Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2013-02-12 — PA
Operator
Peoples Natural Gas Company Llc
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$182,571
Incident datetime
2013-02-12 13:25
Report number
Location
PA
Narrative
On february 12, 2013 at 1:25 pm a png crew was in the process of repairing a flange leak at the gasket surface of a 12 inch gate valve located in a cement pit at the intersection of 50th street and broad avenue. After tightening a series of bolts on the flange, the crew heard a popping sound and observed a crack in the valve body. This main line valve is located near the sole source of supply for the entire altoona system, serving approximately 30,000 customers and operates with 150 pound maop. Immediate response included venting, continuous survey of surrounding area in cooperation with 911 responders, gathering materials, png manpower, and outside contractor support to install a bypass and set 20 inch and 12 inch stopples. A bypass was installed and stopple equipment was set, achieving shut down of blowing gas on february 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm. Final repairs included replacement of cracked valve with 12 inch flanged spool piece. The valve was sent to det norske veritas for metallurgical analysis revealing composition of valve to be cast iron. Further testing concluded that failure was caused by overstressing, originating at the external surface of the valve. Peoples natural gas is identifying and installing warning tags to all valves manufactured by darling, valves of known cast iron material, and those of unknown composition. These warning devices are to remind operators to exercise caution when operating or repairing cast iron valves or valves of unknown material origin. Part f -drug and alcohol testing information was revised in final report to reflect no employees tested. Png did send two employees for post incident testing, completing the drug aspect within the prescribed timeframe, but missed the time deadline on the alcohol test requirement. Additional training on valve repair and post incident procedures will be performed.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2013-02-12 13:25:00
Year
2013
Report Received Date
2013-03-12 00:00:00
Iyear
2013.0
Report Number
20130029.0
Supplemental Number
15707.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
15350
Name
Peoples Natural Gas Company Llc
Operator Street Address
375 North Shore Drive Suite 600
Operator City Name
Pittsburgh
Operator State Abbreviation
PA
Operator Postal Code
15212
Local Datetime
2013-02-12 13:25:00
Location Street Address
Intersection Of 50th St. And Broad Ave.
Location City Name
Altoona
Location State Abbreviation
PA
Location Postal Code
16601
Location Latitude
40.482119
Location Longitude
-78.424708
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-02-12 19:05:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1038323
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
12538.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
No
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
2.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-02-12 13:25:00
On Site Datetime
2013-02-12 13:25:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
In Underground Enclosed Space (E.g. Vault)
Depth Of Cover
36.0
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Other
System Part Details
Valve 12 Inch
Installation Year
1959.0
Material Involved
Cast/wrought Iron
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Crack
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
14500.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
182571.0
Est Cost Emergency
21770.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
45638.0
Prpty
264479.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
2.0
Accident Psig
143.0
Normal Psig
143.0
Mop Psig
150.0
Accident Pressure
Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop
Scada In Place Ind
Yes
Scada Operating Ind
Yes
Scada Functional Ind
Yes
Scada Detection Ind
No
Scada Conf Ind
No
Accident Identifier
Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors
Operator Type
Operator Employee
Investigation Status
No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate)
Investigation Status Details
System was operating normally.
Employee Drug Test Ind
No
Contractor Drug Test Ind
No
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
While Attempting To Repair Flange Seal Leak, Repair Crew Did Not Tighten Flange Bolts In Proper Sequence.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Other Maintenance
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
M****** L* S****
Preparer Title
Compliance Process Manager
Preparer Email
M**************@p**********.com
Preparer Telephone
1-412-244-2605
Authorizer Name
K****** M* J*******
Authorizer Title
Sr. Vice President Chief Operating Officer
Authorizer Telephone
1-412-208-7930
Authorizer Email
K*****************@p**********.com
Narrative
On february 12, 2013 at 1:25 pm a png crew was in the process of repairing a flange leak at the gasket surface of a 12 inch gate valve located in a cement pit at the intersection of 50th street and broad avenue. After tightening a series of bolts on the flange, the crew heard a popping sound and observed a crack in the valve body. This main line valve is located near the sole source of supply for the entire altoona system, serving approximately 30,000 customers and operates with 150 pound maop. Immediate response included venting, continuous survey of surrounding area in cooperation with 911 responders, gathering materials, png manpower, and outside contractor support to install a bypass and set 20 inch and 12 inch stopples. A bypass was installed and stopple equipment was set, achieving shut down of blowing gas on february 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm. Final repairs included replacement of cracked valve with 12 inch flanged spool piece. The valve was sent to det norske veritas for metallurgical analysis revealing composition of valve to be cast iron. Further testing concluded that failure was caused by overstressing, originating at the external surface of the valve. Peoples natural gas is identifying and installing warning tags to all valves manufactured by darling, valves of known cast iron material, and those of unknown composition. These warning devices are to remind operators to exercise caution when operating or repairing cast iron valves or valves of unknown material origin. Part f -drug and alcohol testing information was revised in final report to reflect no employees tested. Png did send two employees for post incident testing, completing the drug aspect within the prescribed timeframe, but missed the time deadline on the alcohol test requirement. Additional training on valve repair and post incident procedures will be performed.
| Occurred At | 2013-02-12 13:25:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2013 |
| Report Received Date | 2013-03-12 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2013.0 |
| Report Number | 20130029.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 15707.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 15350 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Peoples Natural Gas Company Llc |
| Operator Street Address | 375 North Shore Drive Suite 600 |
| Operator City Name | Pittsburgh |
| Operator State Abbreviation | PA |
| Operator Postal Code | 15212 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-02-12 13:25:00 |
| Location Street Address | Intersection Of 50th St. And Broad Ave. |
| Location City Name | Altoona |
| Location State Abbreviation | PA |
| Location Postal Code | 16601 |
| Location Latitude | 40.482119 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -78.424708 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-02-12 19:05:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1038323 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 12538.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | No |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 2.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-02-12 13:25:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-02-12 13:25:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | In Underground Enclosed Space (E.g. Vault) |
| Depth Of Cover | 36.0 |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Other |
| System Part Details | Valve 12 Inch |
| Installation Year | 1959.0 |
| Material Involved | Cast/wrought Iron |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Crack |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 14500.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 182571.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 21770.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 45638.0 |
| Prpty | 264479.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 2.0 |
| Accident Psig | 143.0 |
| Normal Psig | 143.0 |
| Mop Psig | 150.0 |
| Accident Pressure | Pressure Did Not Exceed Maop |
| Scada In Place Ind | Yes |
| Scada Operating Ind | Yes |
| Scada Functional Ind | Yes |
| Scada Detection Ind | No |
| Scada Conf Ind | No |
| Accident Identifier | Local Operating Personnel, Including Contractors |
| Operator Type | Operator Employee |
| Investigation Status | No, the operator did not find that an investigation of the controller(s) actions or control room issues was necessary due to: (provide an explanation for why the operator did not investigate) |
| Investigation Status Details | System was operating normally. |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | No |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | No |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | While Attempting To Repair Flange Seal Leak, Repair Crew Did Not Tighten Flange Bolts In Proper Sequence. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Other Maintenance |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | M****** L* S**** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Process Manager |
| Preparer Email | M**************@p**********.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 1-412-244-2605 |
| Authorizer Name | K****** M* J******* |
| Authorizer Title | Sr. Vice President Chief Operating Officer |
| Authorizer Telephone | 1-412-208-7930 |
| Authorizer Email | K*****************@p**********.com |
| Narrative | On february 12, 2013 at 1:25 pm a png crew was in the process of repairing a flange leak at the gasket surface of a 12 inch gate valve located in a cement pit at the intersection of 50th street and broad avenue. After tightening a series of bolts on the flange, the crew heard a popping sound and observed a crack in the valve body. This main line valve is located near the sole source of supply for the entire altoona system, serving approximately 30,000 customers and operates with 150 pound maop. Immediate response included venting, continuous survey of surrounding area in cooperation with 911 responders, gathering materials, png manpower, and outside contractor support to install a bypass and set 20 inch and 12 inch stopples. A bypass was installed and stopple equipment was set, achieving shut down of blowing gas on february 14, 2013 at 12:18 pm. Final repairs included replacement of cracked valve with 12 inch flanged spool piece. The valve was sent to det norske veritas for metallurgical analysis revealing composition of valve to be cast iron. Further testing concluded that failure was caused by overstressing, originating at the external surface of the valve. Peoples natural gas is identifying and installing warning tags to all valves manufactured by darling, valves of known cast iron material, and those of unknown composition. These warning devices are to remind operators to exercise caution when operating or repairing cast iron valves or valves of unknown material origin. Part f -drug and alcohol testing information was revised in final report to reflect no employees tested. Png did send two employees for post incident testing, completing the drug aspect within the prescribed timeframe, but missed the time deadline on the alcohol test requirement. Additional training on valve repair and post incident procedures will be performed. |
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