Failure Analysis of a Natural Gas Pipeline Rupture

摘要

From aviation accidents to pipeline explosions, the National Transportation Safety Board is often called to determine probable cause and make safety recommendations, as they did in the aftermath of the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion. On September 10, 2010, one of Pacific Gas and Electric Company's (PG&E) natural gas transmission pipelines ruptured in San Bruno, Calif., killing eight people and causing multiple injuries. In addition, 38 homes were destroyed and another 70 were damaged. San Bruno, population 40,000, is located just 12 miles south of San Francisco. Soon after the rupture occurred, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a team to investigate.