NTSB Safety Recommendation P-71-003

NTSB safety recommendation P-71-003.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO DETERMINE WHETHER THERE IS A HAZARD WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(B) OF THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1968.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1971-03-15

Adopted Date: 1971-02-18

Overall Date Closed: 1978-09-28

Synopsis: A 16-INCH PIPELINE OPERATING AT A PRESSURE OF 378 P.S.I.G. RUPTURED, CAUSING A CRATER 30 FEET LONG, 10 FEET WIDE, AND 25 FEET DEEP. AN EARTHQUAKE-LIKE RUMBLE WAS HEARD AND FELT BY RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. ABOUT 10 MINUTES AFTER THE INITIAL RUPTURE, THE ESCAPING GAS IGNITED ALONG THE GROUND, AND FLASHED BACK TO THE BREAK, RESULTING IN A FIRE 100 FEET HIGH WHICH WAS VISIBLE 10 MILES AWAY. THE FIRE BURNED FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES, DIED DOWN, AND WENT OUT AS THE VALVES ONE-HALF MILE NORTH AND 5 MILES SOUTH OF THE RUPTURE WERE MANUALLY TURNED OFF BY THE WORKMEN OF THE EQUITABLE GAS COMPANY. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES OR INJURIES.

Ntsbnumber: DCA71XX001

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-09-28

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1971-04-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM DOT: IT IS THE OPINION OF THE W. VA. PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION THAT EQUITABLE IS TAKING ADEQUATE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THE AREA RESIDENTS AND GENERAL PUBLIC. WE ARE AWAITING THE METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS; WHEN THE TYPE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN MORE DEFINITELY ESTABLISHED, IF THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INDICATES A SITUATION WARRANTING FURTHER ACTION, WE WILL GIVE IT IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. 7/7/78 - MTB LETTER: OPSO REQUESTED EQUITABLE TO REVIEW THE SITUATION AT THE PIPELINE. THIS REVIEW SHOWED THAT EQUITABLE HAD: 1. X-RAYED THE WELDS, 2. TESTED THE LINE HYDROSTATICALLY AT 1,793 P.S.I. MAXIMUM AND 1,501 P.S.I. MINIMUM. THE TESTED SECTION WAS 11.16 MILES IN LENGTH. THE LINE IS KEPT UNDER CLOSE SURVEILLANCE BECAUSE OF THE SUBSIDENCE PROBLEM. IN OPINION OF MTB, ADEQUATE EVIDENCE DOES NOT EXIST TO MAKE A FINDING THAT A HAZARD EXISTS WITHIN THE MEANING OF SECTION 3(B) OF THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT OF 1968. THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION OF ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS ON THIS PARTICULAR PIPELINE.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1978-08-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence