NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-001.

WORK WITH DEVELOPMENTAL MANUFACTURING FIRMS TO DETERMINE IF AN INTERNAL INSPECTION TOOL COULD BE UTILIZED TO DETECT DEFECTIVE FLASH WELDS IN ITS FARMINGTON-ALBUQUERQUE PIPELINE SYSTEM. IF A TOOL IS FOUND EFFECTIVE, IT SHOULD BE USED IN AREAS WHERE CREVICE CORROSION COULD BE EXPECTED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-01-23

Adopted Date: 1975-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Synopsis: ON MARCH 15, 1974, THE SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY'S 12-INCH NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE RUPTURED IN A DESERT NEAR FARMINGTON, NEW MEXICO. NATURAL GAS AT ALMOST 500 PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED, IGNITED, AND BURNED SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET HIGH. AN 8-FOOT SECTION OF THE 12-INCH PIPELINE HAD BLOWN OUT, DIGGING A CRATER 40 FEET LONG, 17 FEET WIDE, AND 10 FEET DEEP. THREE PERSONS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD ADJACENT TO THE PIPELINE DIED AND THE EARTH WITHIN A 300-FOOT DIAMETER WAS CHARRED.

Ntsbnumber: PLD74XR007

Report Number: PAR-75-03

Addressee Name: Southern Union Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-08-19

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1976-07-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY: WE ARE AT THE PRESENT TIME UNDERWAY WITH AN EVALUATION TEST OF THE EQUIPMENT WHICH WE HOPE WILL MAKE IT FEASIBLE TO IDENTIFY LOCATIONS WHERE CREVICE CORROSION HAS TAKEN PLACE. 9/23/76 - LTR. FROM SOUTHERN UNION GAS COMPANY: WE HAVE CONCLUDED THE ANALYSIS OF THE TESTS WHICH WERE PERFORMED FOR US BY TRODYNE CORPORATION. WE HAVE REQUESTED TRODYNE TO INSPECT FIFTEEN MILES OF PIPLELINE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN THE PIPELINE RUPTURE. 4/28/77 - LTR FROM SOUTHERN UNION COMPANY: FURTHER TESTS WERE RUN UTILIZING ACOUSTIC EMISSION EQUIPMENT SUPPLIED BY TRODYNE, INC. WE HAVE CONTRACTED WITH ANOTHER FIRM TO INSPECT THIS SAME LINE, USING A DEVICE UTILIZING A FIELD OF MAGNETIC FLUX. ONCE THE SURVEY HAS BEEN MADE WE WILL COMPARE THE RESULTS TO THOSE ACHIEVED WITH THE ACOUSTIC EMISSION SYSTEM. EACH SUSPECT AREA WILL BE VISUALLY EXAMINED, AND WE HOPE TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS ANY SYSTEM BY WHICH CREVICE CORROSION MAY BE DETERMINED.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence