NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-012

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-012.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: MAINTAIN AS A MAXIMUM, THE REDUCED PUMPING PRESSURES RECOMMENDED BY THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD'S SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-71-6 ISSUED APRIL 27, 1971, WHICH LIMITS TO 900 P.S.I.G. THE MAXIMUM DISCHARGE PRESSURES AT EACH OF THE PUMP STATIONS BETWEEN BORGER AND EAST ST. LOUIS, AS WELL AS PHILLIP'S OWN PRESSURE LIMITATION OF 900 P.S.I.G. ON THE FOUR PUMP STATIONS IN THE AFFECTED AREA; SYRACUSE, JEFFERSON CITY, ROSEBUD, AND VILLA RIDGE. A 24-HOUR HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE TEST EQUAL TO 125 PERCENT OF THE MAXIMUM ANTICIPATED PRESSURE AS SPECIFIED IN THE CFR TITLE 49 PART 195 WOULD BE REQUIRED BEFORE THIS LINE PRESSURE COULD BE AGAIN INCREASED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1972-03-01

Adopted Date: 1972-03-01

Overall Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 9, 1970, A RUPTURE OCCURRED IN THE PHILLIPS PIPELINE COMPANY SYSTEM IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, MISSOURI WHICH RELEASED 4,538 BARRELS OF PROPANE. AN EXPLOSION, EQUIVALENT TO 100,000 POUNDS OF TNT, AND A FIRE RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE WITHIN A 2 MILE RADIUS. NO FATALITIES OCCURRED, BUT TEN PERSONS SUSTAINED INJURIES.

Ntsbnumber: PLD71XR001

Report Number: PAR-72-01

Addressee Name: Phillips Petroleum Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1975-12-30

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1973-02-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM PHILLIPS: THE A LINE, CONTAINING REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION 8" ERW PIPE, BETWEEN BORGER, TEXAS AND PAOLA, KANSAS, HAS BEEN HYDROSTATICALLY TESTED FOR 24 HOURS AT 125% OF THE MAXIMUM ANTICIPATED WORKING PRESSURE. THIS PORTION OF THE "A" LINE IS NOW OPERATING AT MAXIMUM STATION DISCHARGE PRESSURES OF 1080 PSIG. THE "A" LINE BETWEEN PAOLA AND EAST ST. LOUIS HAS BEEN OR IS BEING REPLACED WITH NEW PIPE. IN THOSE SECTIONS WHERE THE LINE HAS BEEN REPLACED WE ARE OPERATING AT MAXIMUM STATION DISCHARGE PRESSURES OF 900 PSIG. WE ANTICIPATE HAVING ALL SECTIONS OF THE "A" LINE BETWEEN PAOLA AND EAST ST. LOUIS REPLACED AND IN OPERATION BY MARCH 1, 1973, AT WHICH TIME WE WILL BE OPERATING AT A MAXIMUM STATION DISCHARGE PRESSURE OF 1080 PSIG AT ALL STATIONS BETWEEN BORGER AND EAST ST. LOUIS. PRIOR TO THE ABOVE TESTING AND REPLACEMENT WE OPERATED ALL 8" REPUBLIC ERW PIPE AT A MAXIMUM STATION DISCHARGE PRESSURE OF 900 PSIG, AS INDICATED IN OUR LETTER DATED APRIL 24, 1972 TO THE BOARD.