019
OperatorENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC
CommodityHVL OR OTHER FLAMMABLE OR TOXIC FLUID WHICH IS A GAS AT AMBI
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates41.61521, -91.40825

Cause

CauseEQUIPMENT FAILURE
SubcausePUMP OR PUMP-RELATED EQUIPMENT

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$261,357
Emergency Response$0
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"AT 09:30 AM ON 1-4-19, THE IOWA CITY CONTROL ROOM OPERATOR ENTERED A START COMMAND TO THE IOWA CITY MAINLINE (ML) UNIT #1 PUMP. AT 09:33:48 THE PUMP BEGAN TURNING AND THEN AT 09:34:07 A TURBINE SHUTDOWN WAS INITIATED BY A SEAL FAIL PRESSURE SWITCH ALARM. A VAPOR CLOUD WAS RELEASED AS A RESULT OF THE SEAL FAILURE. AT 09:34:13 THE VAPOR CLOUD IGNITED. AT 09:34:30 A STATION EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN (ESD) WAS INITIATED BY THE IOWA CITY CONTROL ROOM OPERATOR. UPON INVESTIGATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE OUTBOARD SEAL THAT FAILED WAS IMPROPERLY ASSEMBLED DURING THE PREVIOUS REPAIR. THE STATIONARY (CARBON FACE) RETAINER/ STUB SLEEVE HOLES WERE NOT LINED UP WITH PINS IN GLAND AND WAS OUT OF SQUARE BY ~0.050 IN. THIS OUT OF SQUARE CONDITION CAUSED UNEVEN LOADING AND ACCELERATED WEAR OF THE CARBON FACE. TO PREVENT REOCCURRENCE, THE SEAL SUPPLIER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CARTRIDGE ASSEMBLY ISSUE, AND THE PUMP IS BEING MACHINED TO ALLOW FOR INSTALLATION OF TANDEM INBOARD AND OUTBOARD SEALS THAT WILL PERFORM BETTER AT CONTAINING POSSIBLE FUTURE PRODUCT RELEASES. 48 HOUR NRC UPDATE #1234730"

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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