Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2012-10-18 — MI
Operator
Michigan Consolidated Gas Co (Michcon)
Cause
Other Outside Force Damage
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$55,080
Incident datetime
2012-10-18 02:17
Report number
Location
MI, MUSKEGON
Narrative
A tree branch broken during a windy rain storm fell onto a pole-mounted electricity distribution conductor, which fell to the ground and continued to arc and spark for a lengthy period of time. Investigation revealed the copper locating wire installed adjacent to the 2-inch plastic gas main became energized, generating intense localized heat which melted the plastic. Natural gas at approx 52 psig was released and was ignited by an unknown source, although it has been speculated that the arcing electric conductor was the source. A michcon crew responded by pinching the 2-inch plastic pipe upstream of the rupture, stopping the leak and interrupting service to 38 customers. The leaking main was repaired using a 60-inch length of pre-tested polyethylene plastic. An air test at 54 psig was applied to the main and service lines downstream of the pinch, but the test did not hold and the dead-end system to the south of the pinch remained out of service. A leak survey of the gas distribution system upstream of the pinch found leaks at another 20 locations, some nearly 2 miles from the original main leak at 866 scenic drive. Arc burns and perforations of polyethylene plastic service line tubing were found along scenic drive, on west giles road as far east as 4175 w giles, and north of w giles at 1680 benjamin road in laketon township. All 20 leaks were eliminated by replacement of various lengths of new service line tubing. The event was reported to the national response center at 18:59 on october 18, 2012, when michcon realized the cost of repairs already made and other leaks that may have remained to be found and repaired would likely exceed the threshold for reporting as an incident. On friday, october 19, 2012, michcon re-established gas service to the mains and service lines south (downstream) of the pinch along scenic drive and fenner road. The mains and service lines were surveyed for leaks; eight more leaks were found and repaired. The event was declared finished at 22:45 on october 19, 2012.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2012-10-18 02:17:00
Year
2012
Report Received Date
2012-11-14 00:00:00
Iyear
2012.0
Report Number
20120089.0
Supplemental Number
15542.0
Report Type
Original Final
Operator Id
12408
Name
Michigan Consolidated Gas Co (Michcon)
Operator Street Address
1 Energy Plaza
Operator City Name
Detroit
Operator State Abbreviation
MI
Operator Postal Code
48226
Local Datetime
2012-10-18 02:17:00
Location Street Address
866 Scenic Drive
Location City Name
North Muskegon
Location County Name
Muskegon
Location State Abbreviation
MI
Location Postal Code
49445-8629
Location Latitude
43.26759
Location Longitude
-86.36114
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-10-18 18:59:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1027752
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
35.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-10-18 02:17:00
On Site Datetime
2012-10-18 02:59:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Under Soil
Depth Of Cover
48.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
1994.0
Pipe Diameter
2.375
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Plexco
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11
Material Pe Pipe Code
3408
Release Type
Rupture
Rupture Orient
Longitudinal
Rupture Length
3
Rupture Width
1
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
700.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
55080.0
Est Cost Emergency
12000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
180.0
Prpty
67960.0
Commercial Affected
4.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
34.0
Accident Psig
52.0
Normal Psig
60.0
Mop Psig
60.0
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
Other Outside Force Damage
Cause Details
Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility
Outside Force Type
Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility
Preparer Name
J*** D L******
Preparer Title
Supervisor Codes And Standards
Preparer Email
L*******@d********.com
Preparer Telephone
6166322646
Preparer Fax
6166322687
Authorizer Name
R***** H F*********
Authorizer Title
Manager Codes And Standards
Authorizer Telephone
3133897755
Authorizer Email
F**********@d********.com
Narrative
A tree branch broken during a windy rain storm fell onto a pole-mounted electricity distribution conductor, which fell to the ground and continued to arc and spark for a lengthy period of time. Investigation revealed the copper locating wire installed adjacent to the 2-inch plastic gas main became energized, generating intense localized heat which melted the plastic. Natural gas at approx 52 psig was released and was ignited by an unknown source, although it has been speculated that the arcing electric conductor was the source. A michcon crew responded by pinching the 2-inch plastic pipe upstream of the rupture, stopping the leak and interrupting service to 38 customers. The leaking main was repaired using a 60-inch length of pre-tested polyethylene plastic. An air test at 54 psig was applied to the main and service lines downstream of the pinch, but the test did not hold and the dead-end system to the south of the pinch remained out of service. A leak survey of the gas distribution system upstream of the pinch found leaks at another 20 locations, some nearly 2 miles from the original main leak at 866 scenic drive. Arc burns and perforations of polyethylene plastic service line tubing were found along scenic drive, on west giles road as far east as 4175 w giles, and north of w giles at 1680 benjamin road in laketon township. All 20 leaks were eliminated by replacement of various lengths of new service line tubing. The event was reported to the national response center at 18:59 on october 18, 2012, when michcon realized the cost of repairs already made and other leaks that may have remained to be found and repaired would likely exceed the threshold for reporting as an incident. On friday, october 19, 2012, michcon re-established gas service to the mains and service lines south (downstream) of the pinch along scenic drive and fenner road. The mains and service lines were surveyed for leaks; eight more leaks were found and repaired. The event was declared finished at 22:45 on october 19, 2012.
