NUSTAR PIPELINE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P.
hazardous_liquid Incident — — February 12, 2017
Incident Information
| Incident Date | February 12, 2017 |
| Operator | NUSTAR PIPELINE OPERATING PARTNERSHIP L.P. |
| Commodity | HVL OR OTHER FLAMMABLE OR TOXIC FLUID WHICH IS A GAS AT AMBI |
| Pipeline Type | hazardous_liquid |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 30.83082, -91.95085 |
Cause
| Cause | EQUIPMENT FAILURE |
| Subcause | NON-THREADED CONNECTION FAILURE |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $0 |
| Emergency Response | $8,680 |
| Other Costs | $0 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
A THIRD PARTY REPORTED TO A LOCAL NUSTAR TECHNICIAN THAT HE SMELLED AMMONIA NEAR VALVE 2-20. THE LOCAL NUSTAR TECHNICIAN ARRIVED AT THE SITE AT 9:11 AM ON FEBRUARY 12, 2017, CONFIRMED THE AMMONIA SMELL, FOUND DISTRESSED VEGETATION, AND SECURED THE LOCATION. THE LEAK WAS ORIGINATING FROM BELOW GROUND, AND THERE WAS NO IMMEDIATE HAZARD TO PREVENT THE LINE FROM CONTINUING TO RUN. NOTIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO NRC AND LOUISIANA STATE POLICE. DISCHARGE PRESSURE WAS LOWERED AT THE PALMETTO PUMP STATION TO A MAXIMUM OF 500 PSI TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON THE SEGMENT. AIR MONITORING WAS CONDUCTED TO CONFIRM THAT THE LOCATION REMAINED SAFE OVERNIGHT. A STOPPLE WAS EXCAVATED ON MONDAY (2/13) AND ONE OF THE FOUR STOPPLE TEE SEGMENT PLUGS WAS FOUND TO BE LEAKING VAPOR. ALL FOUR SEGMENT PLUGS WERE WELDED CLOSED. SOIL WAS SAMPLED AND THE LEAK VOLUME WAS ESTIMATED TO BE 15.95 GALLONS OR 0.38 BARRELS. APPROXIMATELY 20 YARDS OF SOIL WILL BE LAND FARMED PER STATE AGENCY INSTRUCTIONS.
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.