PNO-IV-98-054, on 981117,plant Shutdown Greater than 72 H Due to Unidentified Leak.Investigations by Licensee Verified That Leakage Occurred from RCP 2b Seal Area

PNO-IV-98-054:on 981117,plant Shutdown Greater than 72 H Due to Unidentified Leak.Investigations by Licensee Verified That Leakage Occurred from RCP 2b Seal Area

ML20195G099
Person / Time
Site:	Waterford
Issue date:	11/19/1998
From:	Harrell P NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION IV)
To:
References
PNO-IV-98-054, PNO-IV-98-54, NUDOCS 9811200192
Download: ML20195G099 (1)

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a Nov mber 19,1998 PRELIMINARY NOTIFICATION OF EVENT OR UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE PNO-IV-98-054 This preliminary notification constitutes EARLY notice of events of POSSIBLE safety or public interest significance. The information is as initially received without verification or evaluation, and is basically all that is known by Region IV staff in Arlington, Texas on this date.

Facility Licensee Emeroency Classification Entergy Operations, Inc. Notificatiori of Unusual Event Waterford 3 Alert Killona, Louisiana Site Area Emergency '

Dockets: 50-382 General timergency X Not Applicable l

Subject:

PLANT SHUTDOWN GREATER THAN 72 HOURS During a routine unidentified leakrate calculation at 4:33 p.m. (CST) on November 17,1998, the licensee determined that the leakage had taken a step increase from 0.14 to 0.52 gpm.

The licensee subsequently performed another leakrate calculation at 8:50 p.m. and determined that leakage had increased to 1.18 gpm. The licensee entered the appropriate Technical Specification, which requires a plant shutdown within 6 hours6.944444e-5 days <br />0.00167 hours <br />9.920635e-6 weeks <br />2.283e-6 months <br /> if the leak cannot be identified, and commenced making preparations for shutting down the plant. At 9:55 1 p.m., another leakrate calculation was performed and the leakrate had dropped to 0.93 l gpm. The licensee then exited the Technical Specification. Licensee personnel entered containment to identify the source of the leakage and noted that water could be seen flowing from around the seal area of Reactor Coolant Pump 28. The licensee determined that a plant shutdown would be required to repair the leak and, on November 18, at 4:30 ,

a.m., a shutdown was initiated and Mode 3 was entered at 6:30 a.m. I Subsequent detailed investigations by the licensee verified that the leakage was from the Reactor Coolant Pump 28 seal area. Based on this information, the licensee decided to place the plant on shutdown cooling in order to repair the seal. It is currently estimated by l the licensee that the shutdown will be approximately 7 days, with plant startup commencing '

on November 23,1998.

The state of Louisiana has been informed.

Region IV received notification of this occurrence by telephone from the acting Senior Resident inspector on November 17,1998, at 9 p.m. Region IV has informed EDO, NRR, and PA.

This information has been discussed with the licensee and is current as of 10 a.m. on November 19,1998.

Contact:

P. H. Harrell (817)860-8250 l-9811200192 981119 PDR ILE

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