NTSB Safety Recommendation P-72-018

NTSB safety recommendation P-72-018.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: CONTINUE WITH THE EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN COOPERATION WITH OTHER QUALIFIED PIPELINE GROUPS IN TESTING AND DEVELOPING A TOOL TO DETECT LONGITUDINAL WELD DEFECTS AND THIN WALL PIPE CAUSED BY CORROSION. BASED ON THE FINDINGS, THE METHODS OF OPERATION SHOULD BE INCORPORATED IN THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY STANDARDS, AS AN ADDITIONAL TOOL FOR THE DETECTION OF IN-PLACE LINE PIPE FLAWS, BUT NOT AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR HYDROSTATIC TESTING.

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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: WE INITIATED THE TESTING AND DEVELOPMENT OF AN INSPECTION TOOL TO DETECT LONGITUDINAL WELD DEFECTS AND THIN WALL PIPE CAUSED BY CORROSION. WE ARE CONTINUING TO WORK WITH A QUALIFIED MANUFACTURER TO DEVELOP ADDITIONAL EXPERTISE IN THIS AREA BASED ON ACTUAL OPERATING EXPERIENCE DURING THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.