Document BROx4GQbYMk38nMMYx7Y0x9Ym

Monsanto PERSONNEL CONTACTED: DATE CP GAEL: Summary Mr. Ping Crawford Mr. Ken Arnold Mr. Carl Magnus Mr. Robert Wilson Mr. Rick Smith July 17, 1972 Ping Crawford has been assigned the responsibility to review a possible conversion of a Therminol PR system *n th~ '"rf'""" . Industry. This action was taken as a result of a fire with a Therminol FR system that had been badly contaminated with a fuel oil product from a platform. The contamination was caused by a tube failure which allowed the gas/oll mixture to contami nate Therminol FR-1. In spite of their apparent attempt to learn as much as possible about the conversion of a Therminol PR system I get the Impression that they do not in the least inter:! to convert their systems to a non-PCB material. Apparently they are receivi.,g sufficient quantities of PCB from Coastal Chemical that they will in fact refill with a PCB material. Their major concern at the present time appears to be: 1. The quality of PCB available from Coastal Chemical. 2. The quantity of PCB available from Coastal Chemical. 3. The effect of PCBs from the standpoint of human ingestion. Mr. Magnus in particular appears to be concerned about the quality of PCB based on samples of material received from Coastal Chemical. They also feel that they cannot depend upon a steady supply of PCBs from Coastal Chemical and have seriously considered approaching Monsanto's management on a possibility that they could buy PCB by signing a hold harmless agreement. I told tr.en that Monsanto management would be courteous and listen to their story; however, I felt certain that they would respond to the negative. Mr. Magnus aljn mentioned that at the present Mm.-, e.opstal S'as been _pirrchas1 ng biphenyl from one coIspaTgu-uud-ha v-i-ng--it--shi.pped to another~TT5caTTon for chJo_glha"tio'n. Because of this arrangement they ao~f)5t wish" to depend__ HONS 072488 -2- upon Coastal Chemical for the heat transfer fluid. Their concern regarding human Ingestion of PCB material la based on the application in their offshore, platform where PCB material Is used to de salinate water for drinking purposes, _They have had occurrences where due to heat exchanger failures PCDa have contaminated the drinking water system. Because of thli;--they-hat'o-arsf Led Tna apparently had in typing a letter dlrectod__to Jr. Paton requesting additional Information on PC3 proliljinis . wX.H_r.uizan i nges tTon . The strong position regarding PCBs held by Shell Is based on the feeling that a gas turbine used to provide hot air'Tor heat recovery systems is more hazardous because of the excess air In the turbines than would be a direct fired heater and as such they feel it is impossible to protect this system from fire hazard. I did not agree with their assumption; however, they feel that the platforms located In 300 feet of water are very dangerous from the standpoint of human life should they have a failure ar.d resulting fire. A copy of the recently Issued task force report on PCBs was shown at our meeting and It was requested that a copy of this . port be forwarded to Mr. Robert Wilson for further study. It was also requested by Mr. Magnus to supply Information re garding metal lmbrlttlement caused by the hydrogen In Therminol 66 should serious overheating occur. At the present time Shell Oil has four systems that are opera ting with PCB material. They are not absolutely sure but It appears hat all of these systems were originally filled with Thcrmlnol FR-1 and have all since been topped up with PCB material as supplied by Coastal Chemical. They also have at least throe new systems in the design stages and one of which will be filled within the next two months requiring an esti mated 2003 gallons of fluid. Recommendations have been insti gate.- by Carl Magnus to redesign these systems to accept a glycol material as the heat media at temperatures in the area of bOOF. This redesign would completely eliminate any potentlal for TheTimI'noT~66~lTr*nTe offsTTore Industry Tt Shell. The decTsToh regarding this redesign is tnat since a flammable fluid would have to be used they would just as soon use glycol which Is already on the platform for other purposes and they would be able to eliminate not only additional equipment but an additional fluid and its related toxicity problems. Act!on repu1 red Roder provide a copy of the recent I&sk Force report to Mr. Wilson and also return a call to Mr. Magnus regarding possi bility of metal imbritt1ement caused by hydrogen in Therminol 66 decomposition products if this is possible. Continued con tact with Shell regarding new systems to be filled this year. cs J. J. Roder HONS 07248S