Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GTG incident on 2012-10-04 — CA
Operator
Pacific Gas & Electric Co
Cause
Excavation Issue
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GTG
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$0
Incident datetime
2012-10-04 17:52
Report number
Location
CA
Narrative
On october 4, 2012, at approximately 1752 hours, a pacific gas & electric (pg&e) contractor, snelson, notified pg&e of a gas release due to a dig in on line 109 in mountain view. Pg&e was performing clearance work for a hydrostatic pressure test on line 109. A canus inspector was hired to perform stand-by duties and a snelson operator was hired to excavate a bell hole in preparation of installing a 22-inch isolation cap for the 20 mile clearance. The canus employee, allowed the snelson operator to dig with an excavator, within two feet of the 22-inch pipeline, when the operator struck an abandoned 3/4-inch tee off of line 109. The crew had properly identified the transmission pipeline, but the canus stand-by inspector failed to direct the operator to fully expose and protect the pipe prior to using an excavator. The canus employee was operator qualified to performed stand by on the pipeline, but violated proper work procedures and was terminated from the job. When the incident occurred, workers were evacuated from the site and the area was blocked off. Because pg&e was in the process of preparing a clearance to blow the line down, the area was made safe and pg&e allowed the gas to continue to vent to the atmosphere. Pg&e's local emergency operations center (eoc) opened on-site on october 5, 2012 and remained near the site of the dig in where gas was venting to atmosphere until the flow of gas was stopped on october 5, 2012 at 2000 hours. At that time, the line was isolated and the end caps were welded on in preparation for the hydrostatic pressure test. There were no injuries, no fatalities and no ignition as a result of this incident. No customers experienced service interruption. Damages are less than $50,000. This incident was reported to the cpuc and DOT when the amount of gas released was determined to be unintentional and greater than 3 mmcf. Pg&e has determined the root cause of the incident to be failure to verify proper operation, tools and procedural disregard. Pg&e's wp 4412p-05 attachment 1 states that power excavation is not permitted within 12-inches of the facility. The power equipment struck the affected tee fitting 4-inches from the gas pipeline. The corrective action for this incident was for gas transmission construction and psep (safety) to discuss the incidnet with snelson and canus safety supervision with emphasis on non-adherence to pg&e (wp 4412p-05 and wp 4412p-05 attachment #1) and USA north's construction manual: general excavation information procedures. This corrective action item was completed on october 9, 2012.
Detailed record list
Report Received Date
2012-11-03 00:00:00
Iyear
2012
Report Number
20120110
Supplemental Number
15953
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
2012-10-04 17:52:00
Location Latitude
37.40135383
Location Longitude
-122.0327087
Nrc Rpt Num
1027171
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2012-10-12 00:00:00
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
3200
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Shutdown Due Accident Ind
No
Shutdown Explain
The Pipeline Was Shutdown Due To A Scheduled Clearance
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0
Incident Identified Datetime
2012-10-04 17:52:00
On Site Datetime
2012-10-04 17:52:00
On Off Shore
Onshore
Onshore State Abbreviation
Ca
Onshore Postal Code
94089
Onshore City Name
Sunnyvale
Onshore County Name
Santa Clara
Designated Location
Milepost
Designated Name
109 Mp 6.7
Pipe Fac Name
Line 109
Segment Name
Segment 120
Federal
No
Location Type
Pipeline Right-Of-Way
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Intrastate
System Part Involved
Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites
Item Involved
Other
Item Involved Details
Tee Off Mainline
Installation Year
1936
Material Involved
Carbon Steel
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Could Be Hca
Yes
Determination Method
Method2
