NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-021

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-021.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MID-AMERICA PIPELINE SYSTEM: ESTABLISH, IN ADDITION TO ON-THE-JOB TRAINING, A FORMAL DISPATCHER TRAINING PROGRAM FOR IDENTIFYING AND RESPONDING TO EMERGENCY CONDITIONS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-06-18

Adopted Date: 1984-05-15

Overall Date Closed: 1988-04-01

Synopsis: ON MARCH 15, 1983, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETER LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) PIPELINE OPERATED BY THE MID-AMERICA PIPELINE SYSTEM (MAPCO) WAS DAMAGED BY A ROTATING POWER AUGER BEING USED TO DRILL HOLES IN ROCKY TERRAIN TO PLANT TREES ON LOT 8, SECTION 5, BLOCK 43 OF THE CHAPARRAL ESTATES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT NEAR WEST ODESSA, TEXAS. THE DAMAGED PIPELINE RUPTURED AND WITHIN 3 MINUTES, LPG, WHICH WAS BEING TRANSPORTED AT 1,075 PSIG, ESCAPED, VAPORIZED, AND WAS IGNITED BY AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE. IN THE RESULTANT FIRE, FIVE PERSONS WERE KILLED AND FIVE PERSONS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED--ONE PERSON DIED 5 DAYS LATER. TWO MOBILE HOMES, A SMALL FRAME HOUSE, AN AUGER TRUCK, TWO CARS, AND A PICKUP TRUCK WERE DESTROYED; 9,375 BARRELS OF LPG WERE BURNED.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Dispatch, Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA83MP015

Report Number: PAR-84-01

Addressee Name: Mid-America Pipeline System

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1988-04-01

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-12-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE OR FOLLOWUP TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE DISPATCHER TRAINING PROGRAM, WHICH INCLUDES ON-THE-JOB TRAINING AND ANNUAL FIELD VISITS TO FIELD LOCATIONS HAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE HYDRAULIC EVALUATIONS AND REGULARLY SCHEDULED DISPATCHER DISCUSSION SESSIONS.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-10-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: IN ORDER FOR A DISPATCHER TO IDENTIFY AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, AN IN-DEPTH AND THOROUGH KNOWLEDGE OF HYDRAULICS IS REQUIRED. TO SUPPLY THIS BACKGROUND TO THE DISPATCHERS, THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT OF MID-AMERICA PIPELINE HAS DEVELOPED AND PROVIDED TO THE DISPATCHERS A ONE-DAY COURSE ON HYDRAULIC MODELING. NOT ONLY THE BASICS THAT GO INTO HYDRAULICS, BUT TRAINING THAT IS SPECIFIC TO OUR PIPELINE SYSTEM IS INCLUDED. A COPY OF THE PROGRAM OUTLINE (ATTACHMENT 1), IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR REVIEW. THIS PROGRAM IS OFFERED ANNUALLY TO ALL DISPATCHERS AND IS PART OF THE ORIENTATION PROGRAM FOR DISPATCHER TRAINEES. A FINAL EXAM IS GIVEN TO ALL ATTENDEES AND UPON OBTAINING HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON THE SCORES, WE PLAN TO INSTITUTE A MINIMUM SCORE REQUIREMENT. THE REGULARLY SCHEDULED DISPATCHER DISCUSSION SESSIONS COVER THESE SPECIFIC TOPICS AND UTILIZES THE FOLLOWING FORMAT: 1. UNRESOLVED DISCUSSION TOPICS CARRY OVERS FROM PREVIOUS MEETINGS. 2. NEW PROBLEM AREAS UNIT OPERATING AND TELEMETRY PROBLEMS AND SAFETY CONCERNS. 3. MAIN DISCUSSION TOPIC OR PROGRAM -INCLUDE REVIEW OF EMERGENCY PROCEDURES, SCADA SYSTEM UPDATES, MAP READING, ETC. 4. NEXT MEETING DATE AND SUGGESTED TOPICS. COPIES OFI YEAR ARE INCLUDED FOR YOUR REVIEW (ATTACHMENTS 2 AND 3).

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-04-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-08-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-12-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence