Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2013-03-04 — NE
Operator
Black Hills Energy
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$3,600
Incident datetime
2013-03-04 18:53
Report number
Location
NE, HAMILTON
Narrative
At approximately 1722 aurora volunteer fire department (avfd) was called to 1501 'a' street in aurora ne for a fire. This is a hamilton county highway department complex. Fire located within the 'bridge building' avfd extinguished the fire and during overhaul discovered vapor escaping through cracks in the floor of structure. The gas operator black hills energy (bhe) was contacted regarding fire at 1853 hours. State fire marshal investigator determined the product to be natural gas at 1915 hours the gas operator was informed of probable involvement of natural gas at 1936 and to stop the flow of natural gas to area. First bhe personnel arrived at location 1946 hours additional bhe personnel responded to location and excavated the service line, exposing the service line, cut and capped the service line. Gas flow stopped at 2245 hours. It was discovered that natural gas from a failed underground pipe had vented itself inside the structure. Natural gas levels inside the structure increased to an ignitable level, ignition was provided by a gas fired overhead unit heater with standard safety pilot. The natural gas flashed across the room and back to the cracks in the floor where it continued to burn, igniting combustible materials below work benches along the east and west walls. On 3/5/13 gas department crew excavated an area near a tee junction in the service line revealing a mechanical fitting. Visually apparent was the fact that a segment of 3/4' dupont aldyl-a pe piping had pulled out of the mechanical fitting approximately 3/4', allowing gas to flow unrestricted underground. The mechanical fitting was removed and remaining pipe segments air tested and determined to be leak free. Natural gas underground piping within the complex was replaced.
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2013-03-04 18:53:00
Year
2013
Report Received Date
2013-04-04 00:00:00
Iyear
2013.0
Report Number
20130036.0
Supplemental Number
16090.0
Report Type
Supplemental
Operator Id
15359
Name
Black Hills Energy
Operator Street Address
2287 College Road Po Box 2006
Operator City Name
Council Bluffs
Operator State Abbreviation
IA
Operator Postal Code
51502
Local Datetime
2013-03-04 18:30:00
Location Street Address
1501 A Street
Location City Name
Aurora
Location County Name
Hamilton
Location State Abbreviation
NE
Location Postal Code
68818
Location Latitude
40.85807
Location Longitude
-97.997968
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-03-04 22:10:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1040076
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
192.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
8.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-03-04 18:53:00
On Site Datetime
2013-03-04 19:46:00
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
Service
Installation Year
1971.0
Pipe Diameter
1.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Dupont Aldyl A
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
11.5
Material Pe Pipe Code
2406
Release Type
Leak
Leak Type
Connection Failure
Class Location Type
Class 3 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
75000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
3600.0
Est Cost Emergency
2000.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
200.0
Prpty
80800.0
Commercial Affected
1.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
60.0
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
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Operation Type
Equipment Not Installed Properly
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
No
Preparer Name
N***** S******
Preparer Title
Compliance Specialist
Preparer Email
N*************@b*************.com
Preparer Telephone
402-437-1734
Preparer Fax
402-437-6734
Authorizer Name
N***** S******
Authorizer Title
Compliance Specialist
Authorizer Telephone
402-437-1734
Authorizer Email
N*************@b*************.com
Narrative
At approximately 1722 aurora volunteer fire department (avfd) was called to 1501 'a' street in aurora ne for a fire. This is a hamilton county highway department complex. Fire located within the 'bridge building' avfd extinguished the fire and during overhaul discovered vapor escaping through cracks in the floor of structure. The gas operator black hills energy (bhe) was contacted regarding fire at 1853 hours. State fire marshal investigator determined the product to be natural gas at 1915 hours the gas operator was informed of probable involvement of natural gas at 1936 and to stop the flow of natural gas to area. First bhe personnel arrived at location 1946 hours additional bhe personnel responded to location and excavated the service line, exposing the service line, cut and capped the service line. Gas flow stopped at 2245 hours. It was discovered that natural gas from a failed underground pipe had vented itself inside the structure. Natural gas levels inside the structure increased to an ignitable level, ignition was provided by a gas fired overhead unit heater with standard safety pilot. The natural gas flashed across the room and back to the cracks in the floor where it continued to burn, igniting combustible materials below work benches along the east and west walls. On 3/5/13 gas department crew excavated an area near a tee junction in the service line revealing a mechanical fitting. Visually apparent was the fact that a segment of 3/4' dupont aldyl-a pe piping had pulled out of the mechanical fitting approximately 3/4', allowing gas to flow unrestricted underground. The mechanical fitting was removed and remaining pipe segments air tested and determined to be leak free. Natural gas underground piping within the complex was replaced.
| Occurred At | 2013-03-04 18:53:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2013 |
| Report Received Date | 2013-04-04 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2013.0 |
| Report Number | 20130036.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 16090.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental |
| Operator Id | 15359 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Black Hills Energy |
| Operator Street Address | 2287 College Road Po Box 2006 |
| Operator City Name | Council Bluffs |
| Operator State Abbreviation | IA |
| Operator Postal Code | 51502 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-03-04 18:30:00 |
| Location Street Address | 1501 A Street |
| Location City Name | Aurora |
| Location County Name | Hamilton |
| Location State Abbreviation | NE |
| Location Postal Code | 68818 |
| Location Latitude | 40.85807 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -97.997968 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-03-04 22:10:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1040076 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 192.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 8.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-03-04 18:53:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-03-04 19:46:00 |
| 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 | Service |
| Installation Year | 1971.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 1.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Dupont Aldyl A |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 11.5 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2406 |
| Release Type | Leak |
| Leak Type | Connection Failure |
| Class Location Type | Class 3 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 75000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 3600.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 2000.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 200.0 |
| Prpty | 80800.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 1.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 60.0 |
| 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 | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Operation Type | Equipment Not Installed Properly |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | No |
| Preparer Name | N***** S****** |
| Preparer Title | Compliance Specialist |
| Preparer Email | N*************@b*************.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 402-437-1734 |
| Preparer Fax | 402-437-6734 |
| Authorizer Name | N***** S****** |
| Authorizer Title | Compliance Specialist |
| Authorizer Telephone | 402-437-1734 |
| Authorizer Email | N*************@b*************.com |
| Narrative | At approximately 1722 aurora volunteer fire department (avfd) was called to 1501 'a' street in aurora ne for a fire. This is a hamilton county highway department complex. Fire located within the 'bridge building' avfd extinguished the fire and during overhaul discovered vapor escaping through cracks in the floor of structure. The gas operator black hills energy (bhe) was contacted regarding fire at 1853 hours. State fire marshal investigator determined the product to be natural gas at 1915 hours the gas operator was informed of probable involvement of natural gas at 1936 and to stop the flow of natural gas to area. First bhe personnel arrived at location 1946 hours additional bhe personnel responded to location and excavated the service line, exposing the service line, cut and capped the service line. Gas flow stopped at 2245 hours. It was discovered that natural gas from a failed underground pipe had vented itself inside the structure. Natural gas levels inside the structure increased to an ignitable level, ignition was provided by a gas fired overhead unit heater with standard safety pilot. The natural gas flashed across the room and back to the cracks in the floor where it continued to burn, igniting combustible materials below work benches along the east and west walls. On 3/5/13 gas department crew excavated an area near a tee junction in the service line revealing a mechanical fitting. Visually apparent was the fact that a segment of 3/4' dupont aldyl-a pe piping had pulled out of the mechanical fitting approximately 3/4', allowing gas to flow unrestricted underground. The mechanical fitting was removed and remaining pipe segments air tested and determined to be leak free. Natural gas underground piping within the complex was replaced. |
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