NTSB Safety Recommendation P-82-041

NTSB safety recommendation P-82-041.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY: REVISE ITS QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM (1) TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALIFICATION STANDARDS FOR X-RAY TECHNICIANS AND (2) TO PRESCRIBE PROCEDURES WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE DETECTION AND REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF GIRTH WELD DEFECTS BEFORE A PIPELINE IS BURIED. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1982-10-13

Adopted Date: 1982-09-22

Overall Date Closed: 1988-06-28

Synopsis: THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD HAS REVIEWED THE NOTICES PUBLISHED BY THE MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION BUREAU (MTB) OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: "PETITION FOR WAIVER" AND "GRANT OF WAIVER," DOCKET NO. 82-3W, NOTICES NOS. 1 AND 2, WHICH APPEARED AT 47 FR 16248 AND 47 FR 20715 ON APRIL 15, 1982, AND MAY 13, 1982, RESPECTIVELY. BOTH NOTICES CONCERNED THE REPAIR OF GIRTH WELD DEFECTS IN APPROXIMATELY 635 MILES OF 42-INCH DIAMETER GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE CONSTRUCTED BY THE NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY (COMPANY). THIS PIPELINE SECTION WAS CONSTRUCTED IN 1981 THROUGH THE STATES OF MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA, AND IOWA. THE NOTICES ALSO CONCERNED "POSSIBLE REPAIR OF DEFECTS IN APPROXIMATELY 181 MILES (OF PIPELINE) TO BE CONSTRUCTED IN 1982." AS REPORTED IN NOTICE NO. 1, THE WELD DEFECTS WERE NOT DETECTED BY THE COMPANY'S X-RAY TECHNICIANS RESPONSIBLE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, BUT RATHER WHEN AN AUDIT OF THE WELD X-RAYS WAS PERFORMED AFTER THE PIPE WAS BURIED.

Ntsbnumber: 80502

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: Northern Plains Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-06-28

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-04-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NORTHERN PLAINS NATURAL GAS COMPANY HEREIN RESPONDS TO YOUR INQUIRY DATED FEBRUARY 22, 1988 WITH RESPECT TO THE SAFETY BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION P-82-41 CONCERNING THE REPAIR OF GIRTH WELD DEFECTS IN APPROXIMATELY 635 MILES OF 42- INCH DIAMETER NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTED BY THE NORTHERN BORDER PIPELINE COMPANY. THE PIPELINE, WHICH IS THE SUBJECT OF THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION P-82-41, CONSISTED OF APPROXIMATELY 822 MILES OF NATURAL GAS PIPELINE. SIX HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE (635) MILES WERE CONSTRUCTED DURING THE SUMMER OF 1981 IN THE STATES OF MONTANA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, MINNESOTA AND IOWA. THE BALANCE WAS CONSTRUCTED IN NORTH DAKOTA DURING THE SUMMER OF 1982. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS PRIOR TO THE 1982 CONSTRUCTION SEASON, NORTHERN BORDER REVISED ITS QUALITY CONTROL/QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCEDURES WHICH WERE SUBMITTED TO AND APPROVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL INSPECTOR. THE REVISED PROCEDURES PROVED EFFECTIVE IN PRACTICE DURING CONSTRUCTION OF THE REMAINING 187 MILES OF PIPELINE IN THAT NO GIRTH WELD DEFECTS WERE BURIED PRIOR TO REPAIR.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-06-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence