{"operation":"document","citation":"PHMSA FIR, Bridger Lake, LLC, 2010-04-02","title":"Failure Report-Bridger Lake, LLC 4/2/10","source_type":"incident","agency":"Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration","status":"historical","official":true,"published_on":"2011-08-24","effective_on":"2010-04-02","summary":"Bridger Lake, LLC; Hazardous Liquid; WY; failure 2010-04-02; apparent cause: Incorrect Operation.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-fir-failure-report-bridger-lake-llc-4210.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-fir-failure-report-bridger-lake-llc-4210.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/phmsa-fir-failure-report-bridger-lake-llc-4210","source_url":"https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/safety-reports/failure-report-bridger-lake-llc-4210","body":"<<<PAGE 1>>>\n\nDOT US Department of Transportation\nPHMSA Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nOPS Office of Pipeline Safety\nWestern Region\nPrincipal Investigator Peter Katchmar\nRegional Director Chris Hoidal\nDate of Report 8/04/2011\nSubject Failure Investigation Report – Bridger Lake LLC Crude Oil Release\nOperator, Location, & Consequences\nDate & Time of Failure: 4/2/2010 Time unknown\nCommodity Released: Light Crude Oil\nCity/County & State: Robertson/Uinta County, WY\nOpID & Operator Name 32483 Bridger Lake, LLC\nUnit # & Unit Name 73779 6” Crude Line\nSMART Activity #: 129897\nMilepost / Location Milepost 16.5\nType of Failure: Rupture caused by Operator Error\nFatalities: 0\nInjuries 0\nDescription of area\nimpacted\nJust to the east of Robertson, WY in a pasture\nProperty damage $4 million.\n\n<<<PAGE 2>>>\n\nFailure Investigation Report – Bridger Lake LLC Crude Oil Release\n4/2/2010\nExecutive Summary\nOn 4/2/2010, a release occurred on the Bridger Lake, LLC (Bridger Lake) 6” crude oil line near Robertson,\nWY. The leak was not located by the operator’s field personnel until the morning of Monday, 4/5/2010.\nWestern Region became aware of the release on April 10, 2010, when Bridger Lake notified the National\nResponse Center of the failure after a pool of crude oil ignited at the site during cleanup operations.\nPHMSA’s investigation revealed that the pipeline failed due to the line being over pressured by pumping\nagainst a closed valve. After the failure, approximately 1,473 barrels of crude was pumped into the\npipeline over the weekend by the production company who is the only shipper who uses this pipeline.\nAlso, the line fill from the top of the mountain to the release site is 204 BPM * 13.5 miles = 2754 BBLs +\n1473 BBLs = 4227 BBLS estimated total released volume.\nBridger Lake maintained that this line was an unregulated rural gathering line. PHMSA maintained that\nthis line is an interstate transmission line as defined in 49 CFR Part 195.1(a)(2). PHMSA issued a\nCorrective Action Order (CAO) to Bridger Lake on April 30, 2010. The line was repaired on April 11,\n2010, but has not been restarted since the release.\nOn February 24, 2011, PHMSA entered into a Consent Agreement with Bridger Lake.\nSystem Details\nThe Bridger Lake 6” line starts at the Whiting Petroleum Facility in the Wasatch National Forest in\nSummit County, UT and runs north approximately three (3) miles and uphill for 500 feet in elevation and\nthen downhill 2000’ in elevation for an additional 24 miles. The line crosses into Uinta County, WY at\napproximately MP 02. The line ends at a 25,000 barrel break out (BO) tank just north of I-80. The line\ncan directly affect a drinking water high consequence area (HCA) and runs close to an ecological HCA.\nThere are three production injection points on this line, the first is at the beginning of the line and there\nare two additional injection points near the high point of the 6-inch line. Records show that the line has\nbeen hydrostatically tested in portions in 1968 and again in 1988.\nThe production company sells the crude oil to Shell at lease-automatic-custody-transfer (LACT) units and\nthe oil is pumped through a few miles of 3.5-inch gathering lines to the 6-inch Bridger Lake trunk line.\nThe LACT unit is a critical system in ownership transfer of crude oil from the production site to trucks,\npipelines, or storage tanks and offers the flexibility of completely automated 24-hour operation. When\na tank fills to a level certain, the crude is automatically pumped through the LACT unit which meters the\namount of oil that is pumped through it and subsequently into the pipeline. The line was designed as an\nANSI 600 system with some ANSI 900 components at the end of the line. A back pressure of 800 psig in\nmaintained at the end of the line to keep the line packed.\nThe calculated maximum operating pressures (MOP), based on hydrotest and checked against design\ncalculations, at critical locations along the line are as follows:\nWhiting Petroleum Plant MP 0.0 Elevation – 8882’ MOP = 547 psig\nLucky Ditch/Whiskey Springs MP 2.8 Elevation – 9353’ MOP = 385 psig\nRobertson Valve Site MP 10 Elevation – 8191’ MOP = 802 psig\nBridger Terminal MP 27.1 Elevation – 7150’ MOP = 1185 psig\nAll deliveries are initiated at units owned and operated by Whiting Petroleum and are immediately sold\nto Shell on the downstream side of the LACT units. The tri-plex positive displacement pumps that are\nused to pump crude into the Bridger Lake pipeline are also owned and operated by Whiting Petroleum.\nThe pumps have an overpressure control on their outlet side of between 800 psig and 1000 psig. These\nPage 2 of 6\n\n<<<PAGE 3>>>\n\nFailure Investigation Report – Bridger Lake LLC Crude Oil Release\n4/2/2010\nare small plastic components that will fail and must be replaced. They are not able to be set at a certain\npressure.\nBridger Lake trucks crude into a 500 barrel tank at the beginning of the line. Bridger Lake does not have\ntheir own meters and, therefore, there is no information on flow except production records. There is\none mainline valve at milepost (MP) 10 and a rectifier at the end of the line to protect the tank bottom\nand the pipeline. There is no overpressure protection on the Bridger Lake 6-inch pipeline. The crude oil\nlevel in the 25,000 barrel tank is monitored by the Plains All-American Pipeline Company (PAAPL) at\ntheir control center in Texas. Also, the PAAPL control center initiates deliveries from the tank into their\npipeline for transportation to refineries in Salt Lake City, UT. Due to the minimal volumes transported\nthrough this pipeline, the failure resulted in no supply issues.\nSystem History\nThe 6-inch pipeline and BO tank were originally constructed in 1968 by Phillips Pipe Line Company. The\nalignment sheets show that the majority of the line was constructed with 6 5/8 inch diameter, API 5L-X-\n46, 0.156 inch wall thickness pipe; manufactured by Republic (coated with X-TRU Coat) and Lone Star\n(coated with Polykin 909), with an ERW long seam. The line currently operates whenever a LACT unit\nturns on and pumps a tank down the line.\nThe crude line appears to have been operated by Phillips Pipe Line Company up to the middle 1990s.\nThe pipeline facility was sold numerous times between the mid 1990’s and March 2006. Double On 8,\nLLC purchased the pipeline system on April 1, 2006 and has operated it under the name of Bridger Lake\nLLC since then. The current field operations manager has worked at this facility since Phillips Pipeline\noperated it. PHMSA had never inspected this facility before the release. In 1998 and again in 2008, a\nPHMSA engineer called Bridger Lake Operations Manager (OM) and asked about the functionality of the\n27 mile pipeline. He was told both times that the line was a gravity line which dropped ~2000’ into a\n25,000 barrel tank just north of I-80. Pipelines that transport hazardous liquids by gravity are not\nsubject to 49 CFR Part 195.\nEvents Leading up to the Failure\nAt the end of the month or the first of the month, the OM typically goes to the LACT units on the\nmountain and turns all of them off. Then he goes down to the end of line and closes the end of line\nmainline valve. Then he goes on top of the 25,000 barrel tank and gauges the tank. He then comes off\nthe tank and reopens the end of line mainline valve.\nOn Thursday, April 1, 2010, the OM turned off the LACT units and closed the end of line valve and\nwalked to the top of the tank and gauged it. When he came off the tank, he noticed that the pressure\ngauge on the pig receiver barrel read ~1500 psig. He knew this was abnormal so he went over and bled\nthe pressure off of the receiver barrel and opened the end of line valve. He then tried to call someone\nfrom the production company who transports crude in the Bridger Lake line so he could ask them to\ninitiate a delivery so he could see if the pressure would come back up. He could not raise anyone on the\ntelephone.\nThe OM reported that on Friday morning April 2, 2010, he called the airline pilot who flies his pipeline\nand asked him to fly the line to see if he could see a leak. The OM said that he specifically asked the\npilot to call him immediately upon landing but that the pilot did not. This was Easter weekend. The OM\nreported that he did not receive any information from the line flier until Monday morning, the 5th of\nApril. He reported that he learned that the pilot had seen some brown & yellow grass near where the\npipeline crossed Hwy 410. The OM reported that he drove out there and found the release. This was\nMonday, April 5, 2010.\nPage 3 of 6\n\n<<<PAGE 4>>>\n\nFailure Investigation Report – Bridger Lake LLC Crude Oil Release\n4/2/2010\nEmergency Response\nThe OM reported that he immediately called the WY-One Call because he knew he was going to have to\ndig up his line and he knew Questar had an active line in the area. He next called his supervisor in\nShreveport, LA to report the release. The supervisor reported that she thought the OM said he had\ncalled the National Response Center (NRC) instead of the WY-One Call so she didn’t make that call.\nBridger Lake hired an environmental clean-up company, Enviro Care, out of Salt Lake City, UT to handle\nthe release. They were being directed by C-K Associates out of Baton Rouge, LA on behalf of Bridger\nLake. The operator contacted the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality (WY-DEQ) and made\napplication to be allowed to enter in their Voluntary Remediation Program (VRP). The WY-DEQ\naccepted Bridger Lake’s application and approved their entry into the VRP. Under the VRP the operator\nmust use an approved contractor who understands the appropriate remediation methods and\nthresholds for cleaning up the release.\nOn April 10, 2010, the Bridger Lake OM called the National Response Center (NRC) to report a fire at the\nrelease site (Appendix A). He added that there was a release of approximately 2,000 barrels of crude oil\nnear Robertson, WY on April 5, 2010. The Western Region responded to the report by calling the\noperator. Again, the operator reported that the line was an unregulated gathering line.\nSummary of initial start-up plan and return-to-service, including preliminary safety\nmeasures\nThe OM then reported that he called a nearby contractor who could perform the required repairs. The\nline was dug up and repaired by Tri-Star, a local pipeline contractor. The line was repaired and covered\nup before PHMSA arrived.\nPHMSA issued a Corrective Action Order (CAO) to keep the pipeline shut down until everyone could\nunderstand the pipeline system and create an appropriate return-to-service plan that would ensure the\nsafe operation of the pipeline system.\nBridger Lake approached PHMSA with a plan to isolate the pipeline from the BO tank and to return the\nBO tank to truck only service. PHMSA worked with Bridger Lake to get their personnel qualified to\noperate the tank and complete the appropriate testing of the tank. PHMSA allowed the BO tank to\nreturn to service on May 10, 2010.\nInvestigation Findings & Contributing Factors\nOn April 19, 2010, a representative of the Western Region PHMSA office was dispatched to the release\nsite mainly to confirm the jurisdictional status of the line. When the investigator asked to see the failed\nsection of pipe, he was shown an approximate four (4) foot long piece of 6-inch pipe that was in the\nback of the OM’s pickup truck. A visual examination of the failed pipe revealed a fish-mouth rupture\nwhich indicated that the pipe had been over pressured. The PHMSA inspector asked the OM about this,\nspecifically, how a gravity line could be over pressured. He said that it would be impossible. He was\nthen asked where the pressure may have come from and the OM explained that there were positive\ndisplacement pumps that pushed the crude from the producer’s LACT units to the Bridger Lake pipeline.\nThe PHMSA investigator immediately started an official investigation into the release.\nPHMSA personnel interviewed two Bridger Lake employees, the field Operations Manager who had\nbeen working at this facility for 30+ years, who was involved in the identification of the April 2, 2010,\nrelease and his supervisor who resides in Louisiana. The production company and the line flyer and the\npipeline contractor who repaired the line were interviewed and supplied pertinent information. All\nPage 4 of 6\n\n<<<PAGE 5>>>\n\nFailure Investigation Report – Bridger Lake LLC Crude Oil Release\n4/2/2010\ndocumentation made available by the Bridger Lake OM and some old documentation found at the\nBridger Lake field office was reviewed during the investigation into this release.\nThe PHMSA investigator retrieved the approximate four (4) foot long pipe section of pipe that included\nthe failed section from the back of the OM’s pickup truck. Pictures were taken to document the pipe\nand some heavy plastic and some oil diapers were acquired. The failed pipe was wrapped in the diapers\nand plastic and taped with duct tape to preserve the failure.\nAn old operation, maintenance and emergency response (O, M & E) manual from the 1999 time frame\nwhen Coastal owned and operated this pipeline was found. The manual states that the line and\nassociated facilities are DOT regulated. From the statements in the manual, it appeared that there used\nto be electronic monitoring equipment that was able to be monitored and controlled from a remote\nlocation. It appears that after Coastal sold this asset, the electronic monitoring and control system was\ndeactivated and the O, M & E manual was left on the shelf.\nThe Bridger Lake line flyer was contacted and the Bridger Lake release was discussed. The pilot\nacknowledged receiving a call from the Bridger Lake OM on Friday, April 2, 2010. The pilot said he flew\nthe line immediately and he saw a bulldozer working near the beginning of the pipeline as well as some\nbrown or dirty snow near Robertson. The pilot said he called the OM on Friday April 2, 2010 and left a\nmessage on his cell phone. On Sunday, April 4, 2010, the pilot reported that he wrote up his line flyer\nreport and faxed it to the OM.\nThe Bridger Lake OM had no records for the repair except a one-page schematic with distances written\non it apparently drawn by Tri-star Constructors as it is signed and dated by one of their workers. PHMSA\ncontacted Tri-Star and talked with the foreman who repaired the pipeline on April 11, 2010, and asked\nfor any documentation of a hydrotest, welder qualifications, welding procedures, if the pipe installed\nwas pre-hydrotested pipe, if they had taken any pictures of the repair site during or after the repair. The\ncontractor was unable to provide any pertinent information except that they confirmed that they had\nperformed the repair.\nPHMSA finds that the root cause of this failure was that there was no mechanical over-pressure\nprotection provided to protect the 6-inch transmission pipeline.