"KINDER MORGAN LIQUID TERMINALS, LLC"

hazardous_liquid Incident — — January 9, 2010

Incident Information

Incident DateJanuary 9, 2010
Operator"KINDER MORGAN LIQUID TERMINALS, LLC"
CommodityREFINED AND/OR PETROLEUM PRODUCT (NON-HVL) WHICH IS A LIQUID
Pipeline Typehazardous_liquid

Location

State
Coordinates29.43050, -95.12010

Cause

CauseMATERIAL FAILURE OF PIPE OR WELD
SubcauseENVIRONMENTAL CRACKING-RELATED

Casualties

Fatalities0
Injuries0

Costs

Property Damage$0
Emergency Response$0
Other Costs$0

Location Map

Incident Narrative

"DURING THE EARLY MORNING HOURS OF 1/9/2010, THE FOLLOWING EVENTS OCCURRED: 0015 HOURS - OPERATIONS NOTICED AN ACCUMULATING POOL OF GASOLINE PRODUCT NEAR TANK 150-42 0110 HOURS - DETERMINATION WAS MADE THAT THE PRODUCT POOL WAS GREATER THAN 5 GALLONS; HOWEVER, WERE UNCERTAIN OF THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK I.E., REGULATED BREAKOUT TANK OR PIPING. AN INCIDENT COMMAND SYSTEM WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE FIELD CONTROLLER AND CALL OUT SUPPORT WAS INITIATED. THE OPERATIONS INCIDENT COMMANDER BEGAN EMPTYING PRODUCT FROM TK 150-42 TO TK 150-32 IN ORDER TO MINIMIZE THE RELEASE FROM THE TANK. 0230 HOURS IT WAS SUSPECTED THAT THE LEAK MAY BE EMANATING FROM DOT REGULATED PIPING OR BREAKOUT TANKAGE. THIS DETERMINATION INITIATED THE KMLT AGENCY CALL-OUT PRACTICE. 0400 HOURS - 30 BBLS OF THE 35 BBLS SPILLED WERE RECOVERED TO A VACUUM TRUCK. 0600 HOURS - TANK WAS COMPLETELY EMPTIED TO TK 150-32 AND THE INCIDENT WS CONCLUDED WITH REMEDIATION EFFORT BEGINNING. THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE DURING THE MORNING OF 1/9/2010 WAS IN THE LOW 30FS. GAS SAFETY MONITORS SHOWED NO LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT (LEL) READINGS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA DUE TO THE SPILL. DURING THE EVENT, NO ONE WAS INJURED OR EXPOSED TO VOCS ABOVE THE PELS. AGENCY NOTIFICATIONS WERE MADE TO THE NRC, SERC/TCEQ AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE. DURING SUBSEQUENT DAYS THE TANK WAS CLEANED AND INSPECTED. IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED FROM VISUAL INSPECTION THAT A CRACKED WELD SEAM AT THE JOINT WERE THE 36"" PIPE JOINS THE SUMP FAILED CAUSING THE RELEASE. AT THIS TIME, NO KNOW FAILURE CAUSED THE STRESS ON THE WELD JOINT AND SUBSEQUENT CRACK/RELEASE. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 5 BBLS OF THE SPILLED GASOLINE PRODUCT REMAINED IN THE IMPACTED SOIL. KMLT IS ACTIVELY REMEDIATING THE SITE AND WILL PROPERLY DISPOSING OF THE IMPACTED SOIL. THE SPILL SITE WILL BE CLEANED UP TO SITE SCREENING LEVELS."

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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