Incident details
Operator, cause, commodity and consequences with raw source fields.
GD incident on 2013-08-14 — MA
Operator
Boston Gas Co
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Commodity
Natural Gas
Program
GD
Damage and Injuries
0 fatalities
0 injuries
Property damage (nominal)
$68,000
Incident datetime
2013-08-14 15:40
Report number
Location
MA, MIDDLESEX
Narrative
The event occurred during a reinforcement project requiring the replacement of approx. 2800ft of existing 3'/4' coated steel and plastic main with an 8'plastic pipe at high pressure (60psi) and associated tie-ins along middlesex turnpike, bedford, ma. The new 8' main was installed by new england utility constructors inc. (neuco) with gassing in and associated tie-ins performed by a national grid crew. On august 14, 2013, during the operation by a national grid's crew to tie-in the existing 8' main on plank street to the new 8' main on middlesex turnpike, the crew leader released the pressure on the hydraulic squeeze off at one end of the tie-in prior making the connection at the other end. This resulted in an uncontrolled release of gas through the open ended pipe which ignited and burned for approx. 70 minutes before being brought under control and extinguished there was no loss of life or significant injury but there was damage to third party apparatus in the vicinity including overhead wires and street lighting and company equipment including a back hoe. There was significant media attention
Detailed record list
Occurred At
2013-08-14 15:40:00
Year
2013
Report Received Date
2013-09-13 00:00:00
Iyear
2013.0
Report Number
20130103.0
Supplemental Number
30401.0
Report Type
Supplemental Final
Operator Id
1640
Name
Boston Gas Co
Operator Street Address
170 Data Drive
Operator City Name
Waltham
Operator State Abbreviation
MA
Operator Postal Code
02451
Local Datetime
2013-08-14 15:40:00
Location Street Address
Plank Street & Middlesex Turnpike
Location City Name
Bedford
Location County Name
Middlesex
Location State Abbreviation
MA
Location Postal Code
01730
Location Latitude
42.51515
Location Longitude
-71.241569
Nrc Rpt Datetime
2013-08-14 17:31:00
Nrc Rpt Num
1057121
Commodity Released Type
Natural Gas
Unintentional Release
221.0
Fatality Ind
No
Fatal
0
Injury Ind
No
Injure
0
Ignite Ind
Yes
Explode Ind
No
Num Pub Evacuated
0.0
Incident Identified Datetime
2013-08-14 15:40:00
On Site Datetime
2013-08-14 15:40:00
Federal
No
Location Type
Public Property
Incident Area Type
Underground
Incident Area Subtype
Exposed Due To Excavation
Crossing
No
Pipe Facility Type
Privately Owned
System Part Involved
Main
Installation Year
2013.0
Pipe Diameter
8.0
Pipe Specification
Astm D2513
Pipe Manufacturer
Chevron Philips Chemical Co.
Material Involved
Plastic
Plastic Type
Polyethylene (Pe)
Plastic Sdr
13.5
Material Pe Pipe Code
2406
Release Type
Other
Release Type Details
Natural Gas Was Introduced Into 8 Inch Plastic Main Prior To Completion Of Tie-In
Class Location Type
Class 4 Location
Est Cost Oper Paid
25000.0
Est Cost Prop Damage
68000.0
Est Cost Emergency
15700.0
Est Cost Other
0.0
Est Cost Unintentional Release
751.0
Prpty
109451.0
Commercial Affected
0.0
Industrial Affected
0.0
Residences Affected
0.0
Accident Psig
55.2
Normal Psig
60.0
Mop Psig
60.0
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
Notification From Emergency Responder
Investigation Status
Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply)
Invest No Control Room Ind
Yes
Invest No Controller Ind
Yes
Employee Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Employees Tested
3
Num Employees Failed
0
Contractor Drug Test Ind
Yes
Num Contractors Tested
4
Num Contractors Failed
0
Cause
Incorrect Operation
Cause Details
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Type
Other Incorrect Operation
Operation Details
Crew Leader Released The Pressure On The Hydraulic Squeeze Off Tool At One End Of The Tie-In Prior To Making Connection At Other End. This Resulted In An Uncontrolled Release Of Gas.
Related Failure Follow Ind
Yes
Category Type
Construction
Operator Qualification Ind
Yes
Qualified Individuals
Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S)
Preparer Name
K******* M*******
Preparer Title
Manager Dispatch
Preparer Email
K**********************@us.n****.com
Preparer Telephone
508-421-7450
Authorizer Name
C****** D B*****
Authorizer Title
Principal Program Manager Federal Programs
Authorizer Telephone
6317703549
Authorizer Email
C*************@n***********.com
Narrative
The event occurred during a reinforcement project requiring the replacement of approx. 2800ft of existing 3'/4' coated steel and plastic main with an 8'plastic pipe at high pressure (60psi) and associated tie-ins along middlesex turnpike, bedford, ma. The new 8' main was installed by new england utility constructors inc. (neuco) with gassing in and associated tie-ins performed by a national grid crew. On august 14, 2013, during the operation by a national grid's crew to tie-in the existing 8' main on plank street to the new 8' main on middlesex turnpike, the crew leader released the pressure on the hydraulic squeeze off at one end of the tie-in prior making the connection at the other end. This resulted in an uncontrolled release of gas through the open ended pipe which ignited and burned for approx. 70 minutes before being brought under control and extinguished there was no loss of life or significant injury but there was damage to third party apparatus in the vicinity including overhead wires and street lighting and company equipment including a back hoe. There was significant media attention
| Occurred At | 2013-08-14 15:40:00 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2013 |
| Report Received Date | 2013-09-13 00:00:00 |
| Iyear | 2013.0 |
| Report Number | 20130103.0 |
| Supplemental Number | 30401.0 |
| Report Type | Supplemental Final |
| Operator Id | 1640 PHMSA Enforcement |
| Name | Boston Gas Co |
| Operator Street Address | 170 Data Drive |
| Operator City Name | Waltham |
| Operator State Abbreviation | MA |
| Operator Postal Code | 02451 |
| Local Datetime | 2013-08-14 15:40:00 |
| Location Street Address | Plank Street & Middlesex Turnpike |
| Location City Name | Bedford |
| Location County Name | Middlesex |
| Location State Abbreviation | MA |
| Location Postal Code | 01730 |
| Location Latitude | 42.51515 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Location Longitude | -71.241569 Google Maps OpenStreetMap |
| Nrc Rpt Datetime | 2013-08-14 17:31:00 |
| Nrc Rpt Num | 1057121 NRC Report How to search |
| Commodity Released Type | Natural Gas |
| Unintentional Release | 221.0 |
| Fatality Ind | No |
| Fatal | 0 |
| Injury Ind | No |
| Injure | 0 |
| Ignite Ind | Yes |
| Explode Ind | No |
| Num Pub Evacuated | 0.0 |
| Incident Identified Datetime | 2013-08-14 15:40:00 |
| On Site Datetime | 2013-08-14 15:40:00 |
| Federal | No |
| Location Type | Public Property |
| Incident Area Type | Underground |
| Incident Area Subtype | Exposed Due To Excavation |
| Crossing | No |
| Pipe Facility Type | Privately Owned |
| System Part Involved | Main |
| Installation Year | 2013.0 |
| Pipe Diameter | 8.0 |
| Pipe Specification | Astm D2513 |
| Pipe Manufacturer | Chevron Philips Chemical Co. |
| Material Involved | Plastic |
| Plastic Type | Polyethylene (Pe) |
| Plastic Sdr | 13.5 |
| Material Pe Pipe Code | 2406 |
| Release Type | Other |
| Release Type Details | Natural Gas Was Introduced Into 8 Inch Plastic Main Prior To Completion Of Tie-In |
| Class Location Type | Class 4 Location |
| Est Cost Oper Paid | 25000.0 |
| Est Cost Prop Damage | 68000.0 |
| Est Cost Emergency | 15700.