NTSB Safety Recommendation P-91-011

NTSB safety recommendation P-91-011.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, AND THE INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: NOTIFY YOUR MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUM STANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO DEVELOPE EXPLICIT PROCEDURES ON THE SUPPORT, MOVEMENT, AND OTHER HANDLING OF OF PRESSURIZED PIPELINES AND TO DEVELOP TRAINING AND TESTING PROGRAMS TO ANNUALLY QUALIFY EMPLOYEES TO PERFORM EACH RESPONSIBILITY ASSIGNED TO THEM.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1991-07-17

Adopted Date: 1991-06-11

Overall Date Closed: 1991-11-15

Synopsis: ON MARCH 13, 1990, THE TEXAS EASTERN PRODUCTS PIPELINE COMPANY (TEPPCO) LINE P-41, AN 8-INCH-DIAMETER 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, AND FORMED A WHITE, HEAVIER-THAN-AIR GAS CLOUD. THE GAS CLOUD FLOWED DOWNHILL ALONG CR 43 UNTIL IT ENTERED NORTH BLENHEIM AND IGNITED. THE FIRE QUICKLY CONSUMED THE PROPANE VAPOR AND FLASHED BACK TO THE PIPELINE RUPTURE. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED, SEVEN PERSONS INJURED, AND MORE THAN $4 MILLION IN PROPERTY DAMAGE AND OTHER COSTS RESULTED.

Probable Cause: None

Keywords: Training and Education

Ntsbnumber: DCA90MP006

Report Number: PAR-91-01

Addressee Name: American Gas Association

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1991-11-15

Addressee Name: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed--No Longer Applicable

Addressee Date Closed: 1991-11-15

Addressee Name: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1991-08-07

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-08-07

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: WE HAVE NOTIFIED API MEMBERS WHO OPERATE PIPELINES OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT INVOLVING THE RUPTURE OF THE TEXAS EASTERN PRODUCTS PIPELINE CO. LIQUID PROPANE PIPELINE THAT OCCURRED ON MARCH 13, 1990. WE HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT THEY REVIEW THEIR OPERATING PROCEDURES, TRAINING PROGRAMS AND TESTING PROGRAMS TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE ADEQUATE FOR THE SUPPORT, MOVEMENT AND OTHER HANDLING OF PRESSURIZED PIPELINES.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1991-11-15

Communication Type: Official Correspondence