NTSB Safety Recommendation P-04-005

NTSB safety recommendation P-04-005.

TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS: Amend ASME B31.4, Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids, section 434.4, to require the use of the American Petroleum Institute’s recommended practice RP 5LW for marine transport of pipe.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 2004-07-01

Adopted Date: 2004-06-23

Overall Date Closed: 2007-05-08

Synopsis: About 2:12 a.m., central daylight time, on July 4, 2002, an Enbridge 34-inch-diameter steel pipeline ruptured in a marsh west of Cohasset, Minnesota. Approximately 6,000 barrels (252,000 gallons) of crude oil were released from the pipeline as a result of the rupture. No deaths or injuries resulted from the release. The cost of the accident was approximately $5.6 million, which includes the cost of cleanup and recovery, value of lost product, and damage to the property of the pipeline operator and others. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the July 4, 2002, pipeline rupture near Cohasset, Minnesota, was inadequate loading of the pipe for transportation that allowed a fatigue crack to initiate along the seam of the longitudinal weld during transit. After the pipe was installed, the fatigue crack grew with pressure cycle stresses until the crack reached a critical size and the pipe ruptured.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the July 4, 2002, pipeline rupture near Cohasset, Minnesota, was inadequate loading of the pipe for transportation that allowed a fatigue crack to initiate along the seam of the longitudinal weld during transit. After the pipe was installed, the fatigue crack grew with pressure cycle stresses until the crack reached a critical size and the pipe ruptured.

Ntsbnumber: DCA02MP002

Report Number: PAR-04-01

Addressee Name: American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2007-05-08

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-09-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 9/9/2004 9:47:58 AM MC# 2040551 ASME B31.4 committee on Pipeline Transportation Systems for Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids and the B31.8 committee on Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems will be reviewing the recommendations under tracking number 04-00956 and 04-00884, respectively at the September 20-24, 2004 meetings.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2007-05-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 6/7/2007 10:27:49 AM MC# 2070259: ASME approved B31.4/11 Committee item 04-956, and published the revisions in the 2006 edition of the B3 1.4 Code Section. The B3 1.8 Committee is currently reviewing recommendation P-04-4 under item 04-884. As an update, at the September 2006 meeting, it was noted that Section 816 of the B31.8 Code already requires all transportation using railroad, inland water or marine to be done in accordance with API RP 5L1 or API RP 5LW (and has since 1999; however, it was mandatory only for pipe ratios of over 70). Any pipe transported since 2003 under B31.8 requirements must be done under API RP 5L1 or API RP 5LW (same as B31.4 now requires). The testing in Section 816 is for pipe that had already been transported (i.e., existing pipe in inventory) and under previous editions of the B31.8 Code for which it cannot be established that either of those two API documents were used. The testing provides an additional measure of safety for this pipe. The testing is not done in lieu of transportation under the API documents. It was felt that it was not in the interest of safety to remove this additional provision as recommended. If the action of adding API RP 5LW in B31.4 is an acceptable response to the National Transportation Safety Board recommendation then the current Code language in B31.8 should be acceptable. This item will be further discussed at the June 2007 B3 1.8 meeting.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2007-10-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: On May 8, 2007, Safety Recommendation P-04-5 was classified Closed Acceptable Action, because ASME had amended Section 434.4 of the B31.4 standard to require the use of the American Petroleum Institute’s (API’s) recommended practice RP 5LW for marine transport of pipe. The Safety Board understands that in September 2006, the B31.8 Committee on Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems reviewed Safety Recommendation P044 (under tracking number 04?00884) and reported that since 1999, Section 816 of the B31.8 Code requires all transportation using railroad, inland waters, or marine waters to be carried out in accordance with API RP 5L1 or API RP 5LW. The Safety Board notes that since 1999, under the B31.8 requirements, pipe must be transported under API RP 5L1 or API RP 5LW, just as the revised B31.4 standard requires. The Board also notes that this item was on the agenda to be discussed further at the June 2007 B31.8 Committee meeting

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2007-05-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Mr. Moino’s letter described action responsive to Safety Recommendation P-04-5, but not P-04-4. The Safety Board is pleased that section 434.4 of the B31.4 standard has been revised to require the use of the American Petroleum Institute’s recommended practice RP 5LW for marine transport of pipe. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-04-5 is classified Closed Acceptable Action. The Safety Board notes that the B31.8 committee on Gas Transmission and Distribution Systems reviewed Safety Recommendation P-04-4 (under tracking number 04?00884) at a September 2004 meeting. The Safety Board would appreciate receiving information on the status of this initiative, specifically the amendment of Section 816 of the B31.8 standard to remove the provision that pressure testing may be used to verify the integrity of pipe that may not have been transported in accordance with the American Petroleum Institute’s recommended practices for transportation of pipe by railroad or marine vessels. Pending receipt of this information, Safety Recommendation P-04-4 remains classified “Open—Acceptable Response.” Safety Recommendation P-04-14 was issued to ASME on November 4, 2004, as a result of the Safety Board’s investigation of the April 7, 2003, petroleum storage tank explosion and fire at the ConocoPhilips tank farm near Glenpool, Oklahoma.

Addressee Acronym: ASME

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2004-12-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board appreciates receiving the update on ASME's actions to address these recommendations. We note that ASME B31.4 committee on Pipeline Transportation Systems for Liquid Hydrocarbons and Other Liquids and ASME B31.8 committee on Gas Transmission and Distribution Piping Systems reviewed the recommendations at the September 20-24, 2004, meetings. Accordingly, Safety Recommendations P-04-4 and -5 are classified "Open--Acceptable Response." The Safety Board would appreciate receiving periodic updates on the status of action on these issues.