NTSB Safety Recommendation P-91-008

NTSB safety recommendation P-91-008.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TEXAS EASTERN PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY: INSTALL, AT INTERVALS SUFFICIENT TO RAPIDLY STOP THE FLOW OF PRODUCT IN THE EVENT OF A RUPTURE, REMOTE- AND AUTOMATIC-OPERATED VALVES (INCLUDING CHECK VALVES) ON PIPE LINE SEGMENTS THAT PASS THROUGH OR ARE ADJACENT TO POPU LATED AREAS.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1991-07-17

Adopted Date: 1991-06-11

Overall Date Closed: 2002-04-03

Synopsis: ON MARCH 13, 1990, THE TEXAS EASTERN PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY (TEPPCO) LINE P-41, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETE LIQUID PROPANE PIPELINE, RUPTURED WITHIN A PIPELINE CASING BENEATH COUNTY ROAD 43 (CR 43) NEAR THE VILLAGE OF NORTH BLENHEIM, NEW YORK. LIQUID PROPANE GAS ESCAPED FROM THE ENDS OF THE CASING, VAPORIZED, & FORMED A WHITE, HEAVIER-THAN-AIR GAS CLOUD. THE GAS CLOUD FLOWED DOWNHILL ALONG CR 43 UNTIL IT ENTERED NORTH BLENHEIM & IGNITED. THE FIRE QUICKLY CONSUMED THE PROPANE VAPOR & FLASHED BACK TO THE PIPELINE RUPTURE, TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED, SEVEN PERSONS INJURED AND MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE & OTHER COSTS RESULTED.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MP006

Report Number: PAR-91-01

Addressee Name: Texas Eastern Gas Pipeline Corporation

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-04-03

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-04-03

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: The Safety Board understands that TEPPCO conducted a hydraulic study of its system with populated areas factored into the decision-making process, and has installed seven remotely operated valves and one check valve on the 8-inch Line P41 to rapidly stop the flow of products in the event of a rupture. The installation of these valves is fully responsive to the Board's recommendation. Accordingly, Safety Recommendation P-91-8 is classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1992-06-01

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ALTHOUTH THE SAFETY BOARD AGREES THAT THE PREVENTION OF PIPELINE FAILURES SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED, THE BOARD ALSO BELIEVES THAT TEPPCO SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE NEED TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUID RELEASES. MITIGATION IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT CONSIDERING THE AGING OF THE INDUSTRY'S PIEPELINES AND THE STEADY INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE LIVING NEAR HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINES.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1992-10-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT TEPPCO AGREES THAT WHILE PREVENTION OF PIPELINE FAILURES SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED, THE NEED TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUID RELEASES SHOULD ALSO BE PART OF TEPPCO'S PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM. FURTHERMORE, WE ARE PLEASED TO LEARN THAT TEPPCO HAS BEGUN TO IDENTIFY THE CLASSES OF POPULATION AREAS ON OR NEAR ITS LIQUID PETROLEUM GAS PIPELINE & THAT TEPPCO INTENDS TO BEGIN INSTALLING REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES & CHECK VALVES ON ITS LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) LINES IN 1993. WE COMMEND TEPPCO FOR TAKING SITE-SPECIFIC ACTIONS TO ENHANCE ITS ABILITY TO IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN THE P-41 LINE, THEREBY MITIGATING THE EFFECTS OF ANY INADVERTENT RELEASE OF PROPANE. RECOMMENDATION P-91-8 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED AS "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING COMPLETION OF THE INSTALLATION OF THE VALVES. WE WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING UPDATE REPORTS AS THE PROJECT PROGRESSES.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2001-09-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: To date, the Safety Board has not received any further response from TEPPCO addressing any of these recommendations. The Board would appreciate being informed about the efforts that have been made or are being made to implement Safety Recommendations P-91-5 through -10. Enclosed are copies of all correspondence concerning these safety recommendations. Please address your response to Ms. Marion C. Blakey, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board and refer to the recommendations by number in your response.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 2002-01-18

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 01/24/2002 12:06:04 PM MC# 2020082 TEPPCO has installed seven remote-operated valves and one check valve on the 8" Line P41 to rapidly stop the flow of products in the event of a rupture. The placement of these valves came as the result of a hydraulic study of the system with populated areas factored into the decision making process.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1991-10-10

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TEPPCO STATES THAT ITS PROCEDURES FOCUS PRIMARILY ON PREVENTING RATHER THAN MITIGATING A FAILURE.

Addressee Acronym: TETCo

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1992-07-28

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TEPPCO CONCURS WITH THE BOARD THAT ALTHOUGH PREVENTION OF PIPELINE FAILURES SHOULD BE EMPHASIZE, THE NEED TO MITIGATE THE EFFECTS OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUID RELEASES SHOULD BE A PART OF A PIPELINE COMPANY'S PUBLIC SAFETY PROGRAM. TEPPCO INTENDS TO BEGIN INSTALLING REMOTELY CONTROLLED VALVES AND CHECK VALVES ON ITS LPG LINES IN 1993.