\nContributing factors are:\n1. The OM closed the end of line valve and did not open that valve until after a LACT unit came on\nand pumped crude oil into the pipeline.\n2. No procedures for end of month shut down of the LACT units to perform the monthly gauging to\nprevent someone from turning on the LACT units while the end of line valve was shut.\n3. Previous damage to the pipe - the pipeline ruptured at a dent in the pipe near MP 16.5.\n4. The OM did not retrieve his voice mail until Monday morning – this allowed an additional 1473\nBBLs to be pumped onto the ground over the weekend.\nPage 5 of 6\n\n<<<PAGE 6>>>\n\nFailure Investigation Report – Bridger Lake LLC Crude Oil Release\n4/2/2010\nAppendices\nPhotographs\n1st\nNRC Report\nnd\n2\nNRC Report\nProduction Company Letter\nOperator Accident Report\nKiefner Forensic Metallurgical Analysis Report\nPage 6 of 6\n\n<<<PAGE 7>>>\n\nAerial view of the release location. Robertson, WY is just to the left.\nRelease location before repairs.\n\n<<<PAGE 8>>>\n\nBridger Lake Pipeline ROW across BLM land.\nBridger Lake Pipeline ROW in the National Forest.\n\n<<<PAGE 9>>>\n\nBridger Lake remediation site allowed burn off of product.\nThe sign for the town of Robertson, WY.\n\n<<<PAGE 10>>>\n\nBridger Lake failed pipe.\nBridger Lake failed pipe.\n\n<<<PAGE 11>>>\n\nBridger Lake Crude Line Marker not updated since Coastal Owned and Operated the line.\nThe Release site.\n\n<<<PAGE 12>>>\n\nThe end of line scraper receiver and associated valving.\n\n<<<PAGE 13>>>\n\nPage 1 of 2\nNATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER 1-800-424-8802\n*** For Public Use ***\nInformation released to a third party shall comply with any\napplicable federal and/or state Freedom of Information and Privacy Laws\nIncident Report # 936679\nINCIDENT DESCRIPTION\n*Report taken at 14:22 on 10-APR-10\nIncident Type: PIPELINE\nIncident Cause: EQUIPMENT FAILURE\nAffected Area:\nThe incident occurred on 10-APR-10 at 10:30 local time.\nAffected Medium: LAND GROUND\n____________________________________________________________________________\nSUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE PARTY\nOrganization: BRIDGER LAKE LLC\nMOUNTAIN VIEW, WY\nType of Organization: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE\n____________________________________________________________________________\nINCIDENT LOCATION\nMILEPOST 12 County: UINTA\nSTATE HIGHWAY 410\nCity: MOUNTAIN VIEW State: WY\n____________________________________________________________________________\nRELEASED MATERIAL(S)\nCHRIS Code: OIL Official Material Name: OIL: CRUDE\nAlso Known As:\nQty Released: 2000 BARREL(S)\n____________________________________________________________________________\nDESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT\nCALLER STATED THAT THE SPILL OF 2000 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL OCCURRED ON MONDAY APRIL\n5, 2010. THE REPORTING PARTY WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INITIAL SPILL AT APPROXIMATELY\n10:00AM. THERE WAS CORROSION FOUND IN THE LINE. WHILE DOING CLEANUP THERE WAS A\nFIRE THAT OCCURRED. THE IGNITION SOURCE IS UNKNOWN BUT SUSPECTED TO BE A SPARK FROM\nA ROCK STRIKE. THE INCIDENT TIME ON THIS REPORT WAS RECORDED AS THE TIME OF THE\nFIRE. THE REPORTING PARTY WAS MAKING THIS CALL DUE TO THE FIRE DURING CLEAN UP.\n____________________________________________________________________________\nINCIDENT DETAILS\nPipeline Type: GATHERING\nDOT Regulated: NO\nPipeline Above/Below Ground: BELOW\nExposed or Under Water: NO\nPipeline Covered: UNKNOWN\n____________________________________________________________________________\nDAMAGES\nFire Involved: YES Fire Extinguished: YES\nINJURIES: NO Hospitalized: Empl/Crew: Passenger:\nFATALITIES: NO Empl/Crew: Passenger: Occupant:\nEVACUATIONS: NO Who Evacuated: Radius/Area:\nDamages: NO\nLength of Direction of\nClosure Type Description of Closure Closure Closure\nAir: N\nRoad: N Major\nArtery: N\nWaterway: N\nTrack: N\nhttp://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard\nweb+inc\n_\n_\nseq=936679\n4/18/2011\n\n<<<PAGE 14>>>\n\nPage 2 of 2\nPassengers Transferred: NO\nEnvironmental Impact: UNKNOWN\nMedia Interest: NONE Community Impact due to Material:\n____________________________________________________________________________\nREMEDIAL ACTIONS\nPIPELINE LEAK WAS SECURED. PIPELINE SHUT DOWN. BUILT CONTAINMENT DAMS, CLEAN UP\nCREW ON SITE. VAC TRUCKS USED. REMOVING THE IMPACTED SOIL. THE IGNITION SOURCE FOR\nTHE FIRE IS UNKNOWN BUT SUSPECTED TO BE FROM A ROCK STRIKE CREATING A SPARK.\nRelease Secured: YES\nRelease Rate:\nEstimated Release Duration:\n____________________________________________________________________________\nWEATHER\nWeather: PARTLY CLOUDY, ºF\n____________________________________________________________________________\nADDITIONAL AGENCIES NOTIFIED\nFederal: NONE\nState/Local: WY DEQ\nState/Local On Scene: NONE\nState Agency Number: NONE\n____________________________________________________________________________\nNOTIFICATIONS BY NRC\nUSCG ICC (ICC ONI)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nCOLORADO INFO ANALYSIS CENTER (FUSION CENTER)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nDHS PROTECTIVE SECURITY ADVISOR (PSA DESK)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nDOT CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nU.S. EPA VIII (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 15:04\nUSCG NATIONAL COMMAND CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:46\nNE INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nNATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COORD CTR (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nNOAA RPTS FOR WY (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nNATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER HQ (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:46\nPIPELINE & HAZMAT SAFETY ADMIN (OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY (AUTO))\n10-APR-10 14:43\nPACIFIC STRIKE TEAM (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 15:01\nDOI/OEPC DENVER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nWY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRON QUALITY (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nWYOMING CRIMINAL INTEL CENTER (SR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER)\n10-APR-10 14:43\nWYOMING OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY (OPERATIONS DIVISION)\n10-APR-10 14:43\n____________________________________________________________________________\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION\nTHE CALLER CLAIMED THAT THE NRC WAS NOTIFIED ON MONDAY, BUT NO REPORT NUMBER WAS\nAVAILABLE. REPORTING PARTY CALLED BACK PRIOR TO FULL REPORT PROCESSING TO NOTIFY\nUS THAT INITIAL REPORT WAS NOT MADE TO US. ADDITIONAL CONTACT NUMBERS AND\nINFORMATION GATHERED AS A RESULT.\n___________________________________________________________________________\n*** END INCIDENT REPORT # 936679 ***\nhttp://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard\nweb+inc\n_\n_\nseq=936679\n4/18/2011\n\n<<<PAGE 15>>>\n\nPage 1 of 2\nNATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER 1-800-424-8802\n*** For Public Use ***\nInformation released to a third party shall comply with any\napplicable federal and/or state Freedom of Information and Privacy Laws\nIncident Report # 936687\nINCIDENT DESCRIPTION\n*Report taken at 16:45 on 10-APR-10\nIncident Type: PIPELINE\nIncident Cause: EQUIPMENT FAILURE\nAffected Area:\nThe incident was discovered on 05-APR-10 at 10:00 local time.\nAffected Medium: SUBSURFACE GROUND\n____________________________________________________________________________\nSUSPECTED RESPONSIBLE PARTY\nOrganization: BRIDGER LAKE LLC\nMOUNTAIN VIEW, WY\nType of Organization: PRIVATE ENTERPRISE\n____________________________________________________________________________\nINCIDENT LOCATION\nMILEPOST 12 County: UINTA\nSTATE HIGHWAY 410\nCity: MOUNTAIN VIEW State: WY\n____________________________________________________________________________\nRELEASED MATERIAL(S)\nCHRIS Code: OIL Official Material Name: OIL: CRUDE\nAlso Known As:\nQty Released: 2000 BARREL(S)\n____________________________________________________________________________\nDESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT\nCALLER STATED THAT THERE WAS CORROSION IN THE UNDERGROUND PIPELINE WHICH CAUSED A\nDISCHARGE OF 2000 BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL ONTO THE GROUND.\n____________________________________________________________________________\nINCIDENT DETAILS\nPipeline Type: GATHERING\nDOT Regulated: NO\nPipeline Above/Below Ground: BELOW\nExposed or Under Water: NO\nPipeline Covered: UNKNOWN\n____________________________________________________________________________\nDAMAGES\nFire Involved: NO Fire Extinguished: UNKNOWN\nINJURIES: NO Hospitalized: Empl/Crew: Passenger:\nFATALITIES: NO Empl/Crew: Passenger: Occupant:\nEVACUATIONS: NO Who Evacuated: Radius/Area:\nDamages: NO\nLength of Direction of\nClosure Type Description of Closure Closure Closure\nAir: N\nRoad: N\nWaterway: N\nMajor\nArtery:\nN\nTrack: N\nPassengers Transferred: NO\nEnvironmental Impact: UNKNOWN\nMedia Interest: NONE Community Impact due to Material:\n____________________________________________________________________________\nhttp://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard\nweb+inc\n_\n_\nseq=936687\n4/18/2011\n\n<<<PAGE 16>>>\n\nPage 2 of 2\nREMEDIAL ACTIONS\nLEAK SECURED, PIPELINE SHUT DOWN, BUILT CONTAINMENT DAMS, CLEAN UP CREW ONSITE, VAC\nTRUCKS USED, EXCAVATING IMPACTED SOIL.\nRelease Secured: YES\nRelease Rate:\nEstimated Release Duration:\n____________________________________________________________________________\nWEATHER\nWeather: PARTLY CLOUDY, ºF\n____________________________________________________________________________\nADDITIONAL AGENCIES NOTIFIED\nFederal: NONE\nState/Local: WY DEQ\nState/Local On Scene: NONE\nState Agency Number: NONE\n____________________________________________________________________________\nNOTIFICATIONS BY NRC\nUSCG ICC (ICC ONI)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nCOLORADO INFO ANALYSIS CENTER (FUSION CENTER)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nDHS PROTECTIVE SECURITY ADVISOR (PSA DESK)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nDOT CRISIS MANAGEMENT CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nU.S. EPA VIII (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 17:03\nNE INFORMATION ANALYSIS CENTER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nNATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE COORD CTR (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nNOAA RPTS FOR WY (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nPIPELINE & HAZMAT SAFETY ADMIN (OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY (AUTO))\n10-APR-10 16:55\nPACIFIC STRIKE TEAM (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:59\nDOI/OEPC DENVER (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nWY DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRON QUALITY (MAIN OFFICE)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nWYOMING CRIMINAL INTEL CENTER (SR INTELLIGENCE OFFICER)\n10-APR-10 16:55\nWYOMING OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY (OPERATIONS DIVISION)\n10-APR-10 16:55\n____________________________________________________________________________\nADDITIONAL INFORMATION\nCALLER WAS UNDER THE UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS REPORT WAS CALLED IN ON MONDAY. NO\nREPORT HAD BEEN MADE.\n___________________________________________________________________________\n*** END INCIDENT REPORT # 936687 ***\nhttp://www.nrc.uscg.mil/reports/rwservlet?standard\nweb+inc\n_\n_\nseq=936687\n4/18/2011\n\n<<<PAGE 17>>>\n\n05-04-10All:59 RCVD\nApril 30, 2010\nMr. Peter Katchmar\nWestern Region, PHMSA\nAccident Coordinator\nUS Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration Office of Pipeline Safety\n12300 West Dakota Avenue\nLakewood, CO 80228\nRE: Bridger Lake Pipeline LLC\nPipeline Release\nDear Peter:\nWhiting Oil and Gas Corporation is in receipt of your email dated April 27, 2010\nrequesting certain information concerning Whiting Oil and Gas Corporation (Whiting)\noperations in the Mountain View, Wyoming area.\nWhiting became aware that you were interested in our facilities when our field personnel\nfound you and the Bridger Lake Pipeline LLC (Bridger) operator inspecting our\noperations without prior notice. Whiting desires to fully cooperate with you concerning\nthis matter and requests that you notify us of any further inspections. It appears your\nquestions are related to the Bridger release that you indicated was discovered on April 1,\n2010. Whiting was notified on April 6, 2010 by Bridger that a release had occurred on\ntheir pipeline. At that time, all oil deliveries to the Bridger pipeline ceased and oil\ndeliveries were redirected to truck sales.\nWhiting operates several fields that are connected to the Bridger pipeline. The crude oil\nproduced from our fields is sold to Shell at the LACTs located at each production facility.\nAll right, title, and custody is transferred at the respective LACTs to Shell. It is our\nunderstanding that Shell has an agreement with Bridger to transport the crude oil through\nthe Bridger pipeline to the Rocky Mountain Pipeline.\nThe production from each well flows, through flowlines, from the wellhead to a\nproduction facility. At the production facility, production equipment separates the oil,\ngas, and water. The crude oil is then stored in a sales tank. When a sufficient volume is\navailable, the crude oil is sold through a LACT to Shell.\nWhiting Petroleum Corporation\nand its wholly owned subsidiary\nWhiting Oil and Gas Corporation\n1700 Broadway, Suite 2300, Denver, Colorado 80290-2300 Office: 303.837.1661 Fax: 303.861.4023\n\n<<<PAGE 18>>>\n\nThe information you requested is as follows:\n1. Production amounts sold into the Bridger Lake 6\" line from 3/31110 through\n4/6110:\nWhiting sold 1473 BO to Shell, purchaser, during this period. Please note that no\nvolumes were delivered to the Bridger Lake Pipeline LLC on April 1, 2010. The\ndaily volumes sold to Shell are as follows:\nMarch 31, 2010 14 BO\nApril 1, 2010 0 BO\nApril 2, 2010 529 BO\nApril 3, 2010 350 BO\nApril 4, 2010 370 BO\nApril 5, 2010 210 BO\nApril 6, 2010 0 BO\nA schematic of the production area that shows the proximity of the producing\n2. well to the gathering tanks immediately before the sales into the 6\" line. I\nunderstand that Whiting owns the 3\" and 4\" lines from the sales tanks to the\nLuckey Ditch and Whiskey Springs sales points:\nWhiting does own the associated gathering lines from the Luckey Ditch and Whiskey\nSprings sales points to the Bridger pipeline. The Luckey Ditch field has one\nproduction facility and one associated LACT. The crude oil sales are transported to\nthe Bridger pipeline through a 3\" gathering line. The Whiskey Springs field has four\nproduction facilities. Again, crude oil sales to Shell are through the individual\nLACTs at each production facility. Each LACT is connected to a 4\" gathering line\nand transported to the Bridger pipeline.\n3. Does Whiting truck all production from the wellheads to the sales tanks or are\nthe pipelines from some on the wellheads to the sales tanks:\nAs explained above, Whiting does not truck or pipeline directly from the wellhead to\nthe sales tank. Production flows from the wellhead to the production facility. At the\nproduction facility, the production equipment allows for the separation of oil, gas,\nand water. The oil production is then stored in the sales tank prior to sales.\n4. Post release question - Does Whiting truck all production to Bridger Lake's\n25K BBL tank or to some other sales point now:\nCustody transfer (sales) of the crude oil product to Shell occurs at the LACTs which\nare located at the production facilities. As such, Whiting does not have right, title, or\ncustody to the crude oil beyond the LACTs. It is our understanding that Shell, crude\noil purchaser, is presently trucking the crude oil sales to the Bridger Lake Pipeline\nLLC 25000 BBL tank.\n\n<<<PAGE 19>>>\n\nI would hope that the information provided by our personnel cleared up some of the\nmisconceptions that were brought forth. Whiting also requests that we be informed of the\nfull details of this circumstance. If a meeting to define the circumstances would be\nhelpful, we are certainly available and would like to participate.\nShould you require additional information concerning this matter, please contact me at\nthe above address or call 303.390.4222.\nRespectn\n. D'Hoog~ ~\nOper tions Manager - Central Rockies\nCC:\n-I Chris Hoidal\nDirector, Western Region\nU.S. Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\n12300 W. Dakota Avenue, Suite 110\nLakewood, CO 80228\n\n<<<PAGE 20>>>\n\nNOTICE: This report is required by 49 CFR Part 195. Failure to report can result in a civil penalty not to\nexceed $100,000 for each violation for each day that such violation persists except that the maximum civil\npenalty shall not exceed $1,000,000 as provided in 49 USC 60122.\nOMB NO: 2137-0047\nEXPIRATION DATE: 01/31/2013\nReport Date: 05/25/2011\nU.S Department of Transportation\nPipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration\nNo. 20110155 - 15821\n--------------------------\n(DOT Use Only)\nACCIDENT REPORT - HAZARDOUS LIQUID\nPIPELINE SYSTEMS\nA federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply\nwith a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a current valid\nOMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2137-0047. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated\nto be approximately 10 hours per response (5 hours for a small release), including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering the data needed, and\ncompleting and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this\nburden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance\nOfficer, PHMSA, Office of Pipeline Safety (PHP-30) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, D.C. 20590.\nINSTRUCTIONS\nImportant: Please read the separate instructions for completing this form before you begin. They clarify the information requested and provide specific\nexamples. If you do not have a copy of the instructions, you can obtain one from the PHMSA Pipeline Safety Community Web Page at\nhttp://www.phmsa.dot.gov/pipeline.\nPART A - KEY REPORT INFORMATION\nReport Type: (select all that apply) Original: Supplemental: Final:\nYes\nLast Revision Date:\n1. Operator's OPS-issued Operator Identification Number (OPID): 32483\n2. Name of Operator BRIDGER LAKE, LLC\n3. Address of Operator:\n3a. Street Address 800 SPRING STREET, SUITE 205\n3b. City SHREVEPORT\n3c. State Louisiana\n3d. Zip Code 71101\n4. Local time (24-hr clock) and date of the Accident: 04/05/2010 09:10\n5. Location of Accident:\nLatitude: 41.184974\nLongitude: -110.410612\n6. National Response Center Report Number (if applicable): 936679\n7. Local time (24-hr clock) and date of initial telephonic report to the\nNational Response Center (if applicable): 04/10/2010 13:19\n8. Commodity released: (select only one, based on predominant\nvolume released) Crude Oil\n- Specify Commodity Subtype:\n- If \"Other\" Subtype, Describe:\n- If Biofuel/Alternative Fuel and Commodity Subtype is\nEthanol Blend, then % Ethanol Blend:\n%:\n- If Biofuel/Alternative Fuel and Commodity Subtype is\nBiodiesel, then Biodiesel Blend (e.g. B2, B20, B100):\nB\n9. Estimated volume of commodity released unintentionally (Barrels):\n10. Estimated volume of intentional and/or controlled release/blowdown\n(Barrels):\n11. Estimated volume of commodity recovered (Barrels):\n12. Were there fatalities? No\n- If Yes, specify the number in each category:\n12a. Operator employees\n12b. Contractor employees working for the Operator\n12c. Non-Operator emergency responders\n12d. Workers working on the right-of-way, but NOT\nassociated with this Operator\n12e. General public\n12f. Total fatalities (sum of above)\n13. Were there injuries requiring inpatient hospitalization? No\n- If Yes, specify the number in each category:\n13a. Operator employees\n13b. Contractor employees working for the Operator\n13c. Non-Operator emergency responders\n13d. Workers working on the right-of-way, but NOT\nPage 1 of 14\n\n<<<PAGE 21>>>\n\nassociated with this Operator\n13e. General public\n13f. Total injuries (sum of above)\n14. Was the pipeline/facility shut down due to the Accident? Yes\n- If No, Explain:\n- If Yes, complete Questions 14a and 14b: (use local time, 24-hr clock)\n14a. Local time and date of shutdown: 04/05/2010 09:10\n14b. Local time pipeline/facility restarted:\n- Still shut down? (* Supplemental Report Required) Yes\n15. Did the commodity ignite? Yes\n16. Did the commodity explode? No\n17. Number of general public evacuated: 0\n18. Time sequence (use local time, 24-hour clock):\n18a. Local time Operator identified Accident: 04/05/2010 09:10\n18b. Local time Operator resources arrived on site: 04/06/2010 08:00\nPART B - ADDITIONAL LOCATION INFORMATION\n1. Was the origin of Accident onshore? Yes\nIf Yes, Complete Questions (2-12)\nIf No, Complete Questions (13-15)\n- If Onshore:\n2. State: Wyoming\n3. Zip Code: 82994\n4. City Robertson\n5. County or Parish Uinta\n6. Operator-designated location: Milepost/Valve Station\nSpecify:\n7. Pipeline/Facility name: Bridger Lake\n8. Segment name/ID: Mile Post 17\n9. Was Accident on Federal land, other than the Outer Continental Shelf\n(OCS)? No\n10. Location of Accident: Originated on Operator-controlled property, but then flowed\nor migrated off the property\n11. Area of Accident (as found): Underground\nSpecify: Under soil\n- If Other, Describe:\nDepth-of-Cover (in):\n12. Did Accident occur in a crossing? No\n- If Yes, specify below:\n- If Bridge crossing –\nCased/ Uncased:\n- If Railroad crossing –\nCased/ Uncased/ Bored/drilled\n- If Road crossing –\nCased/ Uncased/ Bored/drilled\n- If Water crossing –\nCased/ Uncased\n- Name of body of water, if commonly known:\n- Approx. water depth (ft) at the point of the Accident:\n- Select:\n- If Offshore:\n13. Approximate water depth (ft) at the point of the Accident:\n14. Origin of Accident:\n- In State waters - Specify:\n- State:\n- Area:\n- Block/Tract #:\n- Nearest County/Parish:\n- On the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) - Specify:\n- Area:\n- Block #:\n15. Area of Accident:\nPART C - ADDITIONAL FACILITY INFORMATION\n1. Is the pipeline or facility: Intrastate\n2. Part of system involved in Accident: Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites\n- If Onshore Breakout Tank or Storage Vessel, Including Attached\nAppurtenances, specify:\n3. Item involved in Accident: Pipe\nPage 2 of 14\n\n<<<PAGE 22>>>\n\n- If Pipe, specify: Pipe Body\n3a. Nominal diameter of pipe (in): 6.58\n3b. Wall thickness (in): .156\n3c. SMYS (Specified Minimum Yield Strength) of pipe (psi): 62,500\n3d. Pipe specification: Grade B line pipe\n3e. Pipe Seam , specify: Longitudinal ERW - Unknown Frequency\n- If Other, Describe:\n3f. Pipe manufacturer:\n3g. Year of manufacture: 1968\n3h. Pipeline coating type at point of Accident, specify: Other\n- If Other, Describe: Polyken 909\n- If Weld, including heat-affected zone, specify:\n- If Other, Describe:\n- If Valve, specify:\n- If Mainline, specify:\n- If Other, Describe:\n3i. Manufactured by:\n3j. Year of manufacture:\n- If Tank/Vessel, specify:\n- If Other - Describe:\n- If Other, describe:\n4. Year item involved in Accident was installed: 1968\n5. Material involved in Accident: Carbon Steel\n- If Material other than Carbon Steel, specify:\n6. Type of Accident Involved: Rupture\n- If Mechanical Puncture – Specify Approx. size:\nin. (axial) by\nin. (circumferential)\n- If Leak - Select Type:\n- If Other, Describe:\n- If Rupture - Select Orientation: Longitudinal\n- If Other, Describe:\nApprox. size: in. (widest opening) by 3\nin. (length circumferentially or axially) 12\n- If Other – Describe:\nPART D - ADDITIONAL CONSEQUENCE INFORMATION\n1. Wildlife impact: No\n1a. If Yes, specify all that apply:\n- Fish/aquatic\n- Birds\n- Terrestrial\n2. Soil contamination: Yes\n3. Long term impact assessment performed or planned: Yes\n4. Anticipated remediation: Yes\n4a. If Yes, specify all that apply:\n- Surface water\n- Groundwater Yes\n- Soil Yes\n- Vegetation\n- Wildlife\n5. Water contamination: No\n5a. If Yes, specify all that apply:\n- Ocean/Seawater\n- Surface\n- Groundwater\n- Drinking water: (Select one or both)\n- Private Well\n- Public Water Intake\n5b. Estimated amount released in or reaching water (Barrels):\n5c. Name of body of water, if commonly known:\n6. At the location of this Accident, had the pipeline segment or facility\nbeen identified as one that \"could affect\" a High Consequence Area\n(HCA) as determined in the Operator's Integrity Management Program?\nNo\n7. Did the released commodity reach or occur in one or more High\nConsequence Area (HCA)? No\n7a. If Yes, specify HCA type(s): (Select all that apply)\n- Commercially Navigable Waterway:\nWas this HCA identified in the \"could affect\"\nPage 3 of 14\n\n<<<PAGE 23>>>\n\ndetermination for this Accident site in the Operator's\nIntegrity Management Program?\n- High Population Area:\nWas this HCA identified in the \"could affect\"\ndetermination for this Accident site in the Operator's\nIntegrity Management Program?\n- Other Populated Area\nWas this HCA identified in the \"could affect\"\ndetermination for this Accident site in the Operator's\nIntegrity Management Program?\n- Unusually Sensitive Area (USA) - Drinking Water\nWas this HCA identified in the \"could affect\"\ndetermination for this Accident site in the Operator's\nIntegrity Management Program?\n- Unusually Sensitive Area (USA) - Ecological\nWas this HCA identified in the \"could affect\"\ndetermination for this Accident site in the Operator's\nIntegrity Management Program?\n8. Estimated cost to Operator :\n8a. Estimated cost of public and non-Operator private\nproperty damage paid/reimbursed by the Operator $ 0\n8b. Estimated cost of commodity lost $ 0\n8c. Estimated cost of Operator's property damage & repairs $ 0\n8d. Estimated cost of Operator's emergency response $ 0\n8e. Estimated cost of Operator's environmental remediation $ 0\n8f. Estimated other costs $ 4,000,000\nDescribe: Amount to date. Accouting doesn't differentiate between\nremd. and emerg. resp\n8g. Estimated total costs (sum of above","truncated":true,"body_characters":65150}