CHEVRON PIPE LINE CO

Incident Narrative

1826-HOMEOWNER CALLS CONTROL CENTER AND INFORMS THEM OF A FLAME AT A VALVE SITE NEAR OUR PIPELINE 1828-1835-CONTROL CENTER CONFIRMS LOCATION AND VALVE SITE 1840-CONTROL CENTER CALL FIELD TEAM MEMBERS TO GO TO HWY 1 VALVE SITE 1845-PAINCOURTVILLE F.D. IS ON SITE AND SEND A PICTURE OF FLAME ON VENT STACK TO CONTROL CENTER 1855-2000-CONTROL MAKES APPROPRIATE CALLS TO SUPERVISORS AND MANAGERS 1915- CONFIRMATION OF DISCOVERY THAT FLAME IS ON CHEVRON PIPE LINE ANALYZER BUILDING 1955-FIELD TEAM MEMBER HAD ARRIVED ON SITE IDENTIFIED IT WAS A SMALL FLAME ON A VENT STACK ANALYZER AND CLOSED TUBING GOING TO VENT STACK TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAME SAFELY. 2037- AFTER IDENTIFYING THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EQUIPMENT OR PIPELINE AND NO FURTHER COULD OCCUR FIELD TEAM MEMBERS RELAYED INFORMATION BACK TO CONTROL. FIELD TEAM MEMBERS LEAVE SITE AT THIS TIME. THE ANALYZER BUILDING NORMALLY IS CONTINUOUSLY VENTING A NOMINAL AMOUNT TO THE ATMOSPHERE THEREFORE NO UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OCCURRED FROM THE PIPELINE. IT WAS FOUND THROUGH THE COURSE OF OUR INCIDENT INVESTIGATION THAT DURING THE DAYS PRECEDING THE IGNITION OF THE STACK THERE WAS A HIGHER THAN NORMAL INCIDENCE OF LIGHTNING STRIKES IN THE AREA. IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CHARGED ENVIRONMENT CAUSED IGNITION ON THE VENT STACK.