USG WHEATLAND PIPELINE, LLC

Incident Narrative

ON OCTOBER 12, 2015, A FAILURE OF A 1INCH SCHEDULE 80 PIPE NIPPLE ON THE EXIT SIDE THE LACT SKID BUILDING (WHEATLAND PIPELINE POINT OF BEGINNING) CAUSED APPROXIMATELY 27 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL TO BE RELEASED AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREA. THE PRELIMINARY METALLURGICAL RESULTS FROM THE FAILED PIPE NIPPLE INDICATE THAT THERE WAS CRACK PROPOGATION OVER TIME DUE TO POTENTIAL VIBRATORY STRESSES WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN INITIATED AT INITIAL INSTALLATION. UPON FURTHER EVALUATION IT IS SUPECTED THAT A PIECE OF DEBRIS STRUCK THE PIPE NIPPLE AND ASSEMBLY, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSED THE 1INCH PIPE NIPPLE TO SEPARATE THROUGH THE WALL AT THE WELD-O-LET ON THE PIPELINE DURING A HIGH WINDS EVENT. DURING THE RELEASE SITE STAFF REPORTED A NORTHWEST WIND, SUSTAINED AT 30 MPH, WITH GUSTS 40 TO 60 MPH. POOLING OF CRUDE OIL WAS PRIMARILY AT THE POINT OF RELEASE, BUT SOME CRUDE OIL EXITING THE CRACKED NIPPLE WAS PICKED UP BY THE WIND AND DEPOSITED TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE AGRICULTURAL FIELD OUTSIDE OF THE POB SECURITY FENCE TO THE SOUTHEAST HAD A LIGHT COATING OF CRUDE OIL ON THE TOPMOST LAYER OF VEGETATION. COUNTY ROAD 22ND ST. NW, NORTH OF THE RELEASE, WAS NOT IMPACTED. APPROXIMATELY 152 CUBIC YARDS OF SOIL/GRAVEL WAS EXCAVATED FOR DISPOSAL.