NTSB Safety Recommendation P-93-019

NTSB safety recommendation P-93-019.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: DEVELOP RECOMMENDED SAFETY PRACTICE FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, AND OPERATION OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUID AND NATURAL GAS GEOLOGIC UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES OTHER THAN SOLUTION-MINED STORAGE FACILITIES.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Issued Date: 1993-12-15

Adopted Date: 1993-11-04

Overall Date Closed: 1997-03-20

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: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Reconsidered

Addressee Date Closed: 1997-03-20

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1996-08-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: API MEMBER COMPANIES DO NOT CURRENTLY OPERATE GEOLOGIC UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES: SUCH FACILITIES ARE PRIMARILY FOR NATURAL GAS. FOR THIS REASON API DOES NOT HAVE THE REQUISITE TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO DRAFT A RECOMMENDED PRACTICE.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1994-01-12

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: SINCE GEOLOGICAL STORAGE IS USED FOR NATURAL GAS, AGA HAS AGREED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN DEVELOPING SUCH A STANDARD IN COORDINATION WITH THE API.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1994-07-27

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION HAS AGREED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN RESPONDING TO P-93-19. WE ARE CONTINUING TO COORDINATE OUR EFFORTS WITH THEIRS.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1994-11-02

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: AGA HAS AGREED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN RESPONDING TO SAFETY RECOMMENDATION P-93-19.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1997-03-20

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD ISSUED P-93-19 & -20 AS A RESULT OF ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE APRIL 1992 EXPLOSION IN THE SEMINOLE PIPELINE SYSTEM NEAR BRENHAM, TEXAS. P-93-19 ASKED API TO DEVELOP PRECOMMENDED SAFETY PRACTICES FOR THE DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, & OPERATION OF HIGHLY VOLATILE LIQUID & NATURAL GAS GEOLOGIC UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES OTHER THAN SOLUTION-MINED STORAGE FACILITIES. THE API HAS ADVISED THE BOARD THAT ITS MEMBERS DO NOT PRESENTLY OPERATE GEOLOGIC UNDERGROUND STORAGE FACILITIES; THEREFORE, P-93-19 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--RECONSIDERED."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1994-02-22

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE API HAS DISCUSSED THIS RECOMMENDATION WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA) AND THAT THE AGA HAS AGREED TO TAKE THE LEAD IN DEVELOPING SUCH A STANDARD. PENDING FURTHER RESPONSE FROM YOUR OFFICE, RECOMMENDATION P-93-19 WILL BE CLASSIFIED AS "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE ALTERNATE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1994-10-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT THE API WILL COORDINATE ITS EFFORTS WITH THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA) TO MEET THE INTENT OF THIS RECOMMENDATION. PENDING FURTHER RESPONSE, RECOMMENDATION P-93-19 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCPETABLE RSPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1995-02-24

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD UNDERSTANDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA) HAS AGREED TO DEVELOP SAFETY PRACTICES AS NOTED IN THIS RECOMMENDATION. PENDING THEIR DEVELOPMENT, P-93-19 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."