NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-013

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-013.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RESEARCH AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATION: EXPEDITE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE AND THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, THE JOINTLY SPONSORED PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE EXTENT OF PIPE FAILURES IN EXISTING PIPELINE SYSTEMS WITH A DIAMETER-TO-THICKNESS RATIO OF 70 OR GREATER DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKS INITIATED DURING THE RAIL SHIPMENT OF THE PIPE.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-07-21

Adopted Date: 1981-07-15

Overall Date Closed: 1982-02-23

Synopsis: ON MARCH 6, 1980, A 32-INCH-DIAMETER REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PIPELINE OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE COLONIAL PIPELINE COMPANY RUPTURED IN TWO LOCATIONS SIMULTANEOUSLY. ONE BREAK, WHERE THE PIPE HAD BEEN THINNED BY CORROSION IN A CASING UNDER A ROAD, CAUSED THE RELEASE OF 8,000 BARRELS (336,000 GALLONS) OF AVIATION-GRADE KEROSENE ADJACENT TO ROUTE 234 NEAR MANASSAS, VIRGINIA. BEFORE BEING FULLY CONTAINED, THE KEROSENE HAD FLOWED INTO BULL RUN RIVER AND HAD ENTERED THE OCCOQUAN RESERVOIR, A SOURCE OF DRINKING WATER FOR SEVERAL NORTHERN VIRGINIA COMMUNITIES.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA80MP010

Report Number: PAR-81-02

Addressee Name: RSPA

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-02-23

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1981-11-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: RSPA LTR: THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU (MTB) HAS INITIATED A JOINT EFFORT WITH THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE (API) AND THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA) TO DETERMINE THE POTENTIAL FOR PIPE FAILURES IN EXISTING PIPELINE SYSTEMS WITH A DIAMETER-TO-THICKNESS RATIO OF 70 OR GREATER DUE TO FATIGUE CRACKING WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN INITIATED DURING RAIL SHIPMENT OF PIPE. ATTENTION WILL BE DEVOTED PARTICULARLY TO SUCH PIPE WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITHOUT THE BENEFIT OF API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE 5L1, "RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION OF LINE PIPE," AT THE TIME OF CONSTRUCTION. WE ARE ALSO ANALYZING THE DATA REPORTED TO THE DEPARTMENT ON FAILURES AND ACCIDENTS WHICH HAVE OCCURRED ON SUCH GAS AND LIQUID PIPELINES. ATTENTION WILL BE FOCUSED ON PIPE INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE AND COMPARED TO SIMILAR FAILURE AND ACCIDENT DATA ON SYSTEMS INSTALLED SINCE THAT TIME.

Addressee Acronym: RSPA

Addressee Organization Type: G-Federal Government

Communication Date: 1982-02-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence