NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION AND THE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: NOTIFY ITS MEMBER COMPANIES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT IN PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, ON OCTOBER 1, 1982, AND URGE THEM TO MONITOR CONTINUOUSLY FOR THE PRESENCE OF GAS WHEN WORK IS TO BE PERFORMED IN THE VICINITY OF PIPELINE SECTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN ISOLATED FROM GAS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE SOLELY BY CLOSED VALVES AND BY THE INSTALLATION OF TEMPORARY END CAPS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1983-09-07

Adopted Date: 1983-07-26

Overall Date Closed: 1984-04-30

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 1, 1982, A 1/4-INCH-THICK STEEL PLATE, WHICH HAD BEEN WELDED BY A WORK CREW TO CAP TEMPORARILY THE OPEN END OF A SECTION OF A 22-INCH-DIAMETER GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE WHICH HAD BEEN ISOLATED BY CLOSING A GATE VALVE AND THEN GAS FREED, BLEW OFF UNDER AN INITIAL PRESSURE OF POSSIBLY 260 PSIG. RAPIDLY ESCAPING NATURAL GAS FROM THE PIPELINE, WHICH HAD ACCUMULATED DUE TO A LEAK IN THE GATE VALVE, IGNITED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENTIRE WORK AREA AND A PORTION OF U.S. ROUTE 65 WERE MOMENTARILY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. SEVEN PERSONS WHO WERE WORKING TO REPLACE A SECTION OF THE PIPELINE UNDER THE ROAD ABOUT 2 MILES SOUTH OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS, WERE BURNED AND HOSPITALIZED. RESULTANT PROPERTY DAMAGE WAS MINIMAL.

Ntsbnumber: FTW83LA007

Report Number: PAR-83-03

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1984-04-30

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1984-02-09

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AGA LETTER: ANY POSITIVE MEANS FOR PREVENTION OF GAS PRESSURE BUILDUP OR ALERTING PERSONNEL OF A PRESSURE BUILDUP SHOULD BE ACCEPTABLE. AN OPEN VENT PIPE CAN IN SOME CASES SERVE AS A "NOISE" ALARM IN THE EVENT OF AN UNEXPECTED PRESSURE BUILDUP. OTHER SOLUTIONS MIGHT ALSO BE APPROPRIATE. THE VENT IN THIS CASE WAS NOT OPEN AS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. THE ERROR WAS IN FAILING TO RESTORE THE INSTALLED VENT TO PROPER OPERATING CONDITION RATHER THAN FAILING TO HAVE AN INSTALLED PRESSURE BUILDUP ALARM OR OTHER WARNING DEVICE.

Addressee Acronym: AGA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1984-04-30

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Name: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1984-04-30

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-09-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (INGAA) LETTER: A MEMORANDUM DATED 9/13/83 TO INGAA'S MEMBERSHIP NOTIFIED THEM OF NTSB'S RECOMMENDATIONS P-83-26 AND P-83-27.

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1983-10-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence