NTSB Safety Recommendation P-77-033

NTSB safety recommendation P-77-033.

TRAIN OPERATING PERSONNEL FROM OTHER STATIONS AND OTHER NEARBY OPERATING DIVISIONS OF THE COMPANY ON THE OPERATION OF EMERGENCY TRANSMISSION LINE VALVES AND EMERGENCY STATION FIRE CONTROL VALVES. FURNISH EACH NEARBY COMPANY OFFICE THAT COULD BE EXPECTED TO HELP IN AN EMERGENCY WITH A CONTINGENCY PLAN BOOK AND DRAWINGS OF ALL OF THE FACILITIES THEY MIGHT BE EXPECTED TO OPERATE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1977-10-31

Adopted Date: 1977-10-13

Overall Date Closed: 1978-11-21

Synopsis: ON DECEMBER 7, 1976, A NATURAL GAS COMPRESSOR FAILED AND THEN EXPLODED AND BURNED AT AN EXXON GAS SYSTEM, INC., STATION NEAR ROBSTOWN, TEXAS. AN EMERGENCY SHUTDOWN SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATED, BUT FOUR AUTOMATED FIRE GATE VALVES DID NOT CLOSE. ANOTHER EMERGENCY CONTROL SYSTEM ALSO FAILED TO AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE THE SHUTOFF VALVES, LEADING TO TWO OF THE FIVE COMPRESSORS IN THE STATION. A SECOND EXPLOSION OCCURRED WITHIN THE BURNING BUILDING. THE FIRE KILLED ONE PERSON, INJURED TWO PERSONS, AND DESTROYED THREE ENGINE-DRIVEN COMPRESSORS AND THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING.

Ntsbnumber: DCA77MP005

Report Number: PAR-77-03

Addressee Name: ExxonMobil Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-11-21

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1977-12-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: LTR FROM EXXON GAS SYSTEM: TRAINING OF COMPANY PERSONNEL IN THE FUNCTIONS AND OPERATIONS OF THE EMERGENCY SHUT DOWN SYSTEMS AND PIPELINE BLOCK VALVES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE AREA IS COMPLETE AND CONTINUING FOR NEW PERSONNEL. OPERATING PROCEDURES AND DRAWINGS OF FACILITIES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO SOME NEARBY EXXON OFFICES MORE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED IN NEAR FUTURE. ALSO, SELECTED PERSONNEL ARE RECEIVING ON-SITE FAMILIARIZATION WITH THE EQUIPMENT ON A CONTINUING BASIS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-01-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence