{"operation":"document","citation":"P-76-035","title":"NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-035","source_type":"guidance","agency":"National Transportation Safety Board","status":"guidance","official":true,"published_on":"1976-06-09","effective_on":"1976-06-09","summary":"EXAMINE THE REPAIR RECORDS FOR ITS PIPELINE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHERE OTHER FILLET WELD REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND EXCAVATE THE PIPELINE AT THESE LOCATIONS TO INSPECT THE FILLET WELD QUALITY.","machine_formats":{"json":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-76-035.json","markdown":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-76-035.md"},"app_url":"https://regulus.evalyn.ai/document/ntsb-recommendation-p-76-035","source_url":"https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/sr-details/P-76-035","body":"NTSB safety recommendation P-76-035.\n\nEXAMINE THE REPAIR RECORDS FOR ITS PIPELINE SYSTEM TO DETERMINE WHERE OTHER FILLET WELD REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AND EXCAVATE THE PIPELINE AT THESE LOCATIONS TO INSPECT THE FILLET WELD QUALITY.\n\nPriority: CLASS II\n\nOverall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action\n\nIssued Date: 1976-06-09\n\nAdopted Date: 1976-06-09\n\nOverall Date Closed: 1977-07-29\n\nSynopsis: ON DECEMBER 1, 1974, A REPAIR CREW AT WORK ON A LEAK ON THE WEST TEXAS GULF PIPE LINE COMPANY'S 26-INCH PIPELINE NEAR ABILENE, TEXAS, BEGAN TO EXCAVATE THE PIPE WHILE IT WAS PUMPING SOUR CRUDE OIL. THEY ATTEMPTED TO CLAMP THE LEAK WHILE THE SOUR CRUDE OIL WAS SPRAYING INTO THE AIR; THEY WERE NOT USING OXYGEN BREATHING EQUIPMENT, GAS VAPOR DETECTION INSTRUMENTS, OR ROPES ATTACHED TO THEIR BELTS. ALL BUT ONE MAN, WHO RAN TO THE TRUCK TO RADIO FOR HELP, WERE OVERCOME BY FUMES FROM THE SOUR CRUDE OIL. OF THE SEVEN MEN IN THE REPAIR CREW, SIX DIED.\n\nNtsbnumber: PLD75XR004\n\nReport Number: PAR-76-04\n\nAddressee Name: West Texas Gulf Pipeline Company\n\nAddressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable\n\nAddressee Date Closed: 1977-07-29\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1976-09-23\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence\n\nCommunication Contents: LTR. FROM GULF REFINING COMPANY: WE HAVE CHECKED OUR RECORDS AND FIND THAT IN EARLY 1971 WE INSTALLED FULL WRAP ON THE PIPELINE IN ABOUT A DOZEN LOCATIONS WHERE A LINE A LOG SURVEY SHOWED EVIDENCE OF EXTERNAL CORROSION. THESE LOCATIONS ARE ALL IN SPARSELY POPULATED AREAS AND HAVE BEEN IN SERVICE FOR ALMOST SIX YEARS WITH NO INDICATIONS OF ANY PROBLEMS. I AM CONCERNED THAT IF WE EXCAVATE THEM FOR EXAMINATION WE RUN THE RISK THAT IN DISTURBING THE SOIL AGAIN WE COULD CAUSE SETTLING AND PLACE UNNECESSARY AND DANGEROUS STRESS ON THE PIPE. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT WE DO NOT DISTURB THE SOIL BY EXCAVATION BUT TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THESE LOCATIONS FROM THE SURFACE AND ONLY EXCAVATE AT THE FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM.\n\nAddressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry\n\nCommunication Date: 1976-11-08\n\nCommunication Type: Official Correspondence","truncated":false,"body_characters":2135}