NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-006.

ESTABLISH A CONTROL CENTER FOR THE LIQUID PROPANE PIPELINE AND TELEMETER ALL PRESSURE, FLOW, AND OTHER PERTINENT DATA NECESSARY FOR THE SAFE OPERATION OF THIS PIPELINE TO THIS CENTRAL LOCATION.

Priority: CLASS III

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-02-08

Adopted Date: 1978-01-12

Overall Date Closed: 1978-09-29

Synopsis: ON JULY 20, 1977, A 12-INCH PROPANE PIPELINE, OWNED BY THE CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORPORATION, RUPTURED NEAR THE TOWN OF RUFF CREEK, PENNSYLVANIA. THE LIQUID ESCAPED FROM THE PIPELINE, VAPORIZED, AND PROPANE VAPORS SETTLED LIKE A FOG OVER THE BOTTOM OF A VALLEY. TWO MEN IN A PICKUP TRUCK ENTERED THE PROPANE CLOUD; THE TRUCK STALLED AND THE PROPANE GAS IGNITED WHEN AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO RESTART THE TRUCK. THE 2 PERSONS IN THE TRUCK WERE KILLED.

Ntsbnumber: DCA77MP027

Report Number: PAR-78-01

Addressee Name: Consolidated Gas Transmission Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1978-09-29

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORP. LTR: THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE OPERATION FOR G-136 HAS BEEN ASSIGNED TO THE GAS CONTROL CENTER AT CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA OFFICE. A MAIN CONTROL CENTER HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AT THE CONTROL HOUSE AT THE HASTINGS EXTRACTION PLANT. BOTH CENTERS ARE MANNED 24-HOURS PER DAY. THERE ARE 6 INSTRUMENTS TO MONITOR G-136 ALL LOCATED IN THE HASTINGS CONTROL CENTER: (1) ACOUSTIC PIPELINE MONITOR, (2) DISTANCE CALCULATOR, (3) TWO ODOMETERS, (4) TWO RECORDERS WITH TW PENS EACH, (5) A RED LIGHT ALARM SYSTEM, AND (6) A PRESSURE RECORDING CONTROLLER. INFORMATION OBTAINED IS TRANSMITTED ON AN HOURLY BASIS BY TELEPHONE TO THE GAS CONTROL CENTER IN CLARKSBURG.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-09-29

Communication Type: Official Correspondence