NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-010

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-010.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE MAPCO NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS, INC.: PERFORM SAFETY ANALYSES OF THE SAFETY CONTROL SYSTEMS FOR EACH OF YOUR UNDERGROUND STORAGE SYSTEMS AND, BASED ON THOSE ANALYSES, MODIFY THE CONTROL SYSTEMS TO PROVIDE AN ADEQUATE LEVEL OF SAFETY FOR THE PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1993-12-15

Adopted Date: 1993-11-04

Overall Date Closed: 1994-05-26

Synopsis: ON APRIL 7, 1992, AN UNCONTROLLED RELEASE OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUIDS (HVLS) FROM A SALT DOME STORAGE CAVERN IN THE SEMINOLE PIPELINE SYSTEM NEAR BRENHAM, TEXAS, FORMED A LARGE, HEAVIER-THAN-AIR GAS CLOUD THAT EXPLODED. THREE PEOPLE DIED FROM INJURIES SUSTAINED EITHER FROM THE BLAST OR IN THE FIRE. AN ADDITIONAL 21 PEOPLE WERE TREATED FOR INJURIES AT AREA HOSPITALS. DAMAGE FROM THE ACCIDENT EXCEEDED $9 MILLION.

Probable Cause: None

Ntsbnumber: DCA92MP006

Report Number: PAR-93-01

Addressee Name: MAPCO Natural Gas Liquids, Inc.

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1994-05-26

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1994-01-31

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SEMINOLE HAS VOLUNTARILY APPLIED THE PRINCIPLES OF PROCESS HAZARD MANAGEMENT & PREPARED A PROCESS SAFETY MANUAL & CONDUCTED A HAZOP SAFETY ANALYSIS FOR THE OPERATION OF THE BRENHAM CAVERN. MAPL ALSO INTENDS TO APPLY THIS SAME PROCESS TO OTHER NON-TEXAS FACILITIES WHICH IT OPERATES. THIS & THE APPLICATION OF TRC RULE 94 DIRECTLY IMPLEMENT P-93-10.

Addressee Organization Type: P-Private Industry

Communication Date: 1994-05-26

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD ACKNOWLEDGES YOUR COMMITMENT TO APPLY THE REQUIREMENTS OF TEXAS RAILROAD COMMISSION RULE 94 TO ALL SEMINOLE AND MAPL UNDERGROUND FACILITIES, INCLUDING THOSE OUTSIDE THE STATE OF TEXAS. WE BELIEVE THAT COMMITMENT, TOGETHER WITH YOUR INTENTION TO USE SAFETY ANALYSES ON ALL MAPCO UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES TO IDENTIFY & IMPLEMENT SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS, ACHIEVES THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. THEREFORE THE BOARD HAS CLASSIFIED RECOMMENDATION P-93-10 "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."