Safety Recommendation P-80-015
Details
Synopsis: ON JULY 15, 1979, 95 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA, ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF (OCS) IN SHELL OIL COMPANY'S (SHELL) SOUTH PASS, BLOCK 62, FIELD, A 14-INCH SOUTHERN NATURAL GAS COMPANY TRANSMISSION LINE OPERATING AT A PRESSURE OF 900 PSIG WAS SNAGGED AND RUPTURED BY A GRAPPLING HOOK FROM THE ANCHOR-HANDLING VESSEL PETE TIDE II, WHILE THE VESSEL WAS GRAPPLING FOR AN ANCHOR PENDANT FROM THE SEMISUBMERSIBLE DRILLING RIG OCEAN QUEEN. THE RESULTING EXPLOSION AND FIRE CAUSED THE DEATH OF TWO PERSONS AND INJURIES TO FOUR OTHERS. DAMAGE TOTALED OVER $1,500,000.
Recommendation: THE NTSB RECOMMENDS THAT THE AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION, THE AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DRILLING CONTRACTORS, AND THE OFFSHORE OPERATORS COMMITTEE: NOTIFY MEMBER COMPANIES OPERATING SIMILAR OFFSHORE EQUIPMENT INSTALLATIONS OF THE PARTICULARS OF THIS ACCIDENT AND URGE THEM TO REVIEW THEIR OPERATING PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES, AND TO REVISE THEM WHERE NECESSARY, TO AFFORD MAXIMUM PROTECTION TO SUBMARINE PIPELINE FACILITIES.
Original recommendation transmittal letter: PDF
Overall Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Mode: Pipeline
Location: New Orleans, LA, United States
Is Reiterated: No
Is Hazmat: No
Is NPRM: No
Accident #: DCA79MP023
Accident Reports:
Report #: PAR-80-01
Accident Date: 7/15/1979
Issue Date: 3/13/1980
Date Closed: 2/4/2002
Addressee(s) and Addressee Status: American Gas Association (Closed - Acceptable Action)
American Petroleum Institute (Closed - Acceptable Action)
International Association of Drilling Contractors (Closed - Unacceptable Action - No Response Received)
Shell Oil Company (Closed--No Longer Applicable)
Keyword(s):

Safety Recommendation History
From: International Association of Drilling Contractors
To: NTSB
Date: 6/14/2001
Response: Letter Mail Controlled 06/26/2001 3:30:56 PM MC# 2010525
From: NTSB
To: International Association of Drilling Contractors
Date: 5/16/2001
Response: As there still has been no response from the IADC on this issue, Safety Recommendation P-80-15 is classified “Closed--Unacceptable Action, No Response Received.” If information is provided on action taken in response to this recommendation, we will consider reclassifying the recommendation.
From: NTSB
To: International Association of Drilling Contractors
Date: 7/17/2000
Response: TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE TO P-80-15. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION IADC HAS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION.
From: NTSB
To: International Association of Drilling Contractors
Date: 4/25/1980
Response:
From: NTSB
To: American Petroleum Institute
Date: 2/4/2002
Response: The Safety Board appreciates API's highlighting the various activities that have taken place since this recommendation was issued, including (1) the extensive revisions to American Society of Mechanical Engineers' (ASME's) code B31.4, which added a new chapter on offshore operations; (2) API's 1999 publication of Recommended Practice 1111, which addresses the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of offshore hydrocarbon pipelines; and (3) the 1994 National Academy of Sciences report on the safety of marine pipelines. We have also searched our records again and found that API had, in fact, responded to our recommendation on March 30, 1980, indicating that the Board's recommendation had been forwarded to two API committees that comprise member companies. In view of the above, Safety Recommendation P-80-15 is now classified "Closed--Acceptable Action."
From: American Petroleum Institute
To: NTSB
Date: 6/8/2001
Response: Letter Mail Controlled 06/08/2001 7:37:07 PM MC# 2010482 API no longer has any records of specific actions related to this safety recommendation from 1980. Many reviews of offshore operating systems and equipment have been undertaken over the last 20 years. Most of the codes, such as ASME B31.4 have been extensively revised, including the addition of a complete new chapter on offshore operations. In 1999, API published Recommended Practice 1111, Design, Construction, Operation, and Maintenance of Offshore Hydrocarbon Pipelines (Limit State Design). In that recommended practice both communications and signs to provide hazard warnings are covered. In 1994, the National Academy of Sciences convened a committee to evaluate the safety of marine pipelines. That committee's final report is entitled, "Improving the Safety of Marine Pipelines." This report is available to offshore production and pipeline operators. The portions of the report that are specific to pipeline avoidance techniques for vessels are attached to this letter.
From: NTSB
To: American Petroleum Institute
Date: 7/17/2000
Response: TO DATE THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE API TO P-80-15. THE SAFETY BOARD WOULD APPRECIATE LEARNING WHAT ACTION API HAS TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT THIS RECOMMENDATION.
From: NTSB
To: American Petroleum Institute
Date: 4/25/1980
Response:
From: American Petroleum Institute
To: NTSB
Date: 3/20/1980
Response: AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE (API) LTR: A COPY OF THE NTSB LETTER OF RECOMMENDATION WAS FORWARDED TO THE API CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON PIPELINE TRANSPORTATION AND THE COMMITTEE ON GATHERING LINE SAFETY.
From: NTSB
To: Shell Oil Company
Date: 4/25/1980
Response:
From: NTSB
To: American Gas Association
Date: 7/20/1987
Response:
From: American Gas Association
To: NTSB
Date: 2/19/1987
Response: THIS HAD BEEN PLACED IN OUR "CLOSED" FILE, BUT OUR FILE DOES NOT CONTAIN A COPY OF THE LETTER SENT TO OUR MEMBERS. WE ARE SEARCHING OUR FILES TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER NTSB'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TRANSMITTED TO OUR MEMBER COMPANIES. IF OUR SEARCH INDICATES THAT IT WAS NOT SENT, WE WILL RECTIFY THE SITUATION. EVALUATOR'S NOTE: SUBSEQUENT TO RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER, WE RECEIVED A COPY OF A LETTER DATED MARCH 2, 1987 FROM AGA TO ITS MEMBER COMPANIES WHICH MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS RECOMMENDATION.
From: American Gas Association
To: NTSB
Date: 1/12/1987
Response: THIS IS ACTUALLY A FOLLOWUP. NO RESPONSE RECEIVED.
From: NTSB
To: American Gas Association
Date: 1/12/1987
Response:
From: NTSB
To: American Gas Association
Date: 4/25/1980
Response: