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Pipeline Accident Report: Columbia Liquified Natural Gas Corporation Explosion and Fire, Cove Point, Maryland, October 6, 1979.

PB80185721

Publication Date	1980
Page Count	44
Abstract	About 3:35 a.m., e.d.t., an explosion caused by liquefied natural gas vapors destroyed a transformer building at the reception facility of the Columbia LNG Corporation, Cove Point, Maryland. Odorless liquefied natural gas leaked through an inadequately tightened LNG pump seal, vaporized, passed through approximately 210 ft of underground electrical conduit, and entered the substation building. One person was killed and one person was seriously injured. Damage to the facility was estimated at about $3 million. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was LNG which leaked through an inadequately tightened LNG pump seal, vaporized, and migrated through a 3-inch conduit, into a substation building where the vaporized LNG-air mixture was ignited by the arcing contacts of a circuit breaker interlock. Contributing to the accident was the absence of any combustible gas indicator to detect and warn personnel of the presence of flammable vapors in the building.
Keywords	Pipeline transportation Accident investigations Flammable gases Vapors Explosions Liquefied natural gas Pumps Seals Leakage Fires Buildings Maryland Pipeline accidents Cove Point(Maryland) Columbia LNG Corporation
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	85E - Pipeline Transportation
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC. Bureau of Accident Investigation.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	198018

Pipeline Accident Report: Columbia Liquified Natural Gas Corporation Explosion and Fire, Cove Point, Maryland, October 6, 1979.

Pipeline Accident Report: Columbia Liquified Natural Gas Corporation Explosion and Fire, Cove Point, Maryland, October 6, 1979.
PB80185721

Publication Date	1980
Page Count	44
Abstract	About 3:35 a.m., e.d.t., an explosion caused by liquefied natural gas vapors destroyed a transformer building at the reception facility of the Columbia LNG Corporation, Cove Point, Maryland. Odorless liquefied natural gas leaked through an inadequately tightened LNG pump seal, vaporized, passed through approximately 210 ft of underground electrical conduit, and entered the substation building. One person was killed and one person was seriously injured. Damage to the facility was estimated at about $3 million. The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the accident was LNG which leaked through an inadequately tightened LNG pump seal, vaporized, and migrated through a 3-inch conduit, into a substation building where the vaporized LNG-air mixture was ignited by the arcing contacts of a circuit breaker interlock. Contributing to the accident was the absence of any combustible gas indicator to detect and warn personnel of the presence of flammable vapors in the building.
Keywords	Pipeline transportation Accident investigations Flammable gases Vapors Explosions Liquefied natural gas Pumps Seals Leakage Fires Buildings Maryland Pipeline accidents Cove Point(Maryland) Columbia LNG Corporation
Source Agency	National Transportation Safety Board
NTIS Subject Category	85E - Pipeline Transportation
Corporate Authors	National Transportation Safety Board, Washington, DC. Bureau of Accident Investigation.
Document Type	Technical Report
NTIS Issue Number	198018