NTSB Safety Recommendation P-73-054

NTSB safety recommendation P-73-054.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: MAKE COMPREHENSIVE SOIL TESTS ALONG THIS ENTIRE PIPELINE RIGHT-OF-WAY PARTICULARLY IN AREAS WHERE PIPELINE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED. AS A RESULT OF THESE TESTS, PHILLIPS SHOULD CHECK THE PIPE IN AREAS OF SEVERE SOIL SWELL POTENTIAL AND SHOULD REPLACE, ANCHOR, OR PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SLACK FOR PIPE THROUGH THE AREA.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1973-11-13

Adopted Date: 1973-11-07

Overall Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 22, 1973, NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS LEAKED FROM A RUPTURED 10-INCH PIPELINE AT A PUMP STATION IN AUSTIN, TEXAS, FLOWED INTO DITCHES ALONGSIDE A ROAD ADJACENT TO THE STATION, AND VAPORIZED. A DODGE VAN DROVE INTO THE VAPOR-RICH ZONE AND STALLED. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, THE VAPOR IGNITED, AND THE DRIVER AND SEVEN PASSENGERS WERE ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SIX OF THESE PERSONS DIED AND TWO WERE CRITICALLY BURNED.

Ntsbnumber: PLD73XR005

Report Number: PAR-73-04

Addressee Name: Phillips Petroleum Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1976-07-20

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1974-08-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LETTER FROM PHILLIPS PIPE LINE COMPANY: INVESTIGATIONS DETERMINED THAT SEVERE SOIL SWELL POTENTIAL EXISTED ONLY IN THE AUSTIN AREA. AS THE RESULT OF THESE FINDINGS 47 MILES OF PIPE WERE REPLACED FROM MP 247 TO MP 294. AUSTIN STATION IS MP 274.