GD incident on 2011-03-24 — MN

Operator
Northern States Power Co Of Minnesota
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities 0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2011-03-24 10:36
Report number
Location
MN, RAMSEY
Narrative
Part a #16 - total number of people was not tracked since several commercial or public buildings were evacuated. 12 buildings were evacuated. A 12 inch end cap blew off the end of a 60 psig steel gas main while resetting the sealing element during a stopple procedure. A temporary compression end cap was installed on the end of the main. As the tapper worked to reset the stopper, gas immediately built up on the temporary compression cap and the pressure caused the cap to blow off the main. When the main was blowing the tapper momentarily was able to re-stop the flow of gas by resetting the stopper but then the sealing element on the stopper partially rolled causing a void of approximately 12 square inches around the sealing element, allowing gas to escape.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2011-03-24 10:36:00
Year
2011
Report Received Date
2011-04-22 00:00:00
Iyear
2011.0
Report Number
20110065.0
Supplemental Number
15323.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
Name
Northern States Power Co Of Minnesota
Operator Street Address
414 Nicollet Mall
Operator City Name
Minneapolis
Operator State Abbreviation
MN
Operator Postal Code
55402
Local Datetime
2011-03-24 10:36:00
Location Street Address
University Ave And Fry
Location City Name
Saint Paul
Location County Name
Ramsey
Location State Abbreviation
MN
Location Postal Code
55104-3820
Location Latitude
Location Longitude
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-03-24 15:24:00
Nrc Rpt Num
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1681.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-03-24 10:36:00
On Site Datetime
2011-03-24 10:36:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing
Yes
Road Crossing Ind
Yes
Road Type
Uncased
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1986.0
Pipe Diameter
12.0
Pipe Specification
Api 5l
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Wt Steel
0.25
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Seal Or Packing
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0.0
Est Cost Emergency
7343.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Other Details
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
13500.0
Prpty
20843.0
Commercial Affected
51.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
709.0
Accident Psig
60.0
Normal Psig
60.0
Mop Psig
66.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
8
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Decommissioning
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
J*** B******
Preparer Title
Gas Engineer
Preparer Email
J*************@x*********.com
Preparer Telephone
651-229-5515
Preparer Fax
651-229-2376
Authorizer Name
W****** K******
Authorizer Title
Vp Control Center
Authorizer Telephone
651-229-2435
Authorizer Email
W****************@x*********.com
Narrative
Part a #16 - total number of people was not tracked since several commercial or public buildings were evacuated. 12 buildings were evacuated. A 12 inch end cap blew off the end of a 60 psig steel gas main while resetting the sealing element during a stopple procedure. A temporary compression end cap was installed on the end of the main. As the tapper worked to reset the stopper, gas immediately built up on the temporary compression cap and the pressure caused the cap to blow off the main. When the main was blowing the tapper momentarily was able to re-stop the flow of gas by resetting the stopper but then the sealing element on the stopper partially rolled causing a void of approximately 12 square inches around the sealing element, allowing gas to escape.
Occurred At 2011-03-24 10:36:00
Year 2011
Report Received Date 2011-04-22 00:00:00
Iyear 2011.0
Report Number 20110065.0
Supplemental Number 15323.0
Report Type Supplemental Final
Operator Id 31636 PHMSA Enforcement
Name Northern States Power Co Of Minnesota
Operator Street Address 414 Nicollet Mall
Operator City Name Minneapolis
Operator State Abbreviation MN
Operator Postal Code 55402
Local Datetime 2011-03-24 10:36:00
Location Street Address University Ave And Fry
Location City Name Saint Paul
Location County Name Ramsey
Location State Abbreviation MN
Location Postal Code 55104-3820
Location Latitude 44.95584 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Location Longitude -93.16957 Google Maps OpenStreetMap
Nrc Rpt Datetime 2011-03-24 15:24:00
Nrc Rpt Num 974055 NRC Report How to search
Commodity Released Type Natural Gas
Unintentional Release 1681.0
Fatality Ind No
Fatal 0
Injury Ind No
Injure 0
Ignite Ind No
Explode Ind No
Incident Identified Datetime 2011-03-24 10:36:00
On Site Datetime 2011-03-24 10:36:00
Federal No
Location Type Public Property
Incident Area Type Underground
Incident Area Subtype Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing Yes
Road Crossing Ind Yes
Road Type Uncased
Pipe Facility Type Privately Owned
System Part Involved Main
Installation Year 1986.0
Pipe Diameter 12.0
Pipe Specification Api 5l
Pipe Manufacturer Unknown
Material Involved Steel
Steel Seam Type Other
Steel Seam Type Details Unknown
Wt Steel 0.25
Release Type Leak
Leak Type Seal Or Packing
Class Location Type Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid 0.0
Est Cost Prop Damage 0.0
Est Cost Emergency 7343.0
Est Cost Other 0.0
Est Cost Other Details 0
Est Cost Unintentional Release 13500.0
Prpty 20843.0
Commercial Affected 51.0
Industrial Affected 0.0
Residences Affected 709.0
Accident Psig 60.0
Normal Psig 60.0
Mop Psig 66.0
Accident Pressure Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind No
Accident Identifier Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type Operator Employee
Investigation Status No, the facility was not monitored by a controller(s) at the time of the incident
Employee Drug Test Ind Yes
Num Employees Tested 8
Num Employees Failed 0
Contractor Drug Test Ind No
Cause Incorrect Operation
Cause Details Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Failure Follow Ind Yes
Category Type Decommissioning
Operator Qualification Ind Yes
Qualified Individuals Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name J*** B******
Preparer Title Gas Engineer
Preparer Email J*************@x*********.com
Preparer Telephone 651-229-5515
Preparer Fax 651-229-2376
Authorizer Name W****** K******
Authorizer Title Vp Control Center
Authorizer Telephone 651-229-2435
Authorizer Email W****************@x*********.com
Narrative Part a #16 - total number of people was not tracked since several commercial or public buildings were evacuated. 12 buildings were evacuated. A 12 inch end cap blew off the end of a 60 psig steel gas main while resetting the sealing element during a stopple procedure. A temporary compression end cap was installed on the end of the main. As the tapper worked to reset the stopper, gas immediately built up on the temporary compression cap and the pressure caused the cap to blow off the main. When the main was blowing the tapper momentarily was able to re-stop the flow of gas by resetting the stopper but then the sealing element on the stopper partially rolled causing a void of approximately 12 square inches around the sealing element, allowing gas to escape.

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