Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2011-11-12 — OH
Operator
Vectren Energy Delivery Of Ohio
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
1 fatality
6 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$750
Incident datetime
2011-11-12 14:06
Report number
Location
OH, GREENE
Narrative
On saturday, november 11, 2011, at 2:06 pm, vectren energy delivery of ohio was notified by the city of fairborn fire department of a house explosion at 367/369 wayne drive in fairborn. Vectren personnel were dispatched to the scene and subsequently closed the valve to the service line providing natural gas to the structure. An initial report from the fairborn fire department indicated the structure involved in the incident was 'totally destroyed and reduced to a flaming pile of rubble'. It further described the damage to adjacent structures including blown out windows, a collapsed exterior wall and small amounts of fire to the roof lines. The initial report also commented that although the cause remains under investigation, the preliminary thought is that 'excavation work around a natural gas line caused the line to fracture on the inside of the basement wall'' 'allowing the free flow of gas to fill the interior of the structure and a undetermined ignition source sparked the explosion.' vectren is continuing its own independent investigation into the origin of this incident. Supplemental report narrative, january 10, 2012: the natural gas service line for the duplex at 367-369 wayne drive ran underground from the curb box through the concrete basement wall into the basement of 367 wayne drive. After going straight through the basement wall, the natural gas service line then went to the left at a tee connection to the meter for 367 wayne drive and then to the right at an ninety degree elbow through the block wall, dividing the basements, to the meter for 369 wayne drive. Vectren generally concludes that the backhoe operator, digging a trench outside the basement foundation between the sidewalk and the duplex, damaged the natural gas service line. This damage caused the natural gas service line to bend and pull and to place a large amount of tension on the gas service line and the threads that screwed into the ninety degree elbow inside the basement of 367 wayne drive. This large amount of tension caused the threads of the gas service line, which were screwed into the ninety degree elbow, to fracture at this thread joint releasing natural gas into the basement of 367 wayne drive. The natural gas exploded from an undetermined ignition source once the natural gas and air mixture had reached a point between the lower explosive limit and the upper explosive limit. The force of the explosion did not cause the fracture to this thread joint. Vectren's investigation also determined that the proper amount of mercaptan or odorant was in the natural gas at the time and that there were no other natural gas leaks. The service line was in good condition and leak tight. Vectren's investigation also determined that there were no requests to locate the natural gas service line before these unfortunate events and that there was no request to turn off the natural gas. Although vectren does not rely on the initial report of the fairborn fire department or the incident report and supplemental report of the state fire marshal, vectren's conclusions are consistent with the facts contained in these reports.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2011-11-12 14:06:00
Year
2011
Report Received Date
2011-12-09 00:00:00
Iyear
2011.0
Report Number
20110395.0
Supplemental Number
15381.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
31470
Name
Vectren Energy Delivery Of Ohio
Operator Street Address
1300 Experiment Farm Road
Operator City Name
Troy
Operator State Abbreviation
OH
Operator Postal Code
45373-9409
Local Datetime
2011-11-12 13:55:00
Location Street Address
367/369 Wayne Drive
Location City Name
Fairborn
Location County Name
Greene
Location State Abbreviation
OH
Location Postal Code
45324-5414
Location Latitude
39.75647
Location Longitude
-84.18146
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2011-11-12 15:30:00
Nrc Rpt Num
995328
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
8.0
Fatality Ind
Yes
Num Emp Fatalities
0
Num Contr Fatalities
0
Num Er Fatalities
0
Num Worker Fatalities
1
Num Gp Fatalities
0
Fatal
1
Injury Ind
Yes
Num Emp Injuries
0
Num Contr Injuries
0
Num Er Injuries
0
Num Worker Injuries
1
Num Gp Injuries
5
Injure
6
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
Yes
Num Pub Evacuated
12.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2011-11-12 14:06:00
On Site Datetime
2011-11-12 14:12:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Private Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Other
Incident Area Details
Basement
Depth Of Cover
54.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Service
Pipe Diameter
1.66
Pipe Specification
Unknown
Pipe Manufacturer
Unknown
Material Involved
Steel
Steel Seam Type
Other
Steel Seam Type Details
Unknown
Wt Steel
0.14
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
See Part H Narrative
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
246000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
750.0
Est Cost Emergency
3362.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
30.0
Prpty
250142.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
6.0
Accident Psig
0.31
Normal Psig
0.31
Mop Psig
0.97
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
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Third Party
Prior Notification Ind
No
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Private Row Ind
Yes
Private Subtype
Private Landowner
Excavator Type
Unknown/other
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Sewer (Sanitary/storm)
One Call Notified Ind
No
Locator Type
Unknown/other
Visible Marks
No
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Backfilling Practices
Preparer Name
J*** A* S*****
Preparer Title
Manager Quality Assurance
Preparer Email
J*******@v******.com
Preparer Telephone
937-440-1844
Preparer Fax
937-440-1818
Authorizer Name
J**** M* F******
Authorizer Title
Director Engineering And Asset Management
Authorizer Telephone
812-491-4369
Authorizer Email
J********@v******.com
Narrative
On saturday, november 11, 2011, at 2:06 pm, vectren energy delivery of ohio was notified by the city of fairborn fire department of a house explosion at 367/369 wayne drive in fairborn. Vectren personnel were dispatched to the scene and subsequently closed the valve to the service line providing natural gas to the structure. An initial report from the fairborn fire department indicated the structure involved in the incident was 'totally destroyed and reduced to a flaming pile of rubble'. It further described the damage to adjacent structures including blown out windows, a collapsed exterior wall and small amounts of fire to the roof lines. The initial report also commented that although the cause remains under investigation, the preliminary thought is that 'excavation work around a natural gas line caused the line to fracture on the inside of the basement wall'' 'allowing the free flow of gas to fill the interior of the structure and a undetermined ignition source sparked the explosion.' vectren is continuing its own independent investigation into the origin of this incident. Supplemental report narrative, january 10, 2012: the natural gas service line for the duplex at 367-369 wayne drive ran underground from the curb box through the concrete basement wall into the basement of 367 wayne drive. After going straight through the basement wall, the natural gas service line then went to the left at a tee connection to the meter for 367 wayne drive and then to the right at an ninety degree elbow through the block wall, dividing the basements, to the meter for 369 wayne drive. Vectren generally concludes that the backhoe operator, digging a trench outside the basement foundation between the sidewalk and the duplex, damaged the natural gas service line. This damage caused the natural gas service line to bend and pull and to place a large amount of tension on the gas service line and the threads that screwed into the ninety degree elbow inside the basement of 367 wayne drive. This large amount of tension caused the threads of the gas service line, which were screwed into the ninety degree elbow, to fracture at this thread joint releasing natural gas into the basement of 367 wayne drive. The natural gas exploded from an undetermined ignition source once the natural gas and air mixture had reached a point between the lower explosive limit and the upper explosive limit. The force of the explosion did not cause the fracture to this thread joint. Vectren's investigation also determined that the proper amount of mercaptan or odorant was in the natural gas at the time and that there were no other natural gas leaks. The service line was in good condition and leak tight. Vectren's investigation also determined that there were no requests to locate the natural gas service line before these unfortunate events and that there was no request to turn off the natural gas. Although vectren does not rely on the initial report of the fairborn fire department or the incident report and supplemental report of the state fire marshal, vectren's conclusions are consistent with the facts contained in these reports.
| Occurred At | 2011-11-12 14:06:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2011 |
| Report Received Date | 2011-12-09 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2011.0 |
| Report Number | 20110395.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15381.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 31470 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Vectren Energy Delivery Of Ohio |
| Operator Street Address | 1300 Experiment Farm Road |
| Operator City Name | Troy |
| Operator State Abbreviation | OH |
| Operator Postal Code | 45373-9409 |
| Local Datetime | 2011-11-12 13:55:00 |
| Location Street Address | 367/369 Wayne Drive |
| Location City Name | Fairborn |
| Location County Name | Greene |
| Location State Abbreviation | OH |
| Location Postal Code | 45324-5414 |
| Location Latitude | 39.75647 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -84.18146 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2011-11-12 15:30:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 995328 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 8.0 |
| Fatality Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Contr Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Er Fatalities | 0 |
| Num Worker Fatalities | 1 |
| Num Gp Fatalities | 0 |
| Fatal | 1 |
| Injury Ind | Yes |
| Num Emp Injuries | 0 |
| Num Contr Injuries | 0 |
| Num Er Injuries | 0 |
| Num Worker Injuries | 1 |
| Num Gp Injuries | 5 |
| Injure | 6 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | Yes |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 12.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2011-11-12 14:06:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2011-11-12 14:12:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Private Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Other |
| Incident Area Details | Basement |
| Depth Of Cover | 54.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Service |
| Pipe Diameter | 1.66 |
| Pipe Specification | Unknown |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Unknown |
| Material Involved | Steel |
| Steel Seam Type | Other |
| Steel Seam Type Details | Unknown |
| Wt Steel | 0.14 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | See Part H Narrative |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 246000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 750.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 3362.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 30.0 |
| Prpty | 250142.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 6.0 |
| Accident Psig | 0.31 |
| Normal Psig | 0.31 |
| Mop Psig | 0.97 |
| 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 | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Third Party |
| Prior Notification Ind | No |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Private Row Ind | Yes |
| Private Subtype | Private Landowner |
| Excavator Type | Unknown/other |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Sewer (Sanitary/storm) |
| One Call Notified Ind | No |
| Locator Type | Unknown/other |
| Visible Marks | No |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Improper Backfilling Practices |
| Preparer Name | J*** A* S***** |
| Preparer Title | Manager Quality Assurance |
| Preparer Email | J*******@v******.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 937-440-1844 |
| Preparer Fax | 937-440-1818 |
| Authorizer Name | J**** M* F****** |
| Authorizer Title | Director Engineering And Asset Management |
| Authorizer Telephone | 812-491-4369 |
| Authorizer Email | J********@v******.com |
| Narrative | On saturday, november 11, 2011, at 2:06 pm, vectren energy delivery of ohio was notified by the city of fairborn fire department of a house explosion at 367/369 wayne drive in fairborn. Vectren personnel were dispatched to the scene and subsequently closed the valve to the service line providing natural gas to the structure. An initial report from the fairborn fire department indicated the structure involved in the incident was 'totally destroyed and reduced to a flaming pile of rubble'. It further described the damage to adjacent structures including blown out windows, a collapsed exterior wall and small amounts of fire to the roof lines. The initial report also commented that although the cause remains under investigation, the preliminary thought is that 'excavation work around a natural gas line caused the line to fracture on the inside of the basement wall'' 'allowing the free flow of gas to fill the interior of the structure and a undetermined ignition source sparked the explosion.' vectren is continuing its own independent investigation into the origin of this incident. Supplemental report narrative, january 10, 2012: the natural gas service line for the duplex at 367-369 wayne drive ran underground from the curb box through the concrete basement wall into the basement of 367 wayne drive. After going straight through the basement wall, the natural gas service line then went to the left at a tee connection to the meter for 367 wayne drive and then to the right at an ninety degree elbow through the block wall, dividing the basements, to the meter for 369 wayne drive. Vectren generally concludes that the backhoe operator, digging a trench outside the basement foundation between the sidewalk and the duplex, damaged the natural gas service line. This damage caused the natural gas service line to bend and pull and to place a large amount of tension on the gas service line and the threads that screwed into the ninety degree elbow inside the basement of 367 wayne drive. This large amount of tension caused the threads of the gas service line, which were screwed into the ninety degree elbow, to fracture at this thread joint releasing natural gas into the basement of 367 wayne drive. The natural gas exploded from an undetermined ignition source once the natural gas and air mixture had reached a point between the lower explosive limit and the upper explosive limit. The force of the explosion did not cause the fracture to this thread joint. Vectren's investigation also determined that the proper amount of mercaptan or odorant was in the natural gas at the time and that there were no other natural gas leaks. The service line was in good condition and leak tight. Vectren's investigation also determined that there were no requests to locate the natural gas service line before these unfortunate events and that there was no request to turn off the natural gas. Although vectren does not rely on the initial report of the fairborn fire department or the incident report and supplemental report of the state fire marshal, vectren's conclusions are consistent with the facts contained in these reports. |
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