# NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-036

**Citation:** P-73-036  
**Type / status:** guidance / guidance  
**Agency:** National Transportation Safety Board  
**Effective:** 1973-08-10  
**Published:** 1973-08-10

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE EXXON PIPE LINE COMPANY: NOT OPERATE OR CLOSE IN THE COMYN TO SATSUMA SYSTEM FROM HEARNE TO SATSUMA AT A PRESSURE GREATER THAN 400 P.S.I.G., UNTIL AT LEAST THIS SECTION OF LINE HAS BEEN HYDROSTATICALLY TESTED SUCCESSFULLY AND FOUND TO BE SAFE FOR HIGHER OPERATING PRESSURES.

## Document text

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-036.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE EXXON PIPE LINE COMPANY: NOT OPERATE OR CLOSE IN THE COMYN TO SATSUMA SYSTEM FROM HEARNE TO SATSUMA AT A PRESSURE GREATER THAN 400 P.S.I.G., UNTIL AT LEAST THIS SECTION OF LINE HAS BEEN HYDROSTATICALLY TESTED SUCCESSFULLY AND FOUND TO BE SAFE FOR HIGHER OPERATING PRESSURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-08-10

Adopted Date: 1973-08-01

Overall Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Synopsis: ON MAY 14, 1972, A SHUTDOWN, CLOSED-IN 8-INCH PIPELINE OWNED BY THE EXXON PIPE LINE COMPANY RUPTURED NEAR HEARNE, TEXAS. THE CRUDE OIL FLOWED ALONG A SMALL STREAM AND WAS DAMMED UP 1 FOOT DEEP IN A STOCK POND 1,800 FEET FROM THE LEAK. VAPORS FROM THE CRUDE OIL, WHICH CONTINUED TO LEAK FROM THE RUPTURE, ENTERED A HOUSE AND WERE IGNITED. THE EXPLOSION KILLED ONE PERSON, SERIOUSLY BURNED TWO OTHERS, DESTROYED THE HOUSE, MELTED NEARBY COMMUNICATION LINES, AND SCORCHED AN 1,800-FOOT-LONG AREA.

Ntsbnumber: PLD72XR003

Report Number: PAR-73-02

Addressee Name: ExxonMobil Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1973-12-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM EXXON PIPE LINE COMPANY: THE SPECIFIC PIPELINE SECTION THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE, NO. 6-8 INCH BETWEEN HEARNE AND CLAY GATE PLANT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT THE POINT OF FAILURE, INSPECTED BY A LINALOG SURVEY, FILLED WITH DRY NITROGEN AND REMOVED FROM SERVICE. AT PRESENT WE HAVE NO PLANS TO RETURN THE LINE TO SERVICE.

## Provenance

- Official: Yes
- Source: <https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-73-036>
- Source ID: `ntsb-pipeline`
- SHA-256: `a8eb5ca10c8bbea2f7d15743fe8ff034ab7a06d8248d052f7f14213495c450ea`
- Retrieved: 2026-08-20T04:57:24.741Z
- Exported: 2026-08-23T01:40:51.861Z
- Document slug: `ntsb-recommendation-p-73-036`

### Source metadata

```json
{
  "recordKind": "ntsb_safety_recommendation",
  "safetyRecommendationNumber": "P-73-036",
  "recommendationMode": "Pipeline",
  "topicMode": "Pipeline",
  "ntsbNumber": "PLD72XR003",
  "priority": "CLASS II",
  "overallStatus": "Closed - Acceptable Action",
  "overallStatusAcronym": "CAA",
  "overallDateClosed": "1976-07-20",
  "lastModifiedDate": "2016-11-15",
  "reportNumber": "PAR-73-02",
  "reportUrl": "https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/Pages/PLD72XR003.aspx",
  "transmittalLetterUrl": "http://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-recs/recletters/P73_29_36.pdf",
  "addressees": [
    {
      "addresseeName": "ExxonMobil Corporation",
      "addresseeStatusAcronym": "CNLA",
      "addresseeStatus": "Closed--No Longer Applicable",
      "addresseeDateClosed": "1976-07-20",
      "addresseeDetails": [
        {
          "addresseeAcronym": null,
          "addresseeOrganizationType": "P-Private Industry",
          "isFromNtsb": false,
          "communicationDate": "1973-12-20",
          "communicationType": "Official Correspondence",
          "communicationContents": "LETTER FROM EXXON PIPE LINE COMPANY: THE SPECIFIC PIPELINE SECTION THAT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE, NO. 6-8 INCH BETWEEN HEARNE AND CLAY GATE PLANT HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT THE POINT OF FAILURE, INSPECTED BY A LINALOG SURVEY, FILLED WITH DRY NITROGEN AND REMOVED FROM SERVICE. AT PRESENT WE HAVE NO PLANS TO RETURN THE LINE TO SERVICE."
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "jurisdiction": "US"
}
```