NTSB Safety Recommendation P-98-029

NTSB safety recommendation P-98-029.

THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE: 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 - Acceptable Action

Issued Date: 1998-10-16

Adopted Date: 1998-09-28

Overall Date Closed: 2002-02-04

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: American Petroleum Institute

Addressee Status: Closed - Acceptable Action

Addressee Date Closed: 2002-02-04

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1998-12-11

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 12/16/98 12:07:18 PM MC# 981466 IN RESPONSE TO P-98-29, API HAS INFORMED ITS PIPELINE MEMBERS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE RECOMMENDATION AND SENT COPIES OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO OUR MEMBERS. THE REST OF THE RESPONSE GOES ON TO QUESTION THE BOARD'S USE OF THE TERM "PRECISELY LOCATE" IN P-98-25 TO RSPA. THE API STATED THAT PIPELINE MARKERS SERVE A LIMITED PURPOSE AND ARE INAPPROPRIATE FOR OTHER PURPOSES. ACCORDING TO API, MARKERS ARE TO PROVIDE AN APPROXIMATION OF THE LOCATION OF THE PIPELINE, AND TO PROVIDE THE NAME OF THE PIPELINE OPERATOR WITH A PHONE NUMBER FOR PERSONS TO CONTACT.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2001-06-08

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Letter Mail Controlled 06/08/2001 7:37:07 PM MC# 2010482 The subject of this safety recommendation was discussed during committee meetings in 1999 as a report from API staff and copies of the recommendation were passed out during the course of the meeting. Other than the safety recommendation itself, no documentation of distribution exists. To correct this oversight, API has now re-sent a copy of this recommendation to its members via e-mail. A copy of that e-mail distribution is attached.

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2002-02-04

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: Safety Board staff has been in contact with API staff regarding this safety recommendation. We have been informed, through previous correspondence, that the Board's recommendation has been sent to API's Operations Technical Committee. Through staff contact, we have been made aware that all member companies have a representative on this technical committee and that, therefore, all member companies have been informed about the accident in Tiger Pass, Louisiana, and have been given a copy of the safety recommendation. In addition, API sent a copy of the recommendation to its members by e-mail on June 5, 1001. This action is responsive to Safety Recommendation P-98-29, which is now classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 1999-02-25

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: THE BOARD NOTES THAT YOU HAVE INFORMED YOUR MEMBERS ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS ACCIDENT AND THAT YOU HAVE SENT COPIES OF THE RECOMMENDATION TO THEM. FOR OUR FILES, WE WOULD APPRECIATE RECEIVING A COPY OF ANY MATERIALS SENT WITH THE BOARD'S RECOMMENDATION TO YOUR MEMBERS. PENDING RECEIPT OF SUCH DOCUMENTATION, P-98-29 IS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE."

Addressee Acronym: API

Addressee Organization Type: A-Associations

Communication Date: 2000-07-17

Communication Type: Official Correspondence

Communication Contents: ON 2/25/99, BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE API LETTER OF 12/11/98, P-98-29 WAS CLASSIFIED "OPEN--ACCEPTABLE RESPONSE," PENDING RECEIPT BY THE SAFETY BOARD OF COPIES OF MATERIALS SENT TO API MEMBERS. ENCLOSED ARE COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATION LETTERS FOR P-80-15, P-81-20, P-93-20, P-95-14, P-95-15, P-96-22, AND P-98-29, AS WELL AS SUBSEQUENT CORRESPONDENCE RELATED TO THESE RECOMMENDATIONS. THE SAFETY BOARD LOOKS FORWARD TO RECEIVING INFORMATION FROM YOU UPDATING THE ABOVE RECOMMENDATIONS.