| Occurred At | 2012-10-18 02:17:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
| Report Received Date | 2012-11-14 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2012.0 |
| Report Number | 20120089.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15542.0 |
| Report Type | Original Final |
| Operator Id | 12408 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Michigan Consolidated Gas Co (Michcon) |
| Operator Street Address | 1 Energy Plaza |
| Operator City Name | Detroit |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MI |
| Operator Postal Code | 48226 |
| Local Datetime | 2012-10-18 02:17:00 |
| Location Street Address | 866 Scenic Drive |
| Location City Name | North Muskegon |
| Location County Name | Muskegon |
| Location State Abbreviation | MI |
| Location Postal Code | 49445-8629 |
| Location Latitude | 43.26759 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -86.36114 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-10-18 18:59:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1027752 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 35.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-10-18 02:17:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-10-18 02:59:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Under Soil |
| Depth Of Cover | 48.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 1994.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 2.375 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Plexco |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 3408 |
| Release Type | Rupture |
| Rupture Orient | Longitudinal |
| Rupture Length | 3 |
| Rupture Width | 1 |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 700.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 55080.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 12000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 180.0 |
| Prpty | 67960.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 4.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 34.0 |
| Accident Psig | 52.0 |
| Normal Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| 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 | Other Outside Force Damage |
| Cause Details | Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility |
| Outside Force Type | Electrical Arcing From Other Equipment Or Facility |
| Preparer Name | J*** D L****** |
| Preparer Title | Supervisor Codes And Standards |
| Preparer Email | L*******@d********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 6166322646 |
| Preparer Fax | 6166322687 |
| Authorizer Name | R***** H F********* |
| Authorizer Title | Manager Codes And Standards |
| Authorizer Telephone | 3133897755 |
| Authorizer Email | F**********@d********.com |
| Narrative | A tree branch broken during a windy rain storm fell onto a pole-mounted electricity distribution conductor, which fell to the ground and continued to arc and spark for a lengthy period of time. Investigation revealed the copper locating wire installed adjacent to the 2-inch plastic gas main became energized, generating intense localized heat which melted the plastic. Natural gas at approx 52 psig was released and was ignited by an unknown source, although it has been speculated that the arcing electric conductor was the source. A michcon crew responded by pinching the 2-inch plastic pipe upstream of the rupture, stopping the leak and interrupting service to 38 customers. The leaking main was repaired using a 60-inch length of pre-tested polyethylene plastic. An air test at 54 psig was applied to the main and service lines downstream of the pinch, but the test did not hold and the dead-end system to the south of the pinch remained out of service. A leak survey of the gas distribution system upstream of the pinch found leaks at another 20 locations, some nearly 2 miles from the original main leak at 866 scenic drive. Arc burns and perforations of polyethylene plastic service line tubing were found along scenic drive, on west giles road as far east as 4175 w giles, and north of w giles at 1680 benjamin road in laketon township. All 20 leaks were eliminated by replacement of various lengths of new service line tubing. The event was reported to the national response center at 18:59 on october 18, 2012, when michcon realized the cost of repairs already made and other leaks that may have remained to be found and repaired would likely exceed the threshold for reporting as an incident. On friday, october 19, 2012, michcon re-established gas service to the mains and service lines south (downstream) of the pinch along scenic drive and fenner road. The mains and service lines were surveyed for leaks; eight more leaks were found and repaired. The event was declared finished at 22:45 on october 19, 2012. |
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