Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2011-07-19 — NE
Operator
Superior Utilities, City Of
Cause
Equipment Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
1 injury
Property damage (nominal)
$45,008
Incident datetime
2011-07-19 12:24
Report number
Location
NE, NUCKOLLS
Narrative
This is a condensed summary of the events. This narrative will truncate due to space considerations. For the full report, see the complete attachment submitted originally. On july 11, 2011 operations were began to abandon a segment of 6' piping, operating at 18 ounces of pressure, from within the system. An inflatable bag was inserted into the 6' main and inflated to stop gas flow to downstream piping. The downstream piping was purged of gas and gas flow was confirmed stopped at 10:25 am. A segment of piping was removed downstream of the stop point and preparation began to seal the end of pipe. At approximately 12:20 pm. There was a failure of the inflatable line stopper, a release of natural gas and instantaneous ignition of that natural gas. Upon ignition, the gas department employee safely exited the excavation as a second employee attempted to extinguish the fire. Emergency operations began and gas flow was stopped and 6' piping sealed by 3:00 pm. This release of natural gas and subsequent fire damaged excavator equipment and local utility facilities in the area. This fire necessitated the shutdown of part of the electrical power system.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2011-07-19 12:24:00
Year
2011
Report Received Date
2011-08-11 00:00:00
Iyear
2011.0
Report Number
20110285.0
Supplemental Number
16001.0
Report Type
Supplemental
Operator Id
18799
Name
Superior Utilities, City Of
Operator Street Address
135 W 4th Street - Po Box 160
Operator City Name
Superior
Operator State Abbreviation
NE
Operator Postal Code
68978
Local Datetime
2011-07-19 12:24:00
Location Street Address
320 E 2nd
Location City Name
Superior
Location County Name
Nuckolls
Location State Abbreviation
NE
Location Postal Code
68978
Location Latitude
40.017804
Location Longitude
-98.068415
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-07-19 16:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
98390
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
1024.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
1
Num Worker Injuries
0
Num Gp Injuries
0
Injure
1
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
12.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-07-19 12:24:00
On Site Datetime
2011-07-19 12:24:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Depth Of Cover
37.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Municipally Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Pipe Diameter
6.0
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Wt Steel
0.25
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Failure Of Line Stopper.
Class Location Type
Class 2 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
150.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
45008.0
Est Cost Emergency
1174.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
913.0
Prpty
47245.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
1.17
Normal Psig
1.17
Mop Psig
1.44
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
5
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Equipment Failure
Cause Details
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Eq Failure Type
Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment
Other Control Relief Ind
Yes
Other Control Relief Details
Inflatable Line Stopper
Preparer Name
L**** S*****
Preparer Title
Gas Department Foreman
Preparer Email
L**********@y****.com
Preparer Telephone
402-879-4750
Preparer Fax
402-879-4752
Authorizer Name
L**** S*****
Authorizer Title
Gas Department Foreman
Authorizer Telephone
402-879-4750
Authorizer Email
L**********@y****.com
Narrative
This is a condensed summary of the events. This narrative will truncate due to space considerations. For the full report, see the complete attachment submitted originally. On july 11, 2011 operations were began to abandon a segment of 6' piping, operating at 18 ounces of pressure, from within the system. An inflatable bag was inserted into the 6' main and inflated to stop gas flow to downstream piping. The downstream piping was purged of gas and gas flow was confirmed stopped at 10:25 am. A segment of piping was removed downstream of the stop point and preparation began to seal the end of pipe. At approximately 12:20 pm. There was a failure of the inflatable line stopper, a release of natural gas and instantaneous ignition of that natural gas. Upon ignition, the gas department employee safely exited the excavation as a second employee attempted to extinguish the fire. Emergency operations began and gas flow was stopped and 6' piping sealed by 3:00 pm. This release of natural gas and subsequent fire damaged excavator equipment and local utility facilities in the area. This fire necessitated the shutdown of part of the electrical power system.
| Occurred At | 2011-07-19 12:24:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
| Report Received Date | 2011-08-11 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2011.0 |
| Report Number | 20110285.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16001.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| Operator Id | 18799 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Superior Utilities, City Of |
| Operator Street Address | 135 W 4th Street - Po Box 160 |
| Operator City Name | Superior |
| Operator State Abbreviation | NE |
| Operator Postal Code | 68978 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-07-19 12:24:00 |
| Location Street Address | 320 E 2nd |
| Location City Name | Superior |
| Location County Name | Nuckolls |
| Location State Abbreviation | NE |
| Location Postal Code | 68978 |
| Location Latitude | 40.017804 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -98.068415 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-07-19 16:30:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 98390 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 1024.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 1 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 0 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 0 |
| Injure | 1 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 12.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-07-19 12:24:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-07-19 12:24:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Utility Right-Of-Way / Easement |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Depth Of Cover | 37.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Municipally Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Pipe Diameter | 6.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Wt Steel | 0.25 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Failure Of Line Stopper. |
| Class Location Type | Class 2 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 150.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 45008.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 1174.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 913.0 |
| Prpty | 47245.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 1.17 |
| Normal Psig | 1.17 |
| Mop Psig | 1.44 |
| 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 | 5 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Equipment Failure |
| Cause Details | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Eq Failure Type | Malfunction Of Control/relief Equipment |
| Other Control Relief Ind | Yes |
| Other Control Relief Details | Inflatable Line Stopper |
| Preparer Name | L**** S***** |
| Preparer Title | Gas Department Foreman |
| Preparer Email | L**********@y****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 402-879-4750 |
| Preparer Fax | 402-879-4752 |
| Authorizer Name | L**** S***** |
| Authorizer Title | Gas Department Foreman |
| Authorizer Telephone | 402-879-4750 |
| Authorizer Email | L**********@y****.com |
| Narrative | This is a condensed summary of the events. This narrative will truncate due to space considerations. For the full report, see the complete attachment submitted originally. On july 11, 2011 operations were began to abandon a segment of 6' piping, operating at 18 ounces of pressure, from within the system. An inflatable bag was inserted into the 6' main and inflated to stop gas flow to downstream piping. The downstream piping was purged of gas and gas flow was confirmed stopped at 10:25 am. A segment of piping was removed downstream of the stop point and preparation began to seal the end of pipe. At approximately 12:20 pm. There was a failure of the inflatable line stopper, a release of natural gas and instantaneous ignition of that natural gas. Upon ignition, the gas department employee safely exited the excavation as a second employee attempted to extinguish the fire. Emergency operations began and gas flow was stopped and 6' piping sealed by 3:00 pm. This release of natural gas and subsequent fire damaged excavator equipment and local utility facilities in the area. This fire necessitated the shutdown of part of the electrical power system. |
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