NTSB Safety Recommendation P-86-002

NTSB safety recommendation P-86-002.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPELINE COMPANY: TRAIN ITS CONSTRUCTION/INSPECTION PERSONNEL IN THE REVISED BACKFILL PROCEDURES AND MONITOR PERIODICALLY THEIR INSPECTION OF PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS TO VERIFY CONFORMANCE WITH THESE PROCEDURES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1986-02-27

Adopted Date: 1986-02-12

Overall Date Closed: 1986-07-01

Synopsis: ABOUT 1300 ON NOVEMBER 25, 1984, TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPELINE COMPANY'S (TEXAS EASTERN) 30-INCH-DIAMETER NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE, CONSTRUCTED IN 1955 AND OPERATING AT 1,000 PSIG PRESSURE, RUPTURED AT A LOCATION ABOUT 3 MILES WEST OF JACKSON, LOUISIANA. GAS BLOWING FROM THE RUPTURE FRACTURED THE PIPE INTO MANY PIECES AND CREATED A HOLE IN THE EARTH ABOUT 90 FEET LONG, 25 FEET WIDE, AND 10 FEET DEEP. THE ESCAPING GAS WAS QUICKLY IGNITED BY ONE OF SEVERAL POTENTIAL SOURCES OF IGNITION (CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT ENGINES, STATIC ELECTRICITY, SPARKS RESULTING FROM DEBRIS BLOWN FROM THE PIPELINE, ETC.). THE RESULTING FIRE INCINERATED AN AREA EXTENDING FROM THE RUPTURE ABOUT 950 FEET NORTH, 500 FEET SOUTH, AND 180 FEET TO THE EAST AND TO THE WEST. WITHIN THIS SPARSELY POPULATED AREA, FIVE PERSONS INVOLVED WITH THE PIPELINE "CONSTRUCTION WORK WERE KILLED AND 23 PERSONS, CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT WERE DAMAGED EXTENSIVELY. OF THE INJURED PERSONS, MOST WERE LOCATED ABOUT 800 FEET NORTH OF THE RUPTURE WITHIN A HUNTING CLUB FACILITY THAT INCLUDED 11 TRAILERS OR CAMPERS ALSO DESTROYED BY FIRE.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA85FP003

Report Number: PAR-86-01-SUM

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: 1986-04-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TEXAS EASTERN GAS PIPELINE CO.: TEXAS EASTERN HAS SUPPLEMENTED ITS CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS WITH NEW SPECIFICATIONS COVERING THE REQUIREMENT FOR SUPPORT AND BACKFILLING OF GAS PIPELINES AS THEY ARE INSTALLED...AND IS CURRENTLY CONDUCTING TRAINING SESSIONS FOR ITS CONSTRUCTION, OPERATING AND INSPECTION PERSONNEL WHICH WILL INSURE THEIR FAMILIARITY WITH THE NEW SPECIFICATIONS. QUALITY ASSURANCE PERSONNEL WILL BE MAKING PERIODIC VISITS TO CONSTRUCTION SITES TO MONITOR ADHERENCE TO THE SPECIFICATIONS.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-07-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence