NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-035

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-035.

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.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternate Action

Issued Date: 1976-06-09

Adopted Date: 1976-06-09

Overall Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Synopsis: 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.

Ntsbnumber: PLD75XR004

Report Number: PAR-76-04

Addressee Name: West Texas Gulf Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1976-09-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication 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.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1976-11-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence