NTSB Safety Recommendation P-85-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-85-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPELINE COMPANY: REVIEW ALL CATHODIC PROTECTION TEST STATION READINGS FOR PIPE INSTALLED IN CASING TO IDENTIFY THOSE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF A DIRECT OR PARTIAL ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT, CONDUCT NECESSARY INSPECTIONS AND TESTS TO CONFIRM OR REJECT THE EXISTENCE OF CORROSION, AND TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION TO RESTORE CATHODIC PROTECTION AND TO ELIMINATE UNSAFE CONDITIONS. (URGENT)

Priority: CLASS I

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1985-06-10

Adopted Date: 1985-06-06

Overall Date Closed: 1986-07-01

Synopsis: ABOUT 9:15 P.M. C.S.T., ON APRIL 27, 1985, NATURAL GAS AT ABOUT 960 PSIG RUPTURED A 30-INCH DIAMETER PIPELINE, TORE OUT ABOUT 29 FEET OF THE CARRIER PIPE, BLEW APART ABOUT 16 FEET OF A 36-INCH DIAMETER CASING PIPE, BLASTED AN OPENING ACROSS KENTUCKY STATE HIGHWAY 90, AND CUT OUT A PEAR-SHAPED CRATER APPROXIMATELY 90 FEET LONG, 38 FEET WIDE, AND 12 FEET DEEP ABOUT 2 MILES EAST OF BEAUMONT, KENTUCKY. THE ESCAPING NATURAL GAS IGNITED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND INCINERATED AN AREA EXTENDING 800 FEET NORTH AND SOUTH AND 600 FEET EAST AND WEST OF THE RUPTURE. FIVE PERSONS WERE KILLED IN A HOUSE ABOUT 320 FEET NORTH OF THE RUPTURE, AND THREE PERSONS WERE INJURED IN A HOUSETRAILER ABOUT 330 FEET SOUTH OF THE RUPTURE. THE GAS-FED FIRE DESTROYED TWO HOUSES, THREE HOUSETRAILERS, A SAWMILL, TWO BARNS, A SCHOOLBUS, NUMEROUS PARKED AND ABANDONED AUTOMOBILES, AND NINE PIECES OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA85FP011

Report Number: PAR-87-01

Addressee Name: Texas Eastern Gas Pipeline Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1986-07-01

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1985-06-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SINCE THE KENTUCKY INCIDENT, INSPECTIONS OF THE CARRIER PIPE WITH IN-LINE TOOLS INCLUDING THOSE PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED IN THE VICINITY OF THE FAILURE, HAVE BEEN ACCELERATED. THE COMPANY HAS EXPEDITED ITS CONTINUING PROGRAM OF INSPECTION AND TESTS OF CASINGS WHICH MAY NOT BE ELECTRICALLY INSULATED BY OTHER APPROPRIATE METHODS IN AN EFFORT TO DETERMINE WHETHER CORROSION EXISTS AND TO IMPLEMENT CORRECTIVE ACTION AND ELIMINATE ANY UNSAFE CONDITIONS WHERE CORROSION IS DETECTED.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-03-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPELINE CO.: SEE LOG FILE P-266.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-01-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-07-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence