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    Cheryl Anderson

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Pacific Region

Spills ≥ 50 Barrels (2,100 gallons)  – 1996

May 1, 1996 - Exxon Corporation

Pollution: 150 bbl Crude Oil/ Condensate: 150 bbl Crude Oil
Refined Petroleum: None Synthetic Oil Fluids*: None
Chemicals: None Events: Pollution & Fire
MMS Investigation Report: Completed Activity: Development/Production
Lease: P00182 Operation: Pipeline
Area: 6A - Santa Barbara Channel Cause: Equipment Failure, Human Error
Block: 5277 Distance to Shore: 8 Miles
Platform: Heritage           Santa Ynez Water Depth: 1,075 Feet

Remarks: The drain valves on the pig launcher were left open, possibly since the last pigging operation in March. On May 1, Platform Harmony had a shutdown due to a faulty circuit board on the fire & gas system. Heritage personnel decided to test the shutdown valves (SDVs) and pressure operated valves (POVs) on the pipeline while the platform was shut in. The operator noticed a leak on the stem of a POV, he closed the valve and turned the air off. It appears that air leaked past the controller and reopened the valve. The emulsion from the pipeline flowed through the POV into the pig launcher, and through the drain valves which are normally closed according to Exxon operational procedures. This allowed emulsion to flow and overfill the closed drain sump and flare scrubber, and out through the flare boom. Emulsion was noticed coming out of the flare, catching on fire and going into the ocean. Also, the oil emulsion flowed back onto the flare boom and caught on fire. To prevent recurrence, the POV was replaced with a fail safe close valve and the pig launcher drains that had been left open before the incident have been sealed in the closed position.

NRC Report: 339282