MOBIL CORP
hazardous_liquid Incident — — October 3, 2011
Incident Information
| Incident Date | October 3, 2011 |
| Operator | MOBIL CORP |
| Commodity | CRUDE OIL |
| Pipeline Type | hazardous_liquid |
Location
| State | |
| Coordinates | 33.84735, -118.31848 |
Cause
| Cause | CORROSION FAILURE |
| Subcause | EXTERNAL CORROSION |
Casualties
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
Costs
| Property Damage | $10,000 |
| Emergency Response | $5,000 |
| Other Costs | $10,000 |
Location Map
Incident Narrative
"ON 10/3/11, THE TORRANCE REFINERY EXPERIENCED A PINHOLE LEAK NEAR THE TORRANCE METER STATION FOR THE 8"" TRUCK UNLOAD RELIEF PIPELINE. THE LEAK RESULTED IN A 41 BBL LOSS OF PRIMARY CONTAINMENT OF WHICH ALL WAS CONTAINED WITHIN THE CONFINES AND PROPERTY OF THE EXXONMOBIL REFINERY. THIS IS A RELIEF PIPELINE THAT PROTECTS EXXONMOBIL PIPELINE COMPANY COMMODITY PIPELINES WHICH ARE UPSTREAM FROM THE TORRANCE METER STATION. THIS SECTION OF RELIEF PIPING RUNS FROM THE METER STATION TO THE 2 DESIGNATED BREAKOUT TANKS INSIDE THE REFINERY. AS A RESULT OF THE LEAK, THE RELIEF PIPING AND EXXONMOBIL PIPELINE COMMODITY PIPELINES WERE IMMEDIATELY TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE. THERE WAS NOT A PRESSURE SURGE INCIDENT, BUT RATHER, A PINHOLE LEAK HAD DEVELOPED ON THE EXTERNAL RELIEF PIPING THAT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTAINMENT. NOTE: THE CA STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY IS AWARE OF THIS INCIDENT AND A CSFM REPRESENTATIVE VISITED THE SITE TO REVIEW POST INCIDENT, AND REVIEWED THE REQUIRED HYDROTESTING THAT WAS CONDUCTED AS PART OF RECOMMISSIONING OF THE RELIEF PIPELINE. PART E5F UPDATE WAS MADE 1/21/14 BY THAD MASSENGALE, EXXONMOBIL PIPELINE CO."
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.