NTSB Safety Recommendation P-83-037

NTSB safety recommendation P-83-037.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY: INCORPORATE WITHIN ITS EMERGENCY PLANS FOR ITS BLANCO PLANT AND OTHER PLANTS THE USE OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESOURCES, SUCH AS THE BLOOMFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND FAMILIARIZE EACH WITH THE LAYOUT AND FIREFIGHTING FACILITIES OF APPLICABLE PLANTS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-01-17

Adopted Date: 1983-12-12

Overall Date Closed: 1985-02-19

Synopsis: ON MAY 26, 1983, NATURAL GAS AT 815 POUNDS/SQUARE INCH GAGE (PSIG) BEGAN TO ESCAPE THROUGH A FAILED GASKET IN A COMPRESSOR AT THE EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY'S BLANCO GASOLINE PLANT NEAR BLOOMFIELD, NEW MEXICO. THE COMPRESSOR STATION OPERATOR HEARD A LOUD NOISE, RAN TO THE VALVE MANIFOLD OUTSIDE THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING, AND TRIED TO SHUT OFF THE GAS SUPPLY TO COMPRESSOR NO. 14. ANOTHER EMPLOYEE, WHO ALSO HEARD THE NOISE, RAN INTO THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING AND TRIED TO SHUT DOWN THE COMPRESSOR ENGINE. BEFORE EITHER PERSON SUCCEEDED, THE ESCAPING GAS IGNITED, EXPLODED, AND BURNED. THE TWO EMPLOYEES WERE BURNED SEVERELY, ONE COMPRESSOR WAS DESTROYED, ANOTHER COMPRESSOR WAS DAMAGED, THE WINDOWS AND DOORS OF THE COMPRESSOR BUILDING WERE BLOWN OUT, AND OTHER STRUCTURAL DAMAGE RESULTED.

Probable Cause: The probable cause was the improper tightening of compressor head bolts, which caused a compressor head gasket to rupture and release natural gas that ignited; contributing factors were El Paso’s lack of proper bolt-tightening procedures and maintenance training, and inadequate emergency-procedure training that delayed blowdown and extended the emergency.

Ntsbnumber: DCA83MP019

Report Number: PAR-83-04

Addressee Name: El Paso Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1985-02-19

Addressee Acronym: EPNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-03-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: EL PASO NATURAL GAS COMPANY LETTER: WE HAVE REVIEWED OUR DECISIONS TO CALL IN THE BLOOMFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT DURING THIS EMERGENCY. IT IS OUR OPINION THAT WE ERRED IN THIS DECISION BECAUSE IT CALLED FOR OUTSIDE HELP TO CONTROL THE FIRE. RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE YOU RIGHTFULLY PLACE ON PERIODIC AND CONTINUED TRAINING IN PLANT EMERGENCY CONTROL, WE FEEL IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE TO FAMILIARIZE SUCH A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT ON A CONTINUING BASIS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TURNOVER IN SUCH DEPARTMENTS. THESE VOLUNTEERS WOULD BE UNNECESSARILY EXPOSED TO DANGERS WHICH THEY NEITHER UNDERSTOOD OR HAD RECENT TRAINING IN CONTAINING. IT IS OUR CONSIDERED OPINION THAT THE BEST WAY TO HANDLE SUCH EMERGENCIES IS TO UTILIZE OUR OWN TRAINED PERSONNEL TO SHUT DOWN AND BLOW DOWN THE PLANT AND CONTAIN THE FIRE WITH EXISTING FIRE-FIGHTING FACILITIES. WE DO INTEND TO SUPPORT LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND UTILIZE THEM ON PERIMETER FACILITIES IN CASE OF EMERGENCY CONDITIONS.

Addressee Acronym: EPNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-09-06

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: EL PASO LETTER: WITH RESPECT TO YOUR RECOMMENDATION AND COMMENTS REGARDING THE USE AT EL PASO'S FACILITIES OF EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESOURCES, SUCH AS THE BLOOMFIELD VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT, PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT EL PASO AGREES THAT LIAISON WITH SUCH RESOURCES IS DESIRABLE. IN THIS REGARD, EL PASO HAS DESIGNATED ONE EMPLOYEE IN EACH OF OUR THREE DIVISIONS TO SERVE AS LIAISON WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESOURCES. MR. DAVID HALL HAS BEEN DESIGNATED AS THE LIAISON FOR THE SAN JUAN DIVISION. THE LIAISONS HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO WORK WITH OTHER COMPANY EMPLOYEES, AS NECESSARY, IN PROVIDING COOPERATION WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PERSONNEL IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BECOME BETTER ACQUAINTED WITH EL PASO'S FACILITIES. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT SUCH EFFORT WILL ENABLE THE PARTIES TO IDENTIFY THE TYPES OF EMERGENCIES OF WHICH EL PASO NOTIFIES LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE RESOURCES AND TO PLAN HOW THE PARTIES CAN ENGAGE IN MUTUAL ASSISTANCE TO MINIMIZE HAZARDS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY.

Addressee Acronym: EPNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-02-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: EPNG

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1984-07-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence