B737-700
Flight Crew Commercial; Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 468; Flight Crew Type 3000
Distraction; Time Pressure; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural MEL / CDL; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Weight And Balance; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
Flight Crew Diverted
Aircraft; Chart Or Publication; Human Factors
Heavy traffic on way to airport caused Van Driver to drop us off at airport approximately 20 minutes late. We rushed to get to the gate and push as close to on time as possible. I accomplished flight duties while hearing from Captain that we had an MEL 28-X-XX. Right Center Tank fuel boost pump inoperative. I read the dispatch report as did the Captain. After push; and before takeoff; failed to recognize crossfeed valve in closed position (supposed to be open). Took off and at climbout Captain recognized that we had over 1000 pound imbalance from main tanks. We leveled off; referenced the QRH and accomplished applicable checklist. We shut off left center tank boost pump. Balanced mains and turned left center tank boost pump back on. Fuel initially fed from center tank but stopped feeding and started to feed from right main tank causing another slight imbalance. We failed to open up the crossfeed per the MEL which caused this to happen. At the time I was coordinating and programming for a diversion. Landed in ZZZ as a divert. Captain recognized the error after talking to Maintenance via telephone call.
B737-700 First Officer reported that distraction and time pressure caused the crew to miss a checklist item that resulted in a fuel imbalance and a diversion.