EXXONMOBIL PIPELINE CO

Incident Narrative

THE FINAL DETERMINATION FOR THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS THE CONTRACTOR INSTALLED THE FOREMAN'S LOW PRESSURE ISOLATION PLUG AND VENT INCORRECTLY. THE PIPE WAS IDLE AND SEPARATED FROM ALL ACTIVE PIPELINES. THE PIPELINE WAS BEING DRAINED OF RESIDUAL CRUDE WITH A CATCH PAN UNDER THE PIPE AT THE SITE. A WELDED FLANGE WAS BEING INSTALLED ONTO THE PIPE. THERE WAS A FLASH FIRE WHEN WELDING STARTED AND THE CATCH PAN OVERFILLED 20 GALLONS / 0.48 BARRELS OF CRUDE TO SOIL INSIDE THE EXCAVATION DITCH. THE CRUDE OIL WAS IMMEDIATELY CLEANED UP WITH VACUUM TRUCK ON SITE. 9-17-13 SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT CREATED TO CHANGE G-8 TO OTHER. 2-17-15 CAPCO CONTRACTORS, INC. WAS HIRED BY EXXONMOBIL FOR PROJECT WORK AT 1010 COX DAIRY ROAD, LONGVIEW, TEXAS INVOLVING TANK WORK, PIPELINE DISPLACEMENT/ABANDONMENT WORK, AND NEW PIPELINE INSTALLATION. THIS WORK INCLUDED COLD CUTTING BOTH ENDS OF A 650' 30' LINE, WELDING FLANGES ON BOTH ENDS, DISPLACING THE LINE WITH A PIG, AND INSTALLING BLINDS TO PROPERLY ABANDON THE LINE. THE WELDING OF THE FLANGE WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED ON ONE END OF THE PIPE. WHEN WORK BEGAN ON THE OTHER END OF THE LINE, ONE OF THE CAPCO WELDERS ATTEMPTED TO COMMENCE WELDING ON A FLANGE AND A FLASH FIRE OCCURRED. CAPCO IS REQUIRED TO FOLLOW INDUSTRY STANDARDS RELATIVE TO SAFE PRACTICES FOR THE PREPARATION OF CONTAINERS AND PIPING FOR WELDING AND CUTTING; FAILURE TO DO SO CAN EXPOSE ITS EMPLOYEES TO THE HAZARDS OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION. 12-15-15 SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT CREATED TO CHANGE PART G TO G7 INCORRECT OPERATION. 12-12-2018 INTERNAL DOCUMENTATION INDICATS THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT LISTED AS 12:44 IS CORRECT. NO CHANGE TO TIME OF INCIDENT. UPDATED PART C, 3J TO FOREMAN'S LOW PRESSURE ISOLATION PLUG AND UPDATED C.6 TO FOREMAN LOW PRESSURE ISOLATION PLUG; UPDATED PART G.7 TO EQUIPMENT NOT INSTALLED PROPERLY. 12-20-2018 UPDATED PART C, 3J TO OPEN TANK LINE BETWEEN 30005 AND 30006 WITH A FOREMAN LOW PRESSURE ISOLATION PLUG.