Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2011-02-09 — PA
Operator
Ugi Utilities, Inc
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
5 fatalities
3 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$49,632
Incident datetime
2011-02-09 22:59
Report number
Location
PA, LEHIGH
Narrative
On february 9th, an explosion occurred at n. 13th and w. Allen streets in allentown, pa. Destroying 544 and 542 n. 13th street residences. Subsequent fire damage destroyed (6) additional row homes, 530-540. The likely source of the gas ignited in the explosion was a circumferential separation/fracture on a 12" cast iron main located on w. Allen street. Gas from the crack appears to have migrated to 544 n. 13th street and ignited.. ** in part d #2e does not include "'confidential settlements" related to personal injury or wrongful death claims. 12/15/2017 supplemental report submitted to update the following: ncr report number corrected. The cast iron pipe that failed was replaced with polyethylene pipe and the system was restarted on 3/11/2011. The cast iron pipe failed due to a combination of factors. Frost and frozen ground likely cracked the road surface. The compromised road surface, and frozen ground, allowed vehicular traffic loads to be transferred to the pipe which eventually caused cracking in a partially graphitized section of the main. Materials analysis indicates that absent the confluence of the frost heave and external loading, the pipe likely would not have otherwise fractured..
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2011-02-09 22:59:00
Year
2011
Report Received Date
2011-03-10 00:00:00
Iyear
2011.0
Report Number
20110046.0
Supplemental Number
16729.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
20010
Name
Ugi Utilities, Inc
Operator Street Address
1 Ugi Drive
Operator City Name
Denver
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
17517
Local Datetime
2011-02-09 22:45:00
Location Street Address
N. 13th & W. Allen Streets
Location City Name
Allentown
Location County Name
Lehigh
Location State Abbreviation
PA
Location Postal Code
18102-2104
Location Latitude
40.60709
Location Longitude
-75.48794
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-02-10 00:19:00
Nrc Rpt Num
967026
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
25.0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
0
Num Gp Fatalities
5
Fatal
5
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
3
Injure
3
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
500.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-02-09 22:59:00
On Site Datetime
2011-02-09 23:18:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Depth Of Cover
52.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1928.0
Pipe Diameter
12.0
Pipe Specification
Asa Specification A-21.3
Pipe Manufacturer
France
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
1575000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
49632.0
Est Cost Emergency
33088.0
Est Cost Other
8272.0
Est Cost Other Details
Cost To Relight Customers Adjacent To Incident Area. See Section H- Narrative
Est Cost Unintentional Release
155.0
Prpty
1666147.0
Commercial Affected
2.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
6.0
Accident Psig
0.36
Normal Psig
0.36
Mop Psig
1.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Cause Details
Temperature
Natural Force Type
Temperature
Temperature Subtype
Frost Heave
Nf Extreme Weather Ind
No
Preparer Name
F**** B******
Preparer Title
Director Engineering And Technical Services
Preparer Email
F*******@u**.com
Preparer Telephone
610-796-3567
Authorizer Name
F**** B******
Authorizer Title
Director Engineering And Technical Services
Authorizer Telephone
610.796.3567
Authorizer Email
F*******@u**.com
Narrative
On february 9th, an explosion occurred at n. 13th and w. Allen streets in allentown, pa. Destroying 544 and 542 n. 13th street residences. Subsequent fire damage destroyed (6) additional row homes, 530-540. The likely source of the gas ignited in the explosion was a circumferential separation/fracture on a 12" cast iron main located on w. Allen street. Gas from the crack appears to have migrated to 544 n. 13th street and ignited.. ** in part d #2e does not include "'confidential settlements" related to personal injury or wrongful death claims. 12/15/2017 supplemental report submitted to update the following: ncr report number corrected. The cast iron pipe that failed was replaced with polyethylene pipe and the system was restarted on 3/11/2011. The cast iron pipe failed due to a combination of factors. Frost and frozen ground likely cracked the road surface. The compromised road surface, and frozen ground, allowed vehicular traffic loads to be transferred to the pipe which eventually caused cracking in a partially graphitized section of the main. Materials analysis indicates that absent the confluence of the frost heave and external loading, the pipe likely would not have otherwise fractured..
| Occurred At | 2011-02-09 22:59:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
| Report Received Date | 2011-03-10 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2011.0 |
| Report Number | 20110046.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16729.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 20010 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Ugi Utilities, Inc |
| Operator Street Address | 1 Ugi Drive |
| Operator City Name | Denver |
| Operator State Abbreviation | PA |
| Operator Postal Code | 17517 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-02-09 22:45:00 |
| Location Street Address | N. 13th & W. Allen Streets |
| Location City Name | Allentown |
| Location County Name | Lehigh |
| Location State Abbreviation | PA |
| Location Postal Code | 18102-2104 |
| Location Latitude | 40.60709 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -75.48794 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-02-10 00:19:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 967026 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 25.0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 5 |
| Fatal | 5 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 3 |
| Injure | 3 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 500.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-02-09 22:59:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-02-09 23:18:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Depth Of Cover | 52.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1928.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 12.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Asa Specification A-21.3 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | France |
| Material Involved | Cast/wrought Iron |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 1575000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 49632.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 33088.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 8272.0 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Cost To Relight Customers Adjacent To Incident Area. See Section H- Narrative |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 155.0 |
| Prpty | 1666147.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 2.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 6.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.36 |
| Normal Psig | 0.36 |
| Mop Psig | 1.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Natural Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Temperature |
| Natural Force Type | Temperature |
| Temperature Subtype | Frost Heave |
| Nf Extreme Weather Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | F**** B****** |
| Preparer Title | Director Engineering And Technical Services |
| Preparer Email | F*******@u**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 610-796-3567 |
| Authorizer Name | F**** B****** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Engineering And Technical Services |
| Authorizer Telephone | 610.796.3567 |
| Authorizer Email | F*******@u**.com |
| Narrative | On february 9th, an explosion occurred at n. 13th and w. Allen streets in allentown, pa. Destroying 544 and 542 n. 13th street residences. Subsequent fire damage destroyed (6) additional row homes, 530-540. The likely source of the gas ignited in the explosion was a circumferential separation/fracture on a 12" cast iron main located on w. Allen street. Gas from the crack appears to have migrated to 544 n. 13th street and ignited.. ** in part d #2e does not include "'confidential settlements" related to personal injury or wrongful death claims. 12/15/2017 supplemental report submitted to update the following: ncr report number corrected. The cast iron pipe that failed was replaced with polyethylene pipe and the system was restarted on 3/11/2011. The cast iron pipe failed due to a combination of factors. Frost and frozen ground likely cracked the road surface. The compromised road surface, and frozen ground, allowed vehicular traffic loads to be transferred to the pipe which eventually caused cracking in a partially graphitized section of the main. Materials analysis indicates that absent the confluence of the frost heave and external loading, the pipe likely would not have otherwise fractured.. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA