Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2011-08-31 — CA
Operator
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Cause
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$2,000
Incident datetime
2011-08-31 12:34
Report number
Location
CA, SANTA CLARA
Narrative
On august 31, 2011, at 1228 hours, pg&e was notified by the local fire department of a fire at 20299 northwest square in cupertino. Around this same time, a pg&e gas service representative (gsr) observed smoke while driving nearby and went to the scene. The gsr observed a house structure on fire as well as flames in the landscape area in front of the house. The homeowner indicated she noticed the smell of gas at approximately 0800 hours that morning but did not think much about it and left her residence at approximately 1130 hours. The homeowner did not notify pg&e of the observed smell of gas. A gas construction crew arrived at approximately 1251 hours, and the flow of gas was stopped by excavating and squeezing the plastic main at three locations. Gas service was interrupted to seven customers. Service to one affected residence was restored when structure repairs were completed. Service to the remaining six customers were restored by 1400 hours on september 1, 2011. Excavation of the plastic gas distribution main revealed a crack in a 2-inch aldyl a plastic tee, which was the source of the gas leak. The tee failed as a result of stress risers formed in the tee material from the stepwise increase in wall thickness where the coupling and service pipe first bond. The fracture propogated by slow crack growth driven by the system pressure. Gas from the leaking tee migrated underground to the garage of the residence and caught fire from the pilot light of the furnace in the garage. Pg&e conducted leak surveys at the 422 townhouse complex where 20299 northwest square is located in april and may of 2011. A review of the leak survey records did not reveal any issues at this residence, although there were leaks detected in other areas of the complex. Leak surveys were conducted following the incident, and six leaks were identified and repaired throughout the complex. There were no injuries or fatalities. However, damage to the house structure exceeds $50,000, making this incident reportable. In addition, major bay area tv media was on the scene.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2011-08-31 12:34:00
Year
2011
Report Received Date
2011-09-30 00:00:00
Iyear
2011.0
Report Number
20110369.0
Supplemental Number
15584.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15007
Name
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Operator Street Address
6121 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
Operator City Name
San Ramon
Operator State Abbreviation
CA
Operator Postal Code
94583
Local Datetime
2011-08-31 12:00:00
Location Street Address
20299 Northwest Square
Location City Name
Cupertino
Location County Name
Santa Clara
Location State Abbreviation
CA
Location Postal Code
95014
Location Latitude
37.33701
Location Longitude
-122.02891
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-08-31 16:06:00
Nrc Rpt Num
988036
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
120.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
5.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-08-31 12:34:00
On Site Datetime
2011-08-31 12:34:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Pavement
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1973.0
Pipe Diameter
2.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Du Pont
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Wt Plastic
0.27
Material Pe Pipe Code
2306
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
600000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
2000.0
Est Cost Emergency
5000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
5000.0
Prpty
612000.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
7.0
Accident Psig
57.0
Normal Psig
57.0
Mop Psig
60.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Other
Accident Details
Employee Saw Smoke And Investigated
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
Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure
Cause Details
Mechanical Joint Failure
Pwjf Failure Type
Mechanical Joint Failure
Mec Fitting Type
Service Or Main Tee
Mec Manufacturer
Dupont
Mec Fitting Material
Other
Mec Fitting Material Detail
Materials Joined: 1st Plastic, 2nd Plastic
Additional Crack Ind
Yes
Result Material Ind
Yes
Result Material Subtype
Other
Result Material Details
Slow Crack Growth Driven By System Pressure
Hydrotest Conducted Ind
No
Preparer Name
C***** D****
Preparer Title
Gas Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
C***@p**.com
Preparer Telephone
9249744378
Authorizer Name
L******* D*******
Authorizer Title
Acting Manager Regulatory Compliance
Authorizer Telephone
9259744313
Authorizer Email
L***@p**.com
Narrative
On august 31, 2011, at 1228 hours, pg&e was notified by the local fire department of a fire at 20299 northwest square in cupertino. Around this same time, a pg&e gas service representative (gsr) observed smoke while driving nearby and went to the scene. The gsr observed a house structure on fire as well as flames in the landscape area in front of the house. The homeowner indicated she noticed the smell of gas at approximately 0800 hours that morning but did not think much about it and left her residence at approximately 1130 hours. The homeowner did not notify pg&e of the observed smell of gas. A gas construction crew arrived at approximately 1251 hours, and the flow of gas was stopped by excavating and squeezing the plastic main at three locations. Gas service was interrupted to seven customers. Service to one affected residence was restored when structure repairs were completed. Service to the remaining six customers were restored by 1400 hours on september 1, 2011. Excavation of the plastic gas distribution main revealed a crack in a 2-inch aldyl a plastic tee, which was the source of the gas leak. The tee failed as a result of stress risers formed in the tee material from the stepwise increase in wall thickness where the coupling and service pipe first bond. The fracture propogated by slow crack growth driven by the system pressure. Gas from the leaking tee migrated underground to the garage of the residence and caught fire from the pilot light of the furnace in the garage. Pg&e conducted leak surveys at the 422 townhouse complex where 20299 northwest square is located in april and may of 2011. A review of the leak survey records did not reveal any issues at this residence, although there were leaks detected in other areas of the complex. Leak surveys were conducted following the incident, and six leaks were identified and repaired throughout the complex. There were no injuries or fatalities. However, damage to the house structure exceeds $50,000, making this incident reportable. In addition, major bay area tv media was on the scene.
| Occurred At | 2011-08-31 12:34:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
| Report Received Date | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2011.0 |
| Report Number | 20110369.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15584.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15007 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Pacific Gas & Electric Co |
| Operator Street Address | 6121 Bollinger Canyon Rd. |
| Operator City Name | San Ramon |
| Operator State Abbreviation | CA |
| Operator Postal Code | 94583 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-08-31 12:00:00 |
| Location Street Address | 20299 Northwest Square |
| Location City Name | Cupertino |
| Location County Name | Santa Clara |
| Location State Abbreviation | CA |
| Location Postal Code | 95014 |
| Location Latitude | 37.33701 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -122.02891 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-08-31 16:06:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 988036 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 120.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 5.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-08-31 12:34:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-08-31 12:34:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Pavement |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1973.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Du Pont |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Wt Plastic | 0.27 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2306 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 600000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 2000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 5000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 5000.0 |
| Prpty | 612000.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 7.0 |
| Accident Psig | 57.0 |
| Normal Psig | 57.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Other |
| Accident Details | Employee Saw Smoke And Investigated |
| 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 | Pipe, Weld, Or Joint Failure |
| Cause Details | Mechanical Joint Failure |
| Pwjf Failure Type | Mechanical Joint Failure |
| Mec Fitting Type | Service Or Main Tee |
| Mec Manufacturer | Dupont |
| Mec Fitting Material | Other |
| Mec Fitting Material Detail | Materials Joined: 1st Plastic, 2nd Plastic |
| Additional Crack Ind | Yes |
| Result Material Ind | Yes |
| Result Material Subtype | Other |
| Result Material Details | Slow Crack Growth Driven By System Pressure |
| Hydrotest Conducted Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | C***** D**** |
| Preparer Title | Gas Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | C***@p**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 9249744378 |
| Authorizer Name | L******* D******* |
| Authorizer Title | Acting Manager Regulatory Compliance |
| Authorizer Telephone | 9259744313 |
| Authorizer Email | L***@p**.com |
| Narrative | On august 31, 2011, at 1228 hours, pg&e was notified by the local fire department of a fire at 20299 northwest square in cupertino. Around this same time, a pg&e gas service representative (gsr) observed smoke while driving nearby and went to the scene. The gsr observed a house structure on fire as well as flames in the landscape area in front of the house. The homeowner indicated she noticed the smell of gas at approximately 0800 hours that morning but did not think much about it and left her residence at approximately 1130 hours. The homeowner did not notify pg&e of the observed smell of gas. A gas construction crew arrived at approximately 1251 hours, and the flow of gas was stopped by excavating and squeezing the plastic main at three locations. Gas service was interrupted to seven customers. Service to one affected residence was restored when structure repairs were completed. Service to the remaining six customers were restored by 1400 hours on september 1, 2011. Excavation of the plastic gas distribution main revealed a crack in a 2-inch aldyl a plastic tee, which was the source of the gas leak. The tee failed as a result of stress risers formed in the tee material from the stepwise increase in wall thickness where the coupling and service pipe first bond. The fracture propogated by slow crack growth driven by the system pressure. Gas from the leaking tee migrated underground to the garage of the residence and caught fire from the pilot light of the furnace in the garage. Pg&e conducted leak surveys at the 422 townhouse complex where 20299 northwest square is located in april and may of 2011. A review of the leak survey records did not reveal any issues at this residence, although there were leaks detected in other areas of the complex. Leak surveys were conducted following the incident, and six leaks were identified and repaired throughout the complex. There were no injuries or fatalities. However, damage to the house structure exceeds $50,000, making this incident reportable. In addition, major bay area tv media was on the scene. |
External Resources
PHMSA pipeline safety insights.
Product
Features
Company
All rights reserved. Copyright © by ClearPHMSA