NTSB Safety Recommendation P-79-016

NTSB safety recommendation P-79-016.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY: COMPLETE THE SCHEDULED RUN OF THE CURVATURE MONITORING DEVICE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO DETERMINE OTHER LOCATIONS WITH ABNORMAL BUCKLES OR BENDS. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1979-07-13

Adopted Date: 1979-07-13

Overall Date Closed: 1988-03-14

Synopsis: ON JUNE 10, 1979, THE PILOT OF A HELICOPTER REPORTED SIGHTING OIL ON THE SURFACE OF THE ATIGUN RIVER NEAR THE ROUTE OF THE ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY'S 48-INCH CRUDE OIL PIPELINE. THE OIL WAS SEEN ON THE NORTH SIDE OF ATIGUN PASS, 166 MILES SOUTH OF THE PIPELINE TERMINAL AT PRUDHOE BAY, ALASKA. ALYESKA WAS NOTIFIED AND BEGAN SHUTDOWN PROCEDURES AT 9 A.M. BY 9:28 A.M. THE NORTH SECTION OF THE LINE BETWEEN PUMP STATIONS NOS. 1 AND 4 WAS SHUT DOWN. BY 10:46 A.M. THE ENTIRE LINE HAD BEEN SHUT DOWN. THE PIPE BETWEEN PUMP STATIONS NOS. 4 AND 5 WAS DRAINED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA79FP018

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Alyeska Pipeline Service Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-03-14

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-08-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALYESKA PIPELINE SERVICE COMPANY LTR: THE CURVATURE PIG WAS LAUNCHED FROM PUMP STATION NO. 1 ON JULY 29, 1979. THE RESULTS OF THIS RUN WILL BE ANALYZED AS SOON AS POSIBLE. OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE UNDERWAY INCLUDE: (A) GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATION OF OBSERVED SURFACE SETTLEMENT SITES; (B) CORROSION PIG SURVEY FOR INDICATION OF UNSCHEDULED BENDS; (C) FIELD INVESTIGATION OF AREAS INDICATING LARGE OVALITIES ON SHARP SIGNALS FROM THE KALIPER PIG RUNS; (D) CORRELATION OF THE ABOVE TESTS AND INVESTIGATIONS; AND (E) DETAILED EXAMINATION OF CURVATURE PIG DATA AT LOCATIONS OF CONCERN SHOWN BY THE ABOVE CURRELATION OF DATA.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-10-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NO RESPONSE--FOLLOWUP LETTER.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-11-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE CURVATURE MONITORING DEVICE OR PIG WAS RUN IN SEPTEMBER 1979 AND BECAME LODGED IN A CHECK VALVE. AS THE RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT AND THE LACK OF INTERPRETABILITY OF DATA FROM THIS DEVICE, ALYESKA REQUESTED AND RECEIVED FROM THE AUTHORIZED OFFICER, OFFICE OF SPECIAL PROJECTS, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, PERMISSION TO ABANDON THE CURVATURE PIG PROGRAM.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1979-09-13

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-03-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-10-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence