NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-026

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-026.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY: DEVELOP FORMAL, WRITTEN COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING THE PRECISE LOCATIONS OF YOUR PIPELINES THAT TRAVERSE NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS BEFORE DREDGING OR SIMILAR ACTIVITIES ARE COMMENCED IN THE PIPELINE AREA.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-10-16

Adopted Date: 1998-09-28

Overall Date Closed: 1999-04-21

Synopsis: ABOUT 4:50 A.M. CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME ON 10/23/96, IN TIGER PASS, LOUISIANA, THE CREW OF THE BEAN HORIZON CORPORATION (BEAN) DREDGE DAVE BLACKBURN DROPPED A STERN SPUD INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE CHANNEL IN PREPARATION FOR CONTINUED DREDGING OPERATIONS. THE SPUD STRUCK & RUPTURED A 12-INCH-DIAMETER SUBMERGED NATURAL GAS STEEL PIPELINE OWNED BY TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE COMPANY (TENNESSEE GAS). THE PRESSURIZED (ABOUT 930 PSIG) NATURAL GAS RELEASED FROM THE PIPELINE ENVELOPED THE STERN OF THE DREDGE & AN ACCOMPANYING TUG, THE G.C. LINSMIER. WITHIN SECONDS OF REACHING THE SURFACE, THE NATURAL GAS IGNITED. THE RESULTING FIRE DESTROYED THE DREDGE & THE TUG. ALL 28 CREWMEMBERS FROM THE DREDGE & TUG ESCAPED INTO THE WATER OR ONTO NEARBY VESSELS.

Probable Cause: The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this accident was the failure of Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company to accurately locate the company’s pipeline across Tiger Pass before that location was dredged. Contributing to the accident was the revocation by the Research and Special Programs Administration of Federal requirements for all pipeline operators to install and maintain markers to identify the locations at which their pipelines cross navigable waterways.

Ntsbnumber: DCA97FP001

Report Number: PAR-98-01-SUM

Addressee Name: Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 1999-04-21

Addressee Acronym: TGP

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1999-03-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 3/31/99 4:12:41 PM MC# 990338 WE HAVE COMPLETED DEVELOPMENT OF A FORMAL, WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION OF OUR PIPELINE WHEN NOTIFIED OF DREDGING AND OTHER SIMILAR PIPELINE CROSSINGS. THESE PROCEDURES ARE ATTACHED AS "PROCEDURE AND CHECKLIST FOR PIPELINE CROSSING BY DREDGING OPERATORS."

Addressee Acronym: TGP

Addressee Organization Type: S-State Government

Communication Date: 1999-04-21

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: P-98-26 ASKED THAT TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE DEVELOP FORMAL, WRITTEN COMPANY PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING THE PRECISE LOCATIONS OF ITS PIPELINES THAT TRAVERSE NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS BEFORE DREDGING OR SIMILAR ACTIVITIES ARE COMMENCED IN THE PIPELINE AREA. BECAUSE TENNESSEE GAS PIPELINE HAS DEVELOPED FORMAL WRITTEN PROCEDURES FOR IDENTIFYING THE LOCATION OF ITS PIPELINES, P-98-26 HAS BEEN CLASSIFIED "CLOSED--ACCEPTABLE ACTION."