NTSB Safety Recommendation P-90-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-90-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE NATURAL GAS PIPELINE COMPANY OF AMERICA: ESTABLISH AND IMPLEMENT A PROGRAM TO CONDUCT REGULAR AND ADEQUATE INSPECTIONS OF THE COMPANY'S SUBMERGED PIPELINES AND TO MAINTAIN THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH AS-BUILT CONSTRUCTION PLANS AND ALL RIGHT-OF-WAY PERMITS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1990-10-01

Adopted Date: 1990-09-11

Overall Date Closed: 1991-06-03

Synopsis: ON OCTOBER 3, 1989, THE UNITED STATES FISHING VESSEL NORTHUMBERLAND STRUCK AND RUPTURED A 16-INCH-DIAMETER NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION PIPELINE ABOUT 1/2 NAUTICAL MILE OFFSHORE IN THE GULF OF MEXICO, AND ABOUT 5 1/3 NAUTICAL MILES WEST OF THE JETTIES AT THE ENTRANCE TO SABINE PASS, TEXAS. NATURAL GAS UNDER A PRESSURE OF 835 PSIG WAS RELEASED. AN UNDETERMINED SOURCE ON BOARD THE VESSEL IGNITED THE GAS, AND WITHIN SECONDS, THE ENTIRE VESSEL WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE ON THE VESSEL BURNED ITSELF OUT ON OCTOBER 4. LEAKING GAS FROM THE PIPELINE ALSO CONTINUED TO BURN UNTIL OCTOBER 4. OF THE 14 CREW MEMBERS, 11 DIED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT.

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MM001

Report Number: PAR-90-02

Addressee Name: MidCon Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1991-06-03

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1991-01-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: NATURAL HAS RECENTLY UNDERTAKEN A COMPLETE INSPECTION BY DIVERS OF THE COMPANY'S ENTIRE NETWORK OF ACTIVE OFFSHORE PIPELINES OUT TO A DEPTH OF 22 FEET MEAN SEA LEVEL FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING ANY EXPOSED PIPELINE. THOSE AREAS FOUND TO BE EXPOSED HAVE BEEN REBURIED TO A DEPTH CONSISTENT WITH THE ORIGINAL BURIAL REQUIREMENTS. NATURAL WILL UNDER TAKE SIMILAR PERIODIC REINSPECTIONS AT APPROPRIATE INTERVALS AND WILL REBURY ANY EXPOSED PIPELLINES DISCOVERED IN SUCH REINSPECTIONS TO THE APPROPRIATE BURIAL DEPTH.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1991-06-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence