NTSB Safety Recommendation P-76-042

NTSB safety recommendation P-76-042.

IMPLEMENT THE RECOMMENDATION MADE IN THE SAFETY BOARD'S SPECIAL STUDY ON "A SYSTEMATIC APPROACH TO PIPELINE SAFETY."

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1976-08-20

Adopted Date: 1976-06-30

Overall Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Synopsis: ON MAY 12, 1975, AN 8-INCH PIPELINE, WHICH WAS CLOSED IN UNDER PRESSURE AND WHICH WAS OWNED BY DOW CHEMICAL U.S.A 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: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1977-07-29

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1976-11-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR. FROM AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: THE INSTITUTE WILL TAKE RECOMMENDATION P-76-42 UNDER ADVISEMENT, REVIEW THE EARLIER RECOMMENDATION AGAIN AND INFORM YOU OF ANY FURTHER ACTION WE MAY FIND INDICATED.