NTSB Safety Recommendation Letter P-75-015

Page 1Official PDFWASHINGTON, D.C. FOR RELEASE: 6:3O A,M,, E,s,T,, NOVENBER 14, 1975 (202) 426-8787 ISSUED: November 14, 1975 ___________________l____r__l____________- Forwarded to: Mr. H. F. S t e e n P r e s i d e n t E l P a s o N a t u r a l Gas Company P . 0 . Box 2185 American G e n e r a l H o u s t o n , T e x a s B u i l d i n g 77001 S P ETY RECOMMEh T I O N ( S ) P-75-15 A t 12:30 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 G a s Company's ( E l 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 from 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 f o r t h e o r i g i n o f 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 , and g a s r o a r e d a t 5 5 0 - p s i 9 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 and 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 were k i l l e d , and two were b u r n e d and 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 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 o n t o 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 and 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,, and o t h e r towns b a ' t t l e d t h e b l a z e u n t i l it w a s 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 d 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 , T h e 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 2Subsequent investigation by the Safety Board reve extensive internal corrosion in the stub end of line used to transport natural gas from El Paso' compressors to a natural gasoline plant one-half ml Hydrocarbon liquids, hydrogen sulfide gas, carbo and some water had collected in this dead-end pi extended about 10 feet. Therefore, the National Transportation Saf recommends that the El Paso Natural Gas Company: Examine the wall thickness of the existi areas of potential liquid ac plant and at other gas proce remedial action to insure that similar conditions fo potential pipeline failure are not present. (Class I, Urgent followup). REED, Chairman, McADAMS, BURGESS, and HALEY, Me concurred in the above recommendations. THAYER, Mem was absent, not voting. By: cc: Honorable William T. Coleman, Jr. Secretary of Transportation THIS DOCUMENT WILL BE RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC ON THE DATE SHOWN ABOVE. NO PUBLIC DISS BE MADE BEFORE THAT DATE.#