ENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC

hazardous_liquid Incident —

Incident Information

Report Date
OperatorENTERPRISE PRODUCTS OPERATING LLC
Commodity—
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates29.05218, -95.35116

Cause

CauseMATERIAL FAILURE OF PIPE OR WELD
Subcause—

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage
Lost Commodity
Public/Private Damage
Emergency Response
Environmental Remediation
Other Costs

Location Map

Incident Narrative

AT 12:40 ON 3/21/2017 A 3RD PARTY CALLED LOCAL OPERATING PERSONNEL TO INFORM THEM OF A GAS SMELL. AN ENTERPRISE TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AT 14:15 AND VERIFIED LEL WAS PRESENT OVER AN ENTERPRISE PIPELINE. THE LINE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY SHUT DOWN BUT WAS BLOCKED IN AFTER DISCOVERY OF THE LEAK. AN ESTIMATED 2 BBLS OF ETHANE/PROPANE MIX WAS RELEASED. APPROXIMATELY 3.9 MILES OF LINE WAS FLARED (BLOCK VALVE TO BLOCK VALVE) AND THE LEAK SITE WAS EXCAVATED, UNCOVERING A PINHOLE LEAK. THE FAILED SECTION OF PIPE WAS CUT OUT AND REPLACED. THE LINE WAS FILLED WITH PRODUCT AT 17:50 ON 3/29/2017. AT 18:00 ON 3/21 IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TOTAL COST WOULD EXCEED $50,000, NECESSITATING AN NRC CALL WHICH WAS MADE 18:58. THE CAUSE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AND THE FAILED SECTION OF PIPE WAS SENT IN FOR METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS. A FINAL REPORT WILL BE SUBMITTED UPON RECEIPT OF THE RESULTS. NO COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH EMERGENCY RESPONSE OR ENVIRONMENTAL REMEDIATION. THE AREA WAS FLAGGED OFF. THE AREA WAS BACKFILLED WITH EXISTING SOIL. 5/31/2017 IT WAS DETERMINED FROM THE METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS THAT THE ORIGINAL CRACK WAS PREDOMINATELY FORMED DURING MANUFACTURING.

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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