VITOL MIDSTREAM, LLC

Incident Narrative

SPILL/RELEASE OF ~ 24 BBLS OF CRUDE OIL DUE TO FAILURE OF A 1/2"" NPT X 4"" SCHEDULE 160 PIPE NIPPLE. THE OIL MIGRATED OFF THE STATION PAD AND ONTO ADJACENT PROPERTY AND PRODUCER RIGHT-OF-WAY (R.O.W.). THE AFFECTED BOOSTER PUMP AND PIPELINE IS PART OF AN ONSHORE RURAL GATHERING LINE THAT TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE DOES NOT MEET THE DEFINITION OF A REGULATED RURAL GATHERING LINE. ROOT CAUSE: THE SUCTION PRESSURE TO THE ONSHORE RURAL GATHERING SYSTEM BOOSTER PUMP IS PROVIDED BY THE PRODUCER'S LACT PUMP SKID. THIS BOOSTER PUMP DELIVERS CRUDE OIL INTO A 4-1/2"" STEEL ONSHORE RURAL GATHERING SYSTEM. SUCTION PRESSURE TO THE GATHERING BOOSTER PUMP DROPPED BELOW MINIMUM SUCTION REQUIREMENTS, AND SHUTDOWN SET POINTS IN THE LOCAL PLC WERE INCORRECT, SO THE PUMP DID NOT SHUT DOWN. THE PUMP WENT INTO CAVITATION DUE TO LOW SUCTION, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE VIBRATION CAUSING THE PIPE NIPPLE ON THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF THE PUMP TO CRACK AND FAIL. THE FAILED NIPPLE PROVIDED PRESSURE INDICATION TO A DISCHARGE PRESSURE TRANSMITTER AND SWITCH. FIELD OPERATIONS HAS ENSURED THAT THE LOCAL PLC SHUTDOWN SET POINTS HAVE BEEN CORRECTED, AND THE INSTRUMENTATION PIPING REDESIGNED TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE OF THIS EVENT. THE SITE HAS BEEN IN-SITU REMEDIATED, PER RRC CLEANUP REQUIREMENTS, AND RESTORED TO NORMAL CONDITION, AS OF NOVEMBER 20, 2015.