"ONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC"

hazardous_liquid Incident — — August 25, 2015

Incident Information

Incident DateAugust 25, 2015
Operator"ONEOK NGL PIPELINE, LLC"
CommodityHVL OR OTHER FLAMMABLE OR TOXIC FLUID WHICH IS A GAS AT AMBI
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates29.84593, -94.90802

Cause

CauseINCORRECT OPERATION
SubcauseEQUIPMENT NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$100
Emergency Response$500
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"AT APPROXIMATELY 13:05 ON AUGUST 25, 2015 ETHANE VAPORS WERE IDENTIFIED LEAKING BETWEEN FLANGES ON THE NEWLY INSTALLED CUSTOMER CUSTODY METER SKID AT THE ONEOK'S WEST WINFREE STATION. PIPING WAS ISOLATED, AND PRODUCT REMOVED FROM THE SYSTEM. ONEOK'S INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE LEAK OCCURRED BECAUSE THE FLANGES HAD NOT BEEN PROPERLY TIGHTENED DUE TO THE TORQUE WRENCH USED DURING CONSTRUCTION HAD FAILED. ONEOK ALSO IDENTIFIED THE LOCK OUT/TAG OUT PROCEDURES WERE INADEQUATE AND COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM AND OPERATIONS TEAM WERE INEFFECTIVE. THE CONSTRUCTION TEAM FAILED TO NOTIFY OPERATIONS THE FLANGES HAD NOT BEEN TIGHTENED. OPERATIONS FAILED TO PROPERLY ISOLATE EXISTING PIPING FROM NEW CONSTRUCTION BY FAILING TO INSTALL A BLANKING PLATE. INADEQUATE LOCK OUT/TAG OUT PROCEDURES FAILED TO ISOLATE ELECTRICITY TO A MOTOR OPERATED VALVE WHICH ALLOWED OPERATIONS PERSONNEL TO REMOTELY OPEN THE VALVE AND ALLOW ETHANE TO FLANGES, RESULTING IN THE RELEASE. A SAFETY STAND DOWN WAS INITIATED AND LOCK OUT/TAG OUT PROCEDURES AND THE IMPORTANCE OF COMMUNICATIONS WERE REVIEWED AND CORRECTED. 1/22/2019 NARRATIVE UPDATED - NEAL JONES"

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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