1.1.1 Incident Category
Oil Pollution Act Discharge Assessment/Response

1.1.2 Site Description

On April 19, 2016, a spill of crude oil from the J.S. Bean “A” Facility (API 40185550), located in Rusk County, TX, was reported by Breitburn Operating L.P. (RP). Approximately 25 barrels (bbl) of crude oil was reported to the National Response Center (NRC) by the RP, with 10 bbl entering an unnamed tributary, flowing into Turkey Creek.  A gas valve on the heater treater was closed shut (RP suspects vandalism), which forced fluid into a gas vent line. A corroded spot in the vent line allowed a spill of approximately 25 bbl crude oil onto the ground outside containment.

1.1.2.1 Location

The Site is located south of Kilgore, TX in Rusk County, at 32.35401°, -94.89108°, in the Cotton Valley Formation Natural Gas Field. An active oil/gas production facility, J.S. Bean “A” (API No. 40185550), is located at the site.  Approximately 3.5 miles of Turkey Creek was impacted.  Impacted stretches of the Creek ran through residential areas of Kilgore TX.

1.1.2.2 Description of Threat

Approximately 25 barrels (bbl) of crude oil was discharged from the vent line, with 10 bbl entering an unnamed tributary; thence Turkey Creek.  Crude oil impacted soil, vegetation, and water between the spill origin and an underflow dam, located at 32.36272°, -94.88089°, which was constructed by the RP’s oil spill response contractor Apache Oilfield Services, Inc. (Apache).  As a result of heavy rains the first night, Turkey Creek rose and breached the underflow dam.  Approximately, 6-8 barrels were recovered before the loss of the underflow dam.  Hard booms and sorbent booms were placed by Apache approximately two miles downstream of the underflow dam breach to create a new containment point, located at 32.39285, -94.84812.  Turkey Creek flows to Rabbit Creek; thence to the Sabine River, which meet the definition of “navigable waters” of the United States (US) as defined in Section 502(7) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Action (FWPCA). 

1.1.3 Preliminary Removal Assessment/Removal Site Inspection Results

Upon discovery of the oil spill on April 19, 2016, the RP hired a local oil spill response contractor, Apache Oilfield Services, Inc. to initiate containment and removal actions.  An underflow dam was constructed within Turkey Creek, at approximately 32.36272°, -94.88089°.  Oil was contained and recovery efforts the first day resulted in approximately 6 bbls or crude oil recovered.  TX Railroad Commission responded to reports of the discharge and monitored the clean-up. 

As a result of heavy rains the night of April 19 and the morning of April 20, 2016, the underflow dam was breached.  Response contractors were on site at the time and traveled downstream to get in front of the oil.  Hard booms and sorbent booms were placed approximately two miles downstream of the underflow dam breach to create a new containment point, located at 32.39285, -94.84812.  Due to the impacted segments of Creek flowing through residential areas of Kilgore, EPA mobilized its Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contractor to the incident to observe the oil spill response activities and assess the actual or potential threat of the oil discharge. 

START arrived in Kilgore, TX at approximately 1350 on April 21, 2016, and met with representatives of the RP and Terry Howard, Manager for the Kilgore City Water Treatment.  During the assessment of the tank battery (spill site), no oil was observed actively leaking and no visible oil was observed on the ground. Contractors had already excavated visible impacted soil.  An assessment of the spill pathway from the spill origin to the location of the underflow dam was conducted.  No visible oil was observed on the soil and no free oil was observed in the creek.  Spill response personnel were removing the remaining oil impacted debris and coordinating efforts to remove the remaining underflow dam.

At the final downstream containment area, two sets of hard booms, with sorbent booms, and absorbent peat moss were deployed to contain and recover remaining oil and emulsion.  Spill response personnel were onsite removing remaining oil impacted debris. Although, no impact to wildlife was observed, EPA contacted Texas Parks and Wildlife and US DOI, to make them aware of possible natural resource damages. 

Breitburn Operating, L.P. (Operator 090732) as the operator of the J.S. Bean “A” Facility (API 40185550), and is the responsible party of this incident.  A Notice of Federal Interest (NOFI) was sent to the RP on April 21, 2016.

2.1.4 Progress Metrics

As of 25 April 2016, approximately 6 bbl of crude oil and approximately 6 cubic yards (yd3) of oil impacted debris had been recovered from Turkey Creek. The recovered crude oil is scheduled to be recycled at a local facility, and the oil impacted debris will be transported and disposed at the Republic Service Landfill in Itasca, TX. 

The RP will continue to contain and actively recover the remaining oil from Turkey Creek.  EPA will monitor efforts to ensure that oil recovery efforts are completed.

2.2.1.1 Planned Response Activities
RP will continue maintenance efforts for residual oil recovery and debris removal.

2.2.1.2 Next Steps

2.2.2 Issues

None known.

3.1 Unified Command

3.2 Cooperating Agencies

Railroad Commission of Texas

Texas Parks & Wildlife

6.1 Internet location of additional information/report

 www.epaosc.org/BreitburnOperatingSpill

6.2 Reporting Schedule