NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-026.

AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: AMEND THE MODEL FORM DRILLING CONTRACT AND ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS TO REQUIRE THAT THE LOCATION OF ANY PIPELINE WHICH POTENTIALLY MAY BE IN CONFLICT WITH THE DRILLING LOCATION AND ACCESS ROADS BE IDENTIFIED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-06-09

Adopted Date: 1982-04-20

Overall Date Closed: 1988-06-28

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 Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-06-28

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-03-23

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SECTION 2.3 OF MODEL FORM 4C1, "DRILLING CONTRACT," SPECIFIES THE OPERATOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOCATING AND STAKING THE WELL. SECTION 5, 5.2, FORM 4C2, "BID SHEET & DRILLING ORDER" (COMPANION DOCUMENT TO MODEL FORM 4C1) STATES THAT THE NECESSARY SERVICES AND LABOR TO STAKE THE WELL LOCATION, CLEAR AND GRADE LOCATION, AND PROVIDE LOCATION TURN-AROUND SHALL BE PROVIDED AT THE LOCATION BY AND AT THE EXPENSE OF THE OPERATOR (UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED). THIS SEEMS TO CLEARLY DEFINE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LOCATING THE WELL AND ARRANGING THE LOCATION TO BE FREE OF HAZARDS SUCH AS PIPELINE LOCATIONS, ETC. A DRILLING CONTRACT BETWEEN OPERATOR AND CONTRACTOR SHOULD DEFINE LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERFORMING AND/OR PROVIDING CERTAIN SERVICES, YET PROVIDE FLEXIBILITY TO PERMIT PERFORMANCE OF THIS WORK USING SITE-SPECIFIC MEANS DEEMED MOST APPROPRIATE. THE CONTRACT SHOULD RETAIN THE INDEPENDENT OPERATOR CONTRACTOR RELATIONSHIP.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1988-06-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence