NTSB Safety Recommendation P-78-007

NTSB safety recommendation P-78-007.

INSPECT ON A RANDOM SAMPLE BASIS THE SEGMENT OF PIPELINE 10 MILES DOWNSTREAM OF THE FORMER PRESTON COMPRESSOR STATION, INCLUDING THE AREA BETWEEN INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS 70 AND 79 WHERE COAL MINES ARE PREVALENT, FOR OTHER EVIDENCE OF STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING OR INCREASED-DEPTH, GENERAL CORROSION PITTING. INCREASE CATHODIC PROTECTION OR CONSIDER LINE REPLACEMENT IN AREAS WHERE SEVERE CORROSION OR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING IS FOUND.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1978-02-08

Adopted Date: 1978-01-12

Overall Date Closed: 1979-03-14

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Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable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: 1979-03-14

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1978-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORP. LTR: TWO LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN INSPECTED BETWEEN I-70 AND I-79 FOR THE PRESENCE OF STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING. NONE WAS FOUND. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR WORK LATER THIS YEAR. 1/23/78 - CONSOLIDATED GAS SUPPLY CORP. LTR: A LIST OF LEAK REPAIR SITES IS GIVEN. THE REPAIR AREAS WERE CHECKED FOR STRESS-CORROSION CRACKING AND FOR GENERAL CORROSION PITTING. THE SEVERE ACTIVE CORROSION THAT CAUSED THE LEAKS WAS THE RESULT OF "COAL BLOSSOM" NEARNESS OR CONTACT. NO EVIDENCE OF STRESS-CORROSION WAS FOUND AND ONLY LIMITED GENERAL CORROSION WAS FOUND AWAY FROM THE LEAK AREAS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-03-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence