NTSB Safety Recommendation P-86-006

NTSB safety recommendation P-86-006.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION: DEVELOP, IN COORDINATION WITH LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCIES, A SYSTEM INDEPENDENT OF THE TELEPHONE TO NOTIFY WITHOUT DELAY FIRE, POLICE, OR OTHER LOCAL SAFETY OFFICIALS ABOUT EMERGENCY CONDITIONS AT ITS NATURAL GAS LIQUEFACTION PLANTS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1986-04-17

Adopted Date: 1986-03-22

Overall Date Closed: 1987-05-14

Synopsis: ABOUT 10:50 A.M., ON AUGUST 22, 1985, LIQUID METHANE WAS BEING DRAINED FROM THE COLD BOX INTO A VERTICAL ALUMINUM TANK 3 FEET IN DIAMETER AND 7 FEET TALL (VESSEL 17.23A) AT THE ALABAMA GAS CORPORATION'S (ALAGASCO) NATURAL GAS LIQUEFACTION PLANT IN PINSON, ALABAMA. THERE WAS NO PRESSURE GAUGE ON THE TANK. SHORTLY AFTER THE LIQUID METHANE BEGAN ENTERING VESSEL 17.23A, THE WELD ATTACHING AN 8 1/4-INCH BY 12-INCH ALUMINUM PLATE THAT WAS BEING USED TO COVER A HOLE THAT HAD BEEN CUT IN THE SIDE AT THE BOTTOM OF VESSEL 17.23A FAILED. THE PRESSURE WITHIN THE TANK PROPELLED THE PLATE 24 FEET AWAY INTO A BUILDING WHICH HOUSED A CONTROL ROOM, A BOILER ROOM, AND OFFICES. SOME OF THE WINDOWS IN THE CONTROL ROOM WERE BLOWN INWARD, AND METHANE ESCAPING FROM THE OPENING IN VESSEL 17.23A ENTERED THE BUILDING, WHERE IT WAS IGNITED BY ONE OF SEVERAL AVAILABLE IGNITION SOURCES. SIX PERSONS WERE INJURED, AND DAMAGE TO THE PLANT WAS ESTIMATED TO BE MORE THAN $1 MILLION.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA85FP018

Report Number: PAR-86-01-SUM

Addressee Name: Alabama Natural Gas Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1987-05-14

Addressee Acronym: Alagasco

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-06-16

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM INDEPENDENT OF THE TELEPHONE WILL BE INSTALLED WITHIN THE PLANT AND ANOTHER WILL BE INSTALLED OUTSIDE THE PLANT FENCE WITH A DIRECT LINE TO THE CENTER POINT AND BIRMINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENTS. THE SYSTEM, UPON ACTIVATION, WILL NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF EMER GENCY CONDITIONS AT THE NATURAL GAS LIQUEFACTION PLANT. P-86-6 IS SCHEDULED TO BE IN COMPLIANCE BY 9/18/86.

Addressee Acronym: Alagasco

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-01-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED AND IS OPERABLE. THE SYSTEM USES HAND-HELD RADIO TRANSMITTERS WHICH THE OPERATORS WEAR CONTINUOUSLY WHEN ON DUTY, AND WILL TRANSMIT A SIGNAL FROM ANYWHERE WITHIN THE PLANT AREA TO AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE FROM THE FIRE DEPT., PARAMEDICS, AND POLICE DEPT. AN ADDED FEATURE IS THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN EXPLOSION IN THE CONTROL ROOM SUCH AS OCCURRED IN THE 8/22/85 ACCIDENT, THE EMERGENCY RESPONSE CONTRACTOR WILL BE NOTIFIED AUTOMATICALLY. THE SYSTEM IS SELF-CHECKING AND IS THEREFORE ALWAYS OPERABLE.

Addressee Acronym: Alagasco

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1987-05-14

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Addressee Acronym: Alagasco

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1986-09-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence