CITGO PETROLEUM CORPORATION (TERMINALS)

hazardous_liquid Incident — — April 20, 2012

Incident Information

Incident DateApril 20, 2012
OperatorCITGO PETROLEUM CORPORATION (TERMINALS)
CommodityREFINED AND/OR PETROLEUM PRODUCT (NON-HVL) WHICH IS A LIQUID
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates41.62672, -87.43395

Cause

CauseCORROSION FAILURE
SubcauseINTERNAL CORROSION

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$25,000
Emergency Response$2,000
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 PM ON APRIL 20, 2012 EMPLOYEES AT THE EAST CHICAGO TERMINAL RECEIVED A REVERSE FLOW ALARM FOR TANK 53 FROM THE FUELS MANAGER INVENTORY CONTROL SYSTEM. A LINEUP FOR RECEIVING RBOB FROM EXPLORER PIPELINE HAD BEEN COMPLETED AT ABOUT 2:00 PM BUT THE ACTUAL DELIVERY HAD NOT YET COMMENCED. A FIELD INVESTIGATION OF THE DIKE AREA SURROUNDING TANK 53 WAS COMPLETED AT 2:40 PM AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DELIVERY PIPE TO TANK 53 WAS LEAKING A PENCIL THIN STREAM OF RBOB AT THE 6:00 (BOTTOM) POSITION OF THE DELIVERY LINE. BASED ON THE DIMENSIONS OF THE SOIL STAINING AND 'FROTH RING' IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT 30 GALLONS HAD BEEN RELEASED. ISOLATION VALVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DELIVERY LINE WERE CLOSED WITHIN MINUTES TO ISOLATE THE RELEASE AND FREE PRODUCT WAS REMOVED FROM THE SURFACE VIA VACUUM TRUCK. THE LEAKING SECTION OF PIPE WAS TEMPORARILY REPAIRED VIA CLAMP CAPABLE OF FULL LINE PRESSURE AND WILL BE REMOVED FROM SERVICE FOR A COMPLETE METALLURGICAL EXAMINATION. UPON COMPLETION OF THE EXAMINATION IT HAS BEEN DETRMINED THAT MICROBIOLOGICAL INFLUENCED CORROSION (MIC) CAUSED THE RELEASE. THE METALLURGICAL REPROT IS ATTACHED."

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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