PLAINS PIPELINE, L.P.

Incident Narrative

APPROXIMATELY 10 BBLS OF CRUDE OIL WERE RELEASED AS A RESULT OF A MECHANICAL FAILURE ON THE MOTOR BEARING OF THE TANK 1287 BOOSTER PUMP. WHEN THE TANK BOOSTER PUMP DRIVER (ELECTRIC MOTOR) BEARINGS FAILED, HEAT AND VIBRATION WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE PUMP AND MECHANICAL SEAL ASSEMBLY, SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING SEAL FAILURE. FAILURE OF THE MECHANICAL SEAL ALLOWED CRUDE OIL TO ESCAPE AND IGNITE. A CONTRACTOR WORKING BEHIND THE FACILITY OBSERVED THE SMOKE AND APPARENT FIRE, AND NOTIFIED PLAINS TERMINAL OPERATOR. PLAINS OPERATOR IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT AS WELL AS DISTRICT AND DIVISION MANAGEMENT. DISTRICT/DIVISION MANAGEMENT IMMEDIATELY NOTIFIED THE PIPELINE CONTROL CENTER AND THE FACILITY WAS SHUT DOWN AND ISOLATED. PLAINS EMERGENCY RESPONDERS AND THE JAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON SITE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND SECURED THE FACILITY. BRINELL HARDNESS TESTING WAS CONDUCTED ON THE AFFECTED PIPE TO DETERMINE ITS FITNESS FOR USE, AND ALL SUSPECT PIPING WAS REMOVED AND/OR REPLACED. THE PUMP WAS REPAIRED IN PLACE AND FITTED WITH A NEW REPLACEMENT ELECTRIC MOTOR BEFORE OPERATIONS RESUMED. PLAINS IS INITIATING SEVERAL STUDIES TO IMPROVE THE PIPING DESIGN AND POSSIBLE ADDED INSTRUMENTATION FOR VIBRATION AND TEMPERATURE DETECTORS ON THESE TANK FARM BOOSTER PUMP INSTALLATIONS. PRESENT TANK FARM OPERATIONS ARE NORMAL AND CLEANUP AND REMEDIATION ARE ONGOING. PART A, NUMBER 7 HAS BEEN UPDATED. PART C, NUMBER 2 HAS BEEN UPDATED FROM 'ONSHORE BREAKOUT TANK OR STORAGE VESSEL' TO 'ONSHORE TERMINAL/TANK FARM EQUIPMENT AND PIPING' FOLLOWING AN INTERNAL ANNUAL REVIEW.