NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-028

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-028.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THAT INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA: INFORM YOUR MEMBERS OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PIPELINE RUPTURE & FIRE IN TIGER PASS, LOUISIANA, & URGE THEM TO TAKE THE ACTIONS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT ALL THEIR PIPELINES THAT CROSS NAVIGABLE WATERWAYS ARE ACCURATELY LOCATED & MARKED.

Priority: CLASS II

Overall Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Issued Date: 1998-10-16

Adopted Date: 1998-09-28

Overall Date Closed: 2001-04-05

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: Interstate Natural Gas Association of America

Addressee Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received

Addressee Date Closed: 2001-04-05

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-08-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: TO DATE THE SAFETY BOARD HAS HAD NO RESPONSE FROM INGAA ADDRESSING P-98-28, AND WE WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION.

Addressee Acronym: INGAA

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-04-05

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Because the Safety Board has never received a response from INGAA on this issue, Safety Recommendation P-98-28 is classified “Closed--Unacceptable Action, No Response Received.”