Pir Radius
294
Heat Damage Ind
No
Non Heat Damage Ind
No
Hca Fatalities Ind
No
Est Cost Oper Paid
0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
10800
Est Cost Intentional Release
0
Est Cost Prop Damage
0
Est Cost Emergency
25000
Est Cost Other
0
Prpty
35800
Accident Psig
280
Mop Psig
375
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
Automatic
Downstream Valve Type Ind
Automatic
Length Segment Isolated
52219
Internal Inspection Ind
No
Diameter Change Ind
Yes
Operation Complications Ind
No
Pipeline Function
Transmission System
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Ground Patrol By Operator Or Its Contractor
Operator Type
Contractor Working For The Operator
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
2
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Excavation Damage
Cause Details
Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party)
Ex Party Type
Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party)
Notify Cga Dirt
No
Public Row Ind
Yes
Public Subtype
City Street
Pipeline Easement Row Ind
Yes
Excavator Type
Contractor
Excavator Equipment
Backhoe/trackhoe
Work Performed
Natural Gas
One Call Notified Ind
Yes
One Call Ticket Num
364827
Locator Type
Utility Owner
Visible Marks
Yes
Root Cause Category
Excavation Issue
Root Cause Type
Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above
Preparer Name
C***** D****
Preparer Title
Compliance Engineer
Preparer Email
C***@p**.com
Preparer Telephone
925-974-4378
Preparer Fax
925-974-4232
Authorizer Name
F****** Y**
Authorizer Title
Acting Director Of Regulatory Complaince
Authorizer Telephone
925-974-4316
Authorizer Email
F***@p**.com
Narrative
On october 4, 2012, at approximately 1752 hours, a pacific gas & electric (pg&e) contractor, snelson, notified pg&e of a gas release due to a dig in on line 109 in mountain view. Pg&e was performing clearance work for a hydrostatic pressure test on line 109. A canus inspector was hired to perform stand-by duties and a snelson operator was hired to excavate a bell hole in preparation of installing a 22-inch isolation cap for the 20 mile clearance. The canus employee, allowed the snelson operator to dig with an excavator, within two feet of the 22-inch pipeline, when the operator struck an abandoned 3/4-inch tee off of line 109. The crew had properly identified the transmission pipeline, but the canus stand-by inspector failed to direct the operator to fully expose and protect the pipe prior to using an excavator. The canus employee was operator qualified to performed stand by on the pipeline, but violated proper work procedures and was terminated from the job. When the incident occurred, workers were evacuated from the site and the area was blocked off. Because pg&e was in the process of preparing a clearance to blow the line down, the area was made safe and pg&e allowed the gas to continue to vent to the atmosphere. Pg&e's local emergency operations center (eoc) opened on-site on october 5, 2012 and remained near the site of the dig in where gas was venting to atmosphere until the flow of gas was stopped on october 5, 2012 at 2000 hours. At that time, the line was isolated and the end caps were welded on in preparation for the hydrostatic pressure test. There were no injuries, no fatalities and no ignition as a result of this incident. No customers experienced service interruption. Damages are less than $50,000. This incident was reported to the cpuc and DOT when the amount of gas released was determined to be unintentional and greater than 3 mmcf. Pg&e has determined the root cause of the incident to be failure to verify proper operation, tools and procedural disregard. Pg&e's wp 4412p-05 attachment 1 states that power excavation is not permitted within 12-inches of the facility. The power equipment struck the affected tee fitting 4-inches from the gas pipeline. The corrective action for this incident was for gas transmission construction and psep (safety) to discuss the incidnet with snelson and canus safety supervision with emphasis on non-adherence to pg&e (wp 4412p-05 and wp 4412p-05 attachment #1) and USA north's construction manual: general excavation information procedures. This corrective action item was completed on october 9, 2012.
| Report Received Date | 2012-11-03 00:00:00 |
|---|---|
| Iyear | 2012 |
| Report Number | 20120110 |
| Supplemental Number | 15953 |
| 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 | 2012-10-04 17:52:00 |
| Location Latitude | 37.40135383 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -122.0327087 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1027171 NRC Report How to search |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2012-10-12 00:00:00 |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 3200 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Shutdown Due Accident Ind | No |
| Shutdown Explain | The Pipeline Was Shutdown Due To A Scheduled Clearance |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2012-10-04 17:52:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2012-10-04 17:52:00 |
| On Off Shore | Onshore |
| Onshore State Abbreviation | Ca |
| Onshore Postal Code | 94089 |
| Onshore City Name | Sunnyvale |
| Onshore County Name | Santa Clara |
| Designated Location | Milepost |
| Designated Name | 109 Mp 6.7 |
| Pipe Fac Name | Line 109 |
| Segment Name | Segment 120 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Pipeline Right-Of-Way |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Intrastate |
| System Part Involved | Onshore Pipeline, Including Valve Sites |
| Item Involved | Other |
| Item Involved Details | Tee Off Mainline |
| Installation Year | 1936 |
| Material Involved | Carbon Steel |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Could Be Hca | Yes |
| Determination Method | Method2 |
| Pir Radius | 294 |
| Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Non Heat Damage Ind | No |
| Hca Fatalities Ind | No |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 10800 |
| Est Cost Intentional Release | 0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 25000 |
| Est Cost Other | 0 |
| Prpty | 35800 |
| Accident Psig | 280 |
| Mop Psig | 375 |
| 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 | Automatic |
| Downstream Valve Type Ind | Automatic |
| Length Segment Isolated | 52219 |
| Internal Inspection Ind | No |
| Diameter Change Ind | Yes |
| Operation Complications Ind | No |
| Pipeline Function | Transmission System |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Ground Patrol By Operator Or Its Contractor |
| Operator Type | Contractor Working For The Operator |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 2 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Excavation Damage |
| Cause Details | Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party) |
| Ex Party Type | Excavation Damage By Operator's Contractor (Second Party) |
| Notify Cga Dirt | No |
| Public Row Ind | Yes |
| Public Subtype | City Street |
| Pipeline Easement Row Ind | Yes |
| Excavator Type | Contractor |
| Excavator Equipment | Backhoe/trackhoe |
| Work Performed | Natural Gas |
| One Call Notified Ind | Yes |
| One Call Ticket Num | 364827 |
| Locator Type | Utility Owner |
| Visible Marks | Yes |
| Root Cause Category | Excavation Issue |
| Root Cause Type | Improper Excavation Practice Not Listed Above |
| Preparer Name | C***** D**** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Engineer |
| Preparer Email | C***@p**.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 925-974-4378 |
| Preparer Fax | 925-974-4232 |
| Authorizer Name | F****** Y** |
| Authorizer Title | Acting Director Of Regulatory Complaince |
| Authorizer Telephone | 925-974-4316 |
| Authorizer Email | F***@p**.com |
| Narrative | On october 4, 2012, at approximately 1752 hours, a pacific gas & electric (pg&e) contractor, snelson, notified pg&e of a gas release due to a dig in on line 109 in mountain view. Pg&e was performing clearance work for a hydrostatic pressure test on line 109. A canus inspector was hired to perform stand-by duties and a snelson operator was hired to excavate a bell hole in preparation of installing a 22-inch isolation cap for the 20 mile clearance. The canus employee, allowed the snelson operator to dig with an excavator, within two feet of the 22-inch pipeline, when the operator struck an abandoned 3/4-inch tee off of line 109. The crew had properly identified the transmission pipeline, but the canus stand-by inspector failed to direct the operator to fully expose and protect the pipe prior to using an excavator. The canus employee was operator qualified to performed stand by on the pipeline, but violated proper work procedures and was terminated from the job. When the incident occurred, workers were evacuated from the site and the area was blocked off. Because pg&e was in the process of preparing a clearance to blow the line down, the area was made safe and pg&e allowed the gas to continue to vent to the atmosphere. Pg&e's local emergency operations center (eoc) opened on-site on october 5, 2012 and remained near the site of the dig in where gas was venting to atmosphere until the flow of gas was stopped on october 5, 2012 at 2000 hours. At that time, the line was isolated and the end caps were welded on in preparation for the hydrostatic pressure test. There were no injuries, no fatalities and no ignition as a result of this incident. No customers experienced service interruption. Damages are less than $50,000. This incident was reported to the cpuc and DOT when the amount of gas released was determined to be unintentional and greater than 3 mmcf. Pg&e has determined the root cause of the incident to be failure to verify proper operation, tools and procedural disregard. Pg&e's wp 4412p-05 attachment 1 states that power excavation is not permitted within 12-inches of the facility. The power equipment struck the affected tee fitting 4-inches from the gas pipeline. The corrective action for this incident was for gas transmission construction and psep (safety) to discuss the incidnet with snelson and canus safety supervision with emphasis on non-adherence to pg&e (wp 4412p-05 and wp 4412p-05 attachment #1) and USA north's construction manual: general excavation information procedures. This corrective action item was completed on october 9, 2012. |
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