| Case Name |
Alcohol leakage from underground piping |
| Pictograph |
|
| Date |
December 2, 1991 |
| Place |
Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, Japan |
| Location |
Brewing factory |
| Overview |
In 1991, leakage of ethanol from an opening in underground piping into the sea was noticed at a fermentation factory in Hiroshima prefecture. The leakage had continued for a long time and was noticed because the volume increased on December 2nd, 1991. The opening was generated due to corrosion in the piping, which was attached to tank facilities constructed in February, 1969. The leakage was not noticed for a long time because ethanol is water soluble. |
| Incident |
Leakage of ethanol from underground piping after long-term use. |
| Processing |
Storage |
| Individual Process |
Transfer |
| Substance |
Ethanol, Fig3 |
| Type of Accident |
Leakage |
| Sequence |
Ethanol leaked from a crack at underground piping of an outdoor storage tank into the sea. The leakage might have started a long time ago and was noticed because the volume increased on December 2nd, 1991. The piping was attached to tank facilities constructed 23 years before, i.e., February, 1969. |
| Cause |
Piping had openings due to corrosion. The leakage was not found for a long time because ethanol is water soluble. |
| Countermeasures |
The piping was replaced with stainless piping, and it was contained in a pit |
| Knowledge Comment |
1. It is very difficult to find leakage from underground piping. The leakage can permeate into the groundwater and sometimes is found at a site away from the piping. Periodic inspections are essential.
2. Water soluble substances such as ethanol, are difficult to be detected when they infiltrate into groundwater. Where there is piping for a water soluble substance, special care for unusual smells is advisable. |
| Background |
Corrosion of piping was the cause of the leakage.
If anti-corrosive protection is appropriately applied, external corrosion can be effectively prevented even with underground piping. It is possible that the corrosion was caused from inside the pipe by ethanol. It cannot be said which is the case, but this accident resulted from inadequate management of the piping. |
| Incidental Discussion |
Underground piping is difficult to manage. It should be installed in a trench or in a tunnel which makes management much easier. |
| Reason for Adding to DB |
Difficulty in managing of buried piping |
| Scenario |
| Primary Scenario
|
Poor Value Perception, Poor Safety Awareness, Lack of Safety Measure, Organizational Problems, Poor Management, Slackness of Management, Usage, Maintenance/Repair, No inspection, Failure, Abrasion, Corrosion, Secondary Damage, External Damage, Leakage
|
|
| Sources |
Fire and Disaster Management Agency. Major cases of accidents. Alcohol leakage from underground piping. Accident Cases of dangerous materials. pp.32, 500-501.
|
| Physical Damage |
Ethanol, underground piping. |
| Financial Cost |
¥20 million. (Accident cases of dangerous materials) |
| Multimedia Files |
Fig2.Map of corrosion place
|
|
Fig3.Chemical formula
|
| Field |
Chemicals and Plants
|
| Author |
YOSHINAGA, Jun (Graduate School of New Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo)
TAMURA, Masamitsu (Center for Risk Management and Safety Sciences, Yokohama National University)
|
