Guidanceguidance
P-80-066
NTSB Safety Recommendation P-80-066
Current as of 1980-09-24 Government source
RegulusPipeline researchRegulusPipeline researchP-80-066
NTSB safety recommendation P-80-066.
THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY: REVIEW THE PRACTICE OF USING FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES FOR TIE-IN WELDS TO DETERMINE IF THESE SLEEVES HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE OF ANY PIPELINE FAILURES IN ITS SYSTEM, AND BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THIS REVIEW, REVISE COMPANY PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES FOR THE USE OF THESE SLEEVES.
Priority: CLASS II
Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Issued Date: 1980-09-24
Adopted Date: 1980-09-16
Overall Date Closed: 1981-02-11
Synopsis: ON JANUARY 2, 1980, CRUDE OIL LEAKED FROM A FRACTURED 22-INCH PIPELINE AT A LEVEE CROSSING AT BERWICK, LOUISIANA; THE PIPELINE IS OWNED BY THE TEXAS PIPELINE COMPANY AND RUNS BETWEEN HOUMA AND ERATH, LOUISIANA. AT 9:54 A.M., THE CRUDE OIL IGNITED. ONE PERSON WAS KILLED, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED, AND SIX HOMES WERE EITHER DESTROYED OR DAMAGED.
Ntsbnumber: FTW80FP002
Report Number: None
Addressee Name: Texas Pipeline Company
Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable
Addressee Date Closed: 1981-02-11
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1980-12-03
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
Communication Contents: TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY LTR: THE TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY HAS NEVER HAD A GENERAL PRACTICE OF USING FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVES FOR TIE-IN WELDS. THE ONLY PREVIOUS PIPE FAILURE FROM A FILLET-WELDED REINFORCEMENT SLEEVE OCCURRED ABOUT 25 YEARS AGO. BECAUSE THE USE OF FILLET WELDED FULL ENCIRCLEMENT SLEEVES UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO REPAIR HIGH PRESSURE PIPE IS ACCEPTABLE INDUSTRY PRACTICE, THE TEXAS PIPE LINE COMPANY HAS ISSUED THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS TO ITS LINE MANAGERS: "EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY FILLET-WELDED FULL ENCIRCLEMENT SLEEVES SHALL NOT BE PERMANENTLY INSTALLED IN LOCATIONS OF UNUSUAL STRESS SUCH AS IN THE TOPS OF LEVEES OR WITH 3-FEET OF OVERBENDS, UNDERBENDS, OR SIDEBENDS."
Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry
Communication Date: 1981-02-11
Communication Type: Official Correspondence
This material provides agency context. It does not replace binding regulatory text, and its legal effect depends on the underlying authority and facts.