NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-022

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-022.

AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION OF TEXAS: REVISE ITS OIL AND GAS DIVISION'S RULE 37, TO REQUIRE THAT SURVEY PLATS ALSO INCLUDE THE LOCATION OF ANY HAZARDS WITHIN A PRESCRIBED DISTANCE OF A DRILLING LOCATION.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Issued Date: 1982-06-09

Adopted Date: 1982-04-20

Overall Date Closed: 1988-06-07

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: State of Texas, Railroad Commission

Addressee Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-06-07

Addressee Acronym: TX RRC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-03-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TX RRC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-06-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TX RRC

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1988-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence