NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-002

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-002.

REVIEW ALL PERTINENT DATA SUCH AS LEAK AND FAILURE REPORTS SUBMITTED BY ALL PIPELINE OPERATORS TO DETERMINE IF LONGITUDINAL WELD FAILURES CONSTITUTE A RECURRENT SAFETY PROBLEM, AND TAKE APPROPRIATE REGULATORY ACTION IF THEY DO.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-01-23

Adopted Date: 1975-12-23

Overall Date Closed: 1977-07-29

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: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1976-04-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. FROM MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU: THE OFFICE OF PIPELINE SAFETY OPERATIONS HAS BEEN REVIEWING, AT LEAST ANNUALLY, ITS RECORDS ON LONGITUDINAL WELD FAILURES. STATISTICS INDICATE THAT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS LONGITUDINAL WELD FAILURES HAVE CAUSED A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF FAILURES AND CONTINUE TO BECOME EVEN MORE INSIGNIFICANT. TODAY'S PIPE IS A MUCH HIGHER QUALITY AND ALSO IS INSPECTED AND TESTED MUCH MORE EFFECTIVELY DURING BOTH MANFACTURE AND INSTALLATION RESULTING IN A MORE RELIABLE PRODUCT. OPSO WILL REVISE THE REGULATIONS AS APPROPRIATE TO MINIMIZE ANY SAFETY PROBLEM IDENTIFIED OR TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ANY NEW IMPROVEMENTS.