The investigation, which is being conducted by technical experts from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and PG&E, has determined that the pipeline in the area of the rupture was constructed, at least in part, with seam-welded pipe, instead of the seamless steel pipe listed on PG&E survey sheets and charts for the rupture area.
Noting that the evaluation is still in its early phase, the NTSB predicted that it will be some time before the Safety Board is able to announce the probable cause of the accident. The rupture and explosion took place on September 9, 2010, in San Bruno, California.
According to an NTSB press release, the ruptured pipe surfaces were thoroughly surveyed, all of the asphalt coating was removed and the pipe was cleaned to allow for visual inspection and nondestructive testing (NDT) of the surfaces. The condition of the welds was evaluated by visual inspection, x-ray radiography, and magnetic particle inspection to document any defects or irregularities in the material. Pipe thickness surveys were conducted using ultrasonic thickness testing. Additionally, the pipe pieces were laser scanned for complete dimensional documentation.
The fracture surfaces of the ruptured pipe pieces were examined using low-magnification optical microscopes. Samples were then cut from the ruptured pipe pieces for detailed metallurgical examination. The fracture surfaces were examined under both high-magnification optical microscopes and scanning electron microscopes to identify and document specific fracture features. Metallurgists are currently in the process of using this information to determine the direction of crack propagation and the fracture origin and failure mechanisms.
Investigators found that while the longitudinal seams on some of the pipe segments were fusion-welded from both inside and outside the pipe, some were fusion-welded only from the outside of the pipe. In order to understand this variance, investigators are in the process of researching pipe welding standards and practices in effect at the time the pipeline was installed in 1956.
The outer surfaces of the ruptured pipe pieces revealed no evidence of external corrosion. No dents, gouges, or other physical indications consistent with excavation damage were observed. Additionally, no physical evidence suggests that a pre-existing leak occurred in the ruptured pipe pieces. NTSB says ongoing laboratory work includes:
- Chemical compositional analysis and mechanical property testing of samples taken from the ruptured pipe pieces.
- Evaluation of environmental factors at the accident site.
