NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-001

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-001.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MOBIL PIPE LINE COMPANY: PROVIDE FORMAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM INSPECTIONS OF THE PIPELINE RIGHTS-OF-WAY COVERING, AT A MINIMUM, THE FOLLOWING AREAS: ITEMS TO BE INSPECTED, METHODS OF IDENTIFYING DEFICIENT CONDITIONS, AND ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN TO CORRECT THE DEFICIENCIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-02-22

Adopted Date: 1985-02-22

Overall Date Closed: 1989-05-19

Synopsis: ON FEBRUARY 28, 1984, AT 10:30 A.M., C.S.T., A FRONT END LOADER, OPERATED BY AN EMPLOYEE OF PIONEER CONCRETE OF TEXAS, INC. (PIONEER), STRUCK AND PUNCTURED AN 8-INCH-DIAMETER NATURAL GAS LIQUID (NGL) PIPELINE IN HURST, TEXAS, OPERATED BY MOBIL PIPE LINE COMPANY (MOBIL). NGL AT 460 PSIG PRESSURE ESCAPED FROM THE PUNCTURE AND WAS IGNITED WHILE THE OPERATOR OF THE FRONTEND LOADER WAS BACKING THE LOADER AWAY FROM THE PUNCTURED PIPELINE. THE OPERATOR RECEIVED FIRST-AND SECOND-DEGREE BURNS OVER 30 PERCENT OF HIS BODY. SOON AFTER THE RELEASE OF NGL, AUTOMATIC VALVES IN THE PIPELINE CLOSED TO ISOLATE THE PUNCTURE WITHIN A 3-MILE SEGMENT OF THE PIPELINE. THE FIRE EXTINGUISHED ITSELF AT 8:30 P.M. WHEN THE NGL WITHIN THE ISOLATED SEGMENT HAD BEEN CONSUMED. BY MIDMORNING OF FEBRUARY 29, 1984, THE DAMAGED PIPE HAD BEEN REMOVED AND REPLACED, AND THE PIPELINE WAS RETURNED TO SERVICE.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA84FP018

Report Number: None

Addressee Name: ExxonMobil Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1989-05-19

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1989-05-19

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1988-10-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence