NTSB Safety Recommendation P-75-009

NTSB safety recommendation P-75-009.

REQUIRE TRANSCO TO: REVIEW ITS EMERGENCY PROCEDURES FOR THE ENTIRE PIPELINE SYSTEM, USING SYSTEM SAFETY ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES, AND CORRECT ANY UNRELIABLE OR INADEQUATE SHUTDOWN PROCESSES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1975-05-28

Adopted Date: 1975-05-28

Overall Date Closed: 1979-02-02

Synopsis: ON JUNE 9, 1974, THE TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION'S 30-INCH NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE RUPTURED IN A RURAL AREA NEAR BEALETON, VIRGINIA. NATURAL GAS ESCAPED, IGNITED, AND FUELED FLAMES WHICH WERE VISIBLE TO AIRLINE PILOTS OVER 100 MILES AWAY. NO DEATHS OR INJURIES RESULTED, NO LIVESTOCK WERE AFFECTED, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE AMOUNTED ONLY TO A SCORCHED FIELD AND SOME BURNED TREES.

Ntsbnumber: PLD74XR006

Report Number: PAR-75-02

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1979-02-02

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1976-05-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: 5/24/76 - LTR FROM TRANSCO TO NTSB, ENCLOSING 10/27/75 LTR TO OPSO: AS A RESPONSE TO OPSO RECOMMENDATION, TRANSCO HAS: PROVIDED WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS TO STATION OPERATING PERSONNEL; INSTRUCTED COMPRESSOR STATION IMMEDIATELY UPSTREAM OF LINE FAILURE TO SHUT DOWN UPON DISCOVERY OF SUCH FAILURE; CLOSED CROSSOVERS WHEREVER POSSIBLE (80% ARE CLOSED); CONTROLS ON ALL AUTOMATIC VALVES HAVE BEEN RESET TO THE LOWEST RATE-OF-PRESSURE DROP POSSIBLE WITHOUT CAUSING INADVERTENT NORMAL OPERATION FLUCTUATION CLOSING; AND CHANGING THE INSTRUMENTATION OF AUTOMATIC CLOSING CROSSOVER VALVES TO SEPARATE THEM FROM THE MAIN LINE BLOCK VALVE RATE-OF PRESSURE DROP INSTRUMENTATION; THIS WILL CLOSE THE CROSSOVERS QUICKLY.