HARBOR PIPELINE CO

hazardous_liquid Incident — — December 3, 2012

Incident Information

Incident DateDecember 3, 2012
OperatorHARBOR PIPELINE CO
CommodityREFINED AND/OR PETROLEUM PRODUCT (NON-HVL) WHICH IS A LIQUID
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates40.60840, -74.22220

Cause

CauseINCORRECT OPERATION
SubcauseTANK, VESSEL, OR SUMP/SEPARATOR ALLOWED OR CAUSED TO OVERFILL OR OVERFLOW

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$0
Emergency Response$23,025
Other Costs$15,000

Location Map

Incident Narrative

AN ABNORMAL OPERATING CONDITION, HIGH PRESSURE ON THE PIPELINE, WAS CAUSED BY PIPELINE CONTROLLER ERROR. AT THE SAME TIME AS THE SURGE CONTROL VALVE WAS REDUCING THE PRESSURE, THERMAL RELIEF VALVES OPENED DURING THE PERIOD OF HIGH PRESSURE, DISCHARGING TO THE SUMP. THE SUMP HI-HI LEVEL SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED-DID NOT DISPLAY AN ALARM FOR THE CONTROLLER TO KNOW THE SUMP LEVEL HAD RISEN. THE CHAIN OF EVENTS RESULTED IN THE SUMP OVERFLOW. WHEN THE PIPELINE CONTROLLER TOOK ACTIONS TO FULLY ISOLATE THE PIPELINE SYSTEM, THE THERMAL RELIEF VALVES CLOSED, STOPPING THE FLOW TO THE SUMP AND RELEASE FROM THE SUMP. SUPPLEMENTAL FILED TO INCLUDE PART E5F PER PHMSA REQUEST ON 3/19/2013. TOTAL COST UPDATED FOR FINAL REPORT.

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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