NTSB Safety Recommendation P-84-022

NTSB safety recommendation P-84-022.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MID-AMERICA PIPELINE SYSTEM: ENFORCE COMPANY REQUIREMENTS FOR INSPECTIONS OF PIPELINE MARKERS BY ITS AREA OPERATORS TO ASSURE ACCURACY, THOROUGHNESS, AND EARLY CORRECTION OF IDENTIFIED DEFICIENCIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1984-06-18

Adopted Date: 1984-05-15

Overall Date Closed: 1987-08-19

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

Ntsbnumber: DCA83MP015

Report Number: PAR-84-01

Addressee Name: Mid-America Pipeline System

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-08-19

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: ENFORCEMENT OF COMPANY REQUIREMENTS FOR INSPECTION OF PIPE LINE MARKERS ON A REGULAR BASIS HAS BEEN STRESSED TO FIELD OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL. THIS HAS BEEN ACCOM PLISHED THROUGH IN-DEPTH DISCUSSIONS IN THE MONTHLY SAFETY MEETINGS.

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