ML031280623

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Memo, Bottom Mounted Instrumentation Leakage Issue - Nondestructive Examination and Repair Options
ML031280623
Person / Time
Site: South Texas STP Nuclear Operating Company icon.png
Issue date: 05/08/2003
From: Thadani M
NRC/NRR/DLPM/LPD4
To:
Thadani M, NRR/DLPM, 415-1476
References
TAC MB8435
Download: ML031280623 (5)


Text

May 8, 2003 MEMORANDUM TO: File FROM: Mohan Thadani, Senior Project Manager, Section 1 /RA/

Project Directorate IV Division of Licensing Project Management

SUBJECT:

U.S. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION (NRC)

HEADQUARTERS AND REGION IV STAFF TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH STP NUCLEAR OPERATING COMPANY (STPNOC) REGARDING SOUTH TEXAS PROJECT (STP), UNIT 1, BOTTOM MOUNTED INSTRUMENTATION (BMI) LEAKAGE ISSUE; NONDESTRUCTIVE EXAMINATION (NDE) AND REPAIR OPTIONS (TAC NO. MB8435)

On April 24, 2003, the NRC Region IV and Headquarter's staff held a telephone conference call with STPNOC, the licensee for STP, Unit 1. The conference call was held as a result of the ongoing discussions related to the identification of apparent leakage at the interface of reactor vessel bottom head and BMI Penetrations 1 and 46. Attachment 1 is a list of the participants.

On this telephone conference call the licensee briefed the NRC staff on the current status of its actions regarding NDE and repair options addressing BMI penetration leakage.

NDE Plans The licensee pointed out several problems of the NDE. The difficulty of access to the nozzles and providing adequate shielding are the primary complication. To maintain shielding, the reactor vessel will have to be flooded. The licensee stated that the underwater camera visual inspection technique has been used by Framatome. The licensee is working with the Electric Power Research Institute to build a life size mockup of the typical BMI penetration. The mockup is expected to be ready in a week and will eventually be at the site.

The licensee is exploring options to perform ultrasonic and eddy current examination of the BMI nozzle tube. The underwater visual exam would cover the J-groove weld surface. The licensee believes that it could qualify the visual examination to provide equivalent resolution as compared to a liquid penetrant examination of the weld surface.

CONTACT: Mohan Thadani, NRR 415-1476

File The licensee is exploring using the Seabrook, Unit 2 reactor vessel to perform liquid penetrant examination of the BMI penetrations to ascertain whether any fabrication related indications exist. The Seabrook, Unit 2 and STP, Unit 1 vessels were manufactured in a similar manner.

Root Cause Analysis The licensee will investigate the condition by continuing its inspection activities, including NDE techniques and metallographic analysis, in order to determine the cause of the leak.

This effort will include visual inspection by qualified inspectors and eddy current or ultrasonic testing. Industry experts will be used in conjunction with the licensee's own expert staff to expeditiously identify the root cause of the condition.

Extent of Condition The licensee will evaluate the impact of the condition on the other 56 BMI penetrations of STP, Unit 1, and all BMI penetrations of Unit 2. The licensee will also apply the NDE techniques to determine whether any reactor vessel material wastage exists.

Repair Options The licensee's repair options involve moving the pressure boundary from inside the vessel to outside the vessel. The selected option will ensure that pressure boundary integrity is maintained. The licensee will also address the need to continue to monitor this area.

The licensee is considering three alternative repair methods: (1) half tube repair which cuts off the lower portion of the tube about midway through the vessel thickness. A temper-bead is applied and a new lower portion is welded in place (using the Code Case N-638 and N-2142-1); (2) encapsulation by welding a tube over the existing stub and attaching to the vessel via temper-bead welding, and (3) use of mechanical clamp and seal device attached to the vessel with rods. In all cases, the pressure boundary is relocated from the original J-groove weld to outside the reactor vessel. The repair will be done with reactor reassembled and fuel loaded. This is necessary so that in-cores can be inserted to reduce the radiation field in the area of the repairs. These repairs will require NRC review and approval.

Briefings to NRC The licensee will have face to face meetings with NRC to review the progress of its efforts at suitable intervals, and continue to hold weekly telephone conferences at 2:00 p.m.

Central Daylight Savings Time on Thursdays, to keep NRC fully informed of the root cause, extent of conditions, and repair methods prior to restarting the unit.

File Public Meetings The NRC staff discussed the benefit of holding a public meeting in the vicinity of STP site at a time closer to the Unit 1 restart. The licensee agreed to support the meeting for the purpose of public outreach.

Docket No. 50-498

Attachment:

List of Participants

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS Licensee's Representatives Gary Parkey - Vice President, Generation Tom Jordan - Vice President, Engineering & Technical Services Ed Halpin - Plant General Manager Mark McBurnett - Manager, Quality & Licensing Will Jump - Manager, Training Steve Thomas - Manager, Plant Design Engineering Alex Kent - Manager, Testing Program Scott Head - Manager Licensing Paul Sera - Manager, Plant Protection Michael Lashley - Supervising Engineer, Testing Engineering Harry Murray - Manger, Facilities Mike Meier - General Manager, Station Support Wayne Harrison - Sr. Staff Licensing Engineer NRC Participants Headquarters Region IV Robert Gramm Pat Gwynn William Reckley Dwight Chamberlain Leonard Wert Charles Marschall Carol Moyer Dale Powers Mark Hartzman Victor Dricks Donnie Harrison James Adams Stephen Monarque Geoff Miller Jack Foster Bill McNeil Mohan Thadani Wayne Sifre Allen Hiser (from home) Lee Ellershaw Stephanie Coffin Tim McConnell Bill Maier Region III Chuck Paulk John Jacobson Attachment

File Public Meetings The NRC staff discussed the benefit of holding a public meeting in the vicinity of STP site at a time closer to the Unit 1 restart. The licensee agreed to support the meeting for the purpose of public outreach.

Docket No. 50-498

Attachment:

List of Participants DISTRIBUTION: See next page ACCESSION NO: ML031280623 *SEE PREVIOUS CONCURRENCES OFFICE PDIV-1/PM PDIV-1/LA RIV-DRP/BC PDIV-1/SC NAME MThadani MMcAllister BJohnson* RGramm*

DATE 5/8/03 5/8/03 05/08/03 05/08/03 OFFICIAL RECORD COPY

MEMORANDUM REGARDING TELEPHONE CONVERSATION BETWEEN NRC AND STPNOC ON APRIL 24, 2003 Dated: May 8, 2003 DISTRIBUTION:

PUBLIC PDIV-1 Reading RidsNrrDlpmLpdiv (HBerkow)

RidsNrrDlpmLpdiv1(RGramm)

RidsNrrPMMThadani RidsNrrLAMMcAllister RidsNrrAdpt (BSheron/MKotzalas)

RidsNrrDlpm (JZwolinski/TMarsh)

RidsNrrDe (RBarrett)

JFoster WBateman SCoffin ESullivan MMitchell KManoly DTerao WJohnson, RIV CPaulk, RIV WCullen WReckley SBloom