NTSB Safety Recommendation P-81-020

NTSB safety recommendation P-81-020.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, AND THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: ADVISE ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THAT THEY REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF THEIR EXPLOSION-PROOF ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS AND THEIR HYDROSTATIC TEST PROCEDURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1981-07-28

Adopted Date: 1981-07-22

Overall Date Closed: 2002-02-04

Synopsis: ON APRIL 16, 1980, GASOLINE AT THE WILLIAMS PIPE LINE COMPANY'S MINNEAPOLIS TERMINAL IN ROSEVILLE, MINNESOTA, SPRAYED FROM THE FRACTURED CAST-IRON BASE OF A STATION BOOSTER PUMP AT 72 PSIG PRESSURE, VAPORIZED, AND EXPLODED AFTER IT WAS IGNITED BY THE ARCING OF AN ELECTRIC SWITCH IN THE MAINLINE PUMP CONTROL ROOM 50 FEET DOWNWIND OF THE BOOSTER PUMP.

Ntsbnumber: FTW80FP014

Report Number: PAR-81-03

Addressee Name: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-04-05

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-08-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE SAFETY BOARD HAS RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM INGAA REGARDING P-81-20, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Because the Safety Board has received no reply from INGAA regarding Safety Recommendation P-81-20, it is classified “Closed--Unacceptable Action, No Response Received.”

Addressee Name: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-02-04

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: API no longer has any records of action related to this safety recommendation from 1980. Thus we are unable to provide documentation of actions taken over 20 years ago, beyond that noted in the letter you already have from Mr. Ken Leonard dated October 23, 1981. API actively maintains two standards on the classification of locations for electrical installations at petroleum facilities, as follows: Recommended Practice 500, Recommended Prqctice for Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2, Second Edition, November 1997 (ANSI/API RP 500-1998), Recommended Practice 505, Recommended Practice for Classification of Location for 1 and Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class Zone 2, First Edition, November 1997 (ANSI/API RP 505-1998) 1, Zone 0, Zone. Copies of both recommended practices are attached to this letter. As the letter from Mr. Leonard reflects, operators where informed about the need to review the adequacy of hydrostatic test procedures.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-10-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE LTR: WE HAVE TRANSMITTED COPIES OF THE TWO LETTERS TO THE INSTITUTE'S CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION WITH A REQUEST THAT COMPANIES REVIEW THE EVENTS OF THESE ACCIDENTS FOR RELEVANCE TO THEIR OWN OPERATIONS. THE MTB REQUEST HAS BEEN DIRECTED TO OUR TECHNICAL COMMITTEES FOR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-02-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: We appreciate receiving copies of Recommended Practices 500 and 505, which address the classification of locations for electrical installations at petroleum facilities. Further, we agree with your assessment that as a result of Mr. Leonard's 1981 letter, operators were informed of the need to review the adequacy of hydrostatic test procedures. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-81-20 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 12/22/81, BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE API LETTER OF 10/23/81, P-81-20 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING FURTHER RESPONSE FROM THE API. HOWEVER, NO FURTHER RESPONSE HAS BEEN RECEIVED. ENCLOSED ARE COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FOR P-80-15, P-81-20, P-93-20, P-95-14, P-95-15, P-96-22, AND P-98-29, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE SAFETY BOARD LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM YOU UPDATING THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-12-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-08-16

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 06/08/2001 7:37:07 PM MC# 2010482

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1981-10-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION LETTER TO MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES DATED 102681: ENCLOSED TO AGA MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES WAS A COPY OF NTSB RECOMMENDATION P-81-20. AGA SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, AND HOPES THAT THIS REPORT WILL BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-08-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence