Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2011-05-12 — TX
Operator
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2011-05-12 09:15
Report number
Location
TX
Narrative
At about 3:00 a.M. On the morning of may 12, a slow pressure drop was noted on line b near columbia gas transmission's walbridge compressor station. The controller on duty contacted the local team leader, who thought that one or more producers in the area upstream of the pressure device might be making an operational change. A decision was made to monitor the pressure for a short while. The pressure continued to slowly drop. It was decided to have field operations start checking the line. By shortly after 3:30 a.M., local field employees were being contacted. They began checking line b and other upstream lines that feed into line b between 4:30 and 5:00 a.M. The area traversed by line b and its upstream feeder lines is remote and rugged, often with miles between road access points. Checking the system was difficult and slow. At a few minutes after 9:00, a crew checking upstream feeder line p came upon a landslide area. It was determined that gas was escaping from the coupled line in this area. It should be noted that this part of eastern kentucky had experienced an unusually wet spring. This is thought to have contributed to the landslide. The situation was called in to the control room. Questions were asked, investigated, and answered to obtain accurate information. As soon as sufficient information was obtained to determine that an incident had occured, a call was made to the nrc and PHMSA's southern region office. Materials and equipment were assembled over the next day, and restoration work was begun on may 14. The line was readied for placement in service by 9:00 may 20, and was fully restored to service by 12:05 a.M. On may 21. Note that the gas loss calculations reflect our best reconstruction of the events after discovery of the condition. However, it is possible that gas loss volume may have exceeded 3,000 mcf through the duration of the incident.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2011-06-09 00:00:00
Iyear
2011
Report Number
20110177
Supplemental Number
15516
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
2616
Name
Columbia Gas Transmission Corp
Operator Street Address
700 Louisiana St. Suite 700
Operator City Name
Houston
Operator State Abbreviation
TX
Operator Postal Code
77002
Local Datetime
2011-05-12 09:15:00
Location Latitude
38.03708
Location Longitude
-82.59923
Nrc Rpt Num
976050
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-05-12 11:11:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
2128
Intentional Release
300
Accompanying Liquid
0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
Yes
Shutdown Datetime
2011-05-12 09:45:00
Restart Datetime
2011-05-21 00:05:00
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-05-12 09:15:00
On Site Datetime
2011-05-12 09:15:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ky
Onshore Postal Code
41230
Onshore City Name
5.3 Miles South Of Louisa, Ky
Onshore County Name
Lawrence County, Ky
Designated Location
Survey Station No.
Designated Name
213575
Pipe Fac Name
Line P
Segment Name
Station Series 085
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
120
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Interstate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Other
Item Involved Details
Coupling
Installation Year
1929
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Class Location Type
Class 1 Location
Could Be Hca
No
Pir Radius
234
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
9576
Est Cost Intentional Release
1350
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
550
Est Cost Other
160000
Est Cost Other Details
Incremental Cost: Untimely Replacement Of Pipe Already Scheduled For Replacement
Prpty
171476
Accident Psig
187
Mop Psig
288
Mop Cfr Section
Not On Omb-Approved Form When Submitted
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Pressure Restriction Ind
No
Upstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Manual
Length Segment Isolated
43317
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Diameter Change Ind
Yes
Unsuitable Mainline Ind
Yes
Tight Mitered Ind
Yes
Other Restrictions Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
Yes
Low Op Pressure Ind
Yes
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
Yes
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Ground Patrol By Operator Or Its Contractor
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
Incident attributed to unexpected outside force. Pipeline was operating well within normal operational parameters at the time of incident. Appropriate response made by control room.
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Num Employees Tested
1
Num Employees Failed
0
Cause
Natural Force Damage
Cause Details
Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods
Natural Force Type
Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods
Earth Subtype
Landslide
Nf Extreme Weather Ind
No
Preparer Name
D**** A****
Preparer Title
System Integrity Engineer
Preparer Email
D*****@n*******.com
Preparer Telephone
304-357-2378
Preparer Fax
304-357-3804
Authorizer Name
P* M****** H*****
Authorizer Title
Manager System Integrity
Authorizer Telephone
304-357-2548
Authorizer Email
M**********@n*******.com
Narrative
At about 3:00 a.M. On the morning of may 12, a slow pressure drop was noted on line b near columbia gas transmission's walbridge compressor station. The controller on duty contacted the local team leader, who thought that one or more producers in the area upstream of the pressure device might be making an operational change. A decision was made to monitor the pressure for a short while. The pressure continued to slowly drop. It was decided to have field operations start checking the line. By shortly after 3:30 a.M., local field employees were being contacted. They began checking line b and other upstream lines that feed into line b between 4:30 and 5:00 a.M. The area traversed by line b and its upstream feeder lines is remote and rugged, often with miles between road access points. Checking the system was difficult and slow. At a few minutes after 9:00, a crew checking upstream feeder line p came upon a landslide area. It was determined that gas was escaping from the coupled line in this area. It should be noted that this part of eastern kentucky had experienced an unusually wet spring. This is thought to have contributed to the landslide. The situation was called in to the control room. Questions were asked, investigated, and answered to obtain accurate information. As soon as sufficient information was obtained to determine that an incident had occured, a call was made to the nrc and PHMSA's southern region office. Materials and equipment were assembled over the next day, and restoration work was begun on may 14. The line was readied for placement in service by 9:00 may 20, and was fully restored to service by 12:05 a.M. On may 21. Note that the gas loss calculations reflect our best reconstruction of the events after discovery of the condition. However, it is possible that gas loss volume may have exceeded 3,000 mcf through the duration of the incident.
| Report Received Date | 2011-06-09 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2011 |
| Report Number | 20110177 |
| Supplemental Number | 15516 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 2616 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Columbia Gas Transmission Corp |
| Operator Street Address | 700 Louisiana St. Suite 700 |
| Operator City Name | Houston |
| Operator State Abbreviation | TX |
| Operator Postal Code | 77002 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-05-12 09:15:00 |
| Location Latitude | 38.03708 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -82.59923 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 976050 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-05-12 11:11:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 2128 |
| Intentional Release | 300 |
| Accompanying Liquid | 0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | Yes |
| Shutdown Datetime | 2011-05-12 09:45:00 |
| Restart Datetime | 2011-05-21 00:05:00 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-05-12 09:15:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-05-12 09:15:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ky |
| Onshore Postal Code | 41230 |
| Onshore City Name | 5.3 Miles South Of Louisa, Ky |
| Onshore County Name | Lawrence County, Ky |
| Designated Location | Survey Station No. |
| Designated Name | 213575 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Line P |
| Segment Name | Station Series 085 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 120 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Interstate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Other |
| Item Involved Details | Coupling |
| Installation Year | 1929 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 1 Location |
| Could Be Hca | No |
| Pir Radius | 234 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 9576 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 1350 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 550 |
| Est Cost Other | 160000 |
| Est Cost Other Details | Incremental Cost: Untimely Replacement Of Pipe Already Scheduled For Replacement |
| Prpty | 171476 |
| Accident Psig | 187 |
| Mop Psig | 288 |
| Mop Cfr Section | Not On Omb-Approved Form When Submitted View CFR 49 §192 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Pressure Restriction Ind | No |
| Upstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Manual |
| Length Segment Isolated | 43317 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Diameter Change Ind | Yes |
| Unsuitable Mainline Ind | Yes |
| Tight Mitered Ind | Yes |
| Other Restrictions Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | Yes |
| Low Op Pressure Ind | Yes |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | Yes |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Ground Patrol By Operator Or Its Contractor |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Investigation Status | No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate) |
| Investigation Status Details | Incident attributed to unexpected outside force. Pipeline was operating well within normal operational parameters at the time of incident. Appropriate response made by control room. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Num Employees Tested | 1 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Natural Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods |
| Natural Force Type | Earth Movement, Not Due To Heavy Rains/floods |
| Earth Subtype | Landslide |
| Nf Extreme Weather Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | D**** A**** |
| Preparer Title | System Integrity Engineer |
| Preparer Email | D*****@n*******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 304-357-2378 |
| Preparer Fax | 304-357-3804 |
| Authorizer Name | P* M****** H***** |
| Authorizer Title | Manager System Integrity |
| Authorizer Telephone | 304-357-2548 |
| Authorizer Email | M**********@n*******.com |
| Narrative | At about 3:00 a.M. On the morning of may 12, a slow pressure drop was noted on line b near columbia gas transmission's walbridge compressor station. The controller on duty contacted the local team leader, who thought that one or more producers in the area upstream of the pressure device might be making an operational change. A decision was made to monitor the pressure for a short while. The pressure continued to slowly drop. It was decided to have field operations start checking the line. By shortly after 3:30 a.M., local field employees were being contacted. They began checking line b and other upstream lines that feed into line b between 4:30 and 5:00 a.M. The area traversed by line b and its upstream feeder lines is remote and rugged, often with miles between road access points. Checking the system was difficult and slow. At a few minutes after 9:00, a crew checking upstream feeder line p came upon a landslide area. It was determined that gas was escaping from the coupled line in this area. It should be noted that this part of eastern kentucky had experienced an unusually wet spring. This is thought to have contributed to the landslide. The situation was called in to the control room. Questions were asked, investigated, and answered to obtain accurate information. As soon as sufficient information was obtained to determine that an incident had occured, a call was made to the nrc and PHMSA's southern region office. Materials and equipment were assembled over the next day, and restoration work was begun on may 14. The line was readied for placement in service by 9:00 may 20, and was fully restored to service by 12:05 a.M. On may 21. Note that the gas loss calculations reflect our best reconstruction of the events after discovery of the condition. However, it is possible that gas loss volume may have exceeded 3,000 mcf through the duration of the incident. |
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