ENTERPRISE CRUDE PIPELINE LLC

Incident Narrative

AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, THE PIPELINE WAS OUT OF SERVICE AND PURGED OF PRODUCT. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FIRE AND THE IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION WAS ON THE CAUSE OF THE PLUGS EXPULSION FROM THE PIPE. PHMSA SW REGION WAS CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND ADVISED THAT IT WAS BEING CONSIDERED AN OSHA REPORTABLE INCIDENT AND THAT UPDATES WOULD BE PROVIDED IF ANY INFORMATION CHANGED. ON 10/2/13 ENTERPRISE CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS TRAPPED HYDROCARBON VAPORS THAT IGNITED, NRC AND PHMSA SW REGION WERE NOTIFIED ACCORDINGLY. DURING FACILITY MODIFICATIONS, VAPORS INSIDE THE 36 INCH PIPELINE, UPSTREAM OF AN AIRBAG PLUG, IGNITED AND PROPELLED THE AIRBAG OUT OF THE PIPE STRIKING TWO CONTRACT WORKERS LOCATED AT THE OPEN END OF THE PIPE DOWNSTREAM. THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE TAKEN TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AND WERE RELEASED THE SAME DAY. ENTERPRISE HAS REVIEWED APPLICABLE PROCEDURES ASSOCIATED WITH HOT WORK ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THAT ALL KNOWN HAZARDS ARE CONSIDERED AND THAT THE APPROPRIATE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS ARE TAKEN. AS A RESULT OF IT'S REVIEW, SAFETY PROCEDURE 6.3, PREPARATION OF EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS FOR REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE, HAS BEEN AMENDED TO ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING THE HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK BEING PERFORMED AND TO PROVIDE DETAIL ON HOW TO PREVENT THE HAZARDS THAT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT.