NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-041

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-041.

USE THE TOTAL SYSTEM CONCEPT TO REVIEW DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS, NEW PROJECTS, AND MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN RECOGNIZING AND CONTROLLING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-08-20

Adopted Date: 1976-06-30

Overall Date Closed: 1983-02-14

Synopsis: ON MAY 12, 1975, AN 8-INCH PIPELINE, WHICH WAS CLOSED IN UNDER PRESSURE AND WHICH WAS OWNED BY DOW CHEMICAL USA AND OPERATED AS THE BRONCO PIPE LINE COMPANY, RUPTURED NEAR DEVERS, TEXAS. NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS AT 1,425 PSIG PRESSURE ERRUPTED FROM A FRACTURE NEAR THE TOP OF THE PIPE. THE LIQUIDS VAPORIZED MIXED WITH AIR, AND FORMED A CLOUD WHICH DRIFTED TO THE SOUTHWEST OVER U.S. HIGHWAY 90. AN AUTOMOBILE ENTERED THE VAPOR CLOUD AND IGNITED THE ETHANE-PROPANE VAPORS. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE KILLED THE FOUR PERSONS IN THE AUTOMOBILE, MELTED TELEPHONE AND ELECTRIC POWER LINES, WARPED RAILROAD TRACKS, BURNED AND SCORCHED ADJACENT WOODLANDS, AND INTERRUPTED RAIL AND HIGHWAY TRAFFIC.

Ntsbnumber: PLD75XR001

Report Number: PAR-76-05

Addressee Name: Dow Chemical Company

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1983-02-14

Addressee Acronym: TDCC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-12-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A. LETTER: WE BELIEVE THAT DOW HAS BEEN A LEADER IN EMPLOYING THE TOTAL SYSTEM CONCEPT IN THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION, TESTING, AND OPERATION OF PIPELINES. BEYOND THE REQUIREMENTS OF DOT PART 195, ADDITIONAL, MORE STRINGENT, STEPS ARE TAKEN BY DOW IN THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, INSPECTION, AND MAINTENANCE OF OUR LPG PIPELINES.

Addressee Acronym: TDCC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TDCC

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1983-02-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence