NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter P-75-014

Page 1Official PDF1 ,/' I / Y D WASHINGTON, D.C. FOR RELEASE: 6:30 A,M,J E ~ S S T ~ J NOVEMBER 14, 1975 ( 2 0 2 ) 426-8787 ISSUED: November 14, 1975 _ - _ _ L - - - - I _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . ~ ~ , Forwarded to: I M r . W a l t e r E . R o g e r s I P r e s i d e n t I I n t e r s t a t e N a t u r a l Gas A s s o c i a t i o n ! of A m e r i c a I I 1 6 6 0 L S t r e e t , N . W . I W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20036 I SAFETY RECOMMENOATION(S) P-75-14 Mr. F r a n k N . I k a r d P r e s i d e n t American P e t r o l e u m I n s t i t u t e 1 8 0 1 K S t r e e t , N . W . W a s h i n g t o n , D . C . 20005 -_--__--_-_______-__--------- ._ A t 1 2 : 3 0 a . m . , C D T , on O c t o b e r 1 3 , 1 9 7 5 , t h e p e r s o n n e l on d u t y a t t h e E l P a s o N a t u r a l Gas Company's (E1 P a s o ) g a s p r o c e s s i n g p l a n t a t G o l d s m i t h , T e x a s , h e a r d g a s l e a k i n g f r o m a p i p e . F i v e e m p l o y e e s b e g a n a s e a r c h for t h e o r i g i n of t h e l e a k . A t 1 2 : 4 5 a.m., a 1 2 - i n c h p i p e r u p t u r e d , a n d g a s r o a r e d a t 5 5 0 - p s i g p r e s s u r e t h r o u g h t h e now-open e n d t h e 1 2 - i n c h p i p e a n d i g n i t e d v i o l e n t l y s e c o n d s l a t e r . o f T h r e e o f t h e f i v e e m p l o y e e s w e r e k i l l e d , a n d two were b u r n e d a n d h o s p i t a l i z e d . The b l a z i n g g a s c a u s e d t h e i n l e t s c r u b b e r p i p i n g t o f a i l , s o t h a t f l a m i n g l i q u i d h y d r o c a r b o n s w e r e blown o v e r t h e o n t o t o p o f o n e o f t h e p l a n t ' s c o m p r e s s o r b u i l d i n g s a n d a c o o l i n g t o w e r . The b l a s t s h a t t e r e d windows i n n e a r b y h o u s e s a n d f l a m e s c o u l d b e s e e n f o r 2 0 m i l e s . F i r e f i g h t e r s f r o m Andrews, K e r m i t , Monahans, a n d o t h e r t o w n s b a t t l e d t h e b l a z e u n t i l it was u n d e r c o n t r o l a t 3 a.m. S m a l l e r f i r e s f e d by p o c k e t s o f n a t u r a l g a s w e r e a l l o w e d t o b u r n o u t . Some p e r s o n s i n t h e town o f G o l d s m i t h were e v a c u a t e d by t h e l o c a l f i r e d e p a r t m e n t a s a p r e c a u t i o n . v a l v e s , The p l a n t was s h u t down b e c a u s e of damaged p i p i n g , and o t h e r e q u i p m e n t . 1 6 9 3#

Page 2Sub sequent inv e s t i g a t i on extensive internal corrosion i line used to transport natural gas from El Paso's compressors to a natural gasol Hydrocarbon liquids, hydrogen su and some water had collected i extended about 10 feet. Therefore, the National Tra recommends that the Interstate Natural Gas Associ America and the American Petroleum Institute: Advise their member compani processing plants to locate any accumulation and internal corr and to take necessary remedial action to prevent similar accidents from occurring. REED, Chairman, McADAMS, BURGESS, and HALEY, Mem concurred in the above recomme absent, not voting. cc: Honorable William T. Coleman, Jr. Secretary of Transportation THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON THE DAT SHOWN ABOVE. NO PUBLIC DISSEMINATION OF THIS DOCUMENT BE MADE BEFORE THAT DATE.#