NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-019

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-019.

AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION AND THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: URGE MEMBER COMPANIES TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CURRENT EFFORT TO ESTABLISH A "ONE-CALL" NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-06-09

Adopted Date: 1982-04-20

Overall Date Closed: 1982-10-22

Synopsis: ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1981, NEAR ACKERLY, TEXAS, THE CHAPPARRAL PIPELINE, A REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 12-INCH STEEL PIPE LINE OWNED BY THE SANTA FE PIPELINE COMPANY, WAS DAMAGED BY A RATHOLE DRILL BIT; THE WALL OF THE PIPE WAS WEAKENED, AND IT RUPTURED UNDER THE 1,100 PSIG OPERATING PRESSURE. THE ETHANE-PROPANE MIXTURE IN THE PIPELINE BEGAN TO ESCAPE AND WAS IGNITED BY THE DRILLING RIG ENGINE. THE ENSUING EXPLOSION AND FIRE KILLED THREE PERSONS; CRITICALLY BURNED ONE PERSON, WHO DIED 4 DAYS LATER; DESTROYED THE RATHOLE DRILLING RIG, A PICKUP TRUCK, A ROAD GRADER, A COMPACTOR, AND 60 ACRES OF COTTON; AND BURNED 12,749 BARRELS (535,458 GALLONS) OF ETHANE-PROPANE MIXTURE. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT; THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER SIMILAR PIPELINE ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DRILLING ACTIVITIES. THE SAFETY BOARD IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE DAMAGE TO PIPELINES CAUSED BY DRILLING ACTIVITIES AND THE USE OF OUTSIDE EXCAVATION EQUIPMENT SINCE THE LOCATION OF A PIPELINE CAN BE ASCERTAINED IN SEVERAL WAYS. THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE "ONE-CALL" NOTIFICATION SYSTEM HAS BEEN PROVEN; HOWEVER, NO STATEWIDE, "ONE-CALL" SYSTEM EXISTS IN TEXAS. CURRENT EFFORTS BY THE PIPELINE INDUSTRY NO FORMULATE AND IMPLEMENT A "ONE-CALL" SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF TEXAS MERIT THE SUPPORT OF THE ENTIRE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA81MP023

Report Number: PAR-82-02

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-10-22

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-08-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION LETTER TO MEMBER COMPANY DELEGATES REGARDING NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-82-19: GENTLEMEN ENCLOSED FOR YOUR INFORMATION IS A COPY OF THE NTSB SAFETY RECOMMENDATION CONCERNING THE INCIDENT NEAR ACKERLY, TEXAS, ON SEPTEMBER 27, 1981. THE COORDINATING GROUP FOR PIPELINE SAFETY RECOMMENDS THAT THE ATTACHED BE DISTRIBUTED TO APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL WITHIN EACH COMPANY. THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION SUPPORTS EFFORTS TO IMPROVE SAFETY WITHIN THE INDUSTRY, AND HOPES THAT THIS RECOMMENDATION WILL BE OF SOME ASSISTANCE TO YOU.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1982-10-22

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-06-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: INGAA LTR: THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS FORWARDED TO INGAA MEMBERSHIP ON JUNE 21, 1982. THE JUNE 25, 1982, INGAA "WASHINGTON REPORT" CONTAINED AN ITEM ON THIS ACCIDENT.

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1982-10-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence