NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-027

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-027.

AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: AMEND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES NO. 52, "RECOMMENDED LAND DRILLING OPERATING PRACTICES FOR PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT" AND NO. 54, "RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING AND SERVICE OPERATIONS" TO INCLUDE CONSIDERATION FOR THE LOCATION OF PIPELINES IN STAKING A DRILLING SITE.

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: API RP 54; RECOMMENDED PRACTICES FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH FOR OIL AND GAS WELL DRILLING AND SERVICING OPERATIONS IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION BY A NATIONAL SUBCOMMITTEE WORKING UNDER AUSPICES OF OUR EXECUTIVE COMMMITTEE ON DRILLING AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES. THIS SUBCOMMITTEE HAS PREPARED A NEW DRAFT PARAGRAPH FOR INSERTION IN A REVISED EDITION: 5.3.1 PRIOR TO COMMENCING RIG-UP OPERATIONS, THE PLANNED ARRANGEMENT OF ALL EQUIPMENT TO BE PLACED ON THE LOCATION SHOULD BE REVIEWED TO ELIMINATE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS OR INCIDENTS. ACTION ON THIS RECOMMENDED CHANGE IS ANTICIPATED LATER IN 1988. API RP 52: RECOMMENDED LAND DRILLING OPERATING PRACTICES FOR PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM API'S ACTIVE PUBLICATIONS LIST, PENDING COMPLETION OF THE REQUIRED 5/7 YEAR REVIEW. WE EXPECT TO DECIDE THE FUTURE OF RP 52 WITHIN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS. WE WILL NOTIFY THE BOARD OF THE RESULTS OF THESE DELIBERATIONS LATER THIS YEAR AFTER THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES CONCLUDE THEIR ASSIGNMENTS.

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