While conducting an early-morning patrol, the firefighters of a refinery noticed a hydrocarbon leak in the flare-stack area at 6:30 a.m. The leak was coming from an HDPE pipe connected to the exhaust line of a mobile pump used to transfer oil from the refinery’s storm water detention basin. The hydrocarbons were leaking out over a concrete-paved area, then downstream of the refinery’s main outlet via a storm water manhole and into Cohé Bay.

The mobile pump was turned off and isolated. The water treatment facility was also isolated. A specialist company pumped up the few hundred litres that had been blocked by a permanent containment boom, then cleaned the rockfill and bank with water. The inspection authorities were informed. Water samples were collected for two days in order to measure the hydrocarbon concentrations.

The operator analysed the accident’s causes. Following significant fouling of a connection pipe leading to a tank and the poor performance of the stationary pumps, a temporary connection linking the mobile pump and HDPE pipe (not designed for conveying hazardous materials) had been put in place. The pipe, which had been run along the shortest route, crossed over a bundle of process pipes that included a steam tracing line. This tracing line had been left uninsulated following work performed in October 2013. It fell off its support and onto the HDPE pipe, partially severing it due to the heat and flow of hydrocarbons. The operator noted that the change management procedure was not followed, that management of degraded situations and acceptance of work were inadequate. It plans to connect the mobile pump to the original carbon-steel pipe, distribute the analysis of the incident to all its employees, remind all employees about the rules, make an inventory of similar systems, and raise its employees’ awareness about the importance of safety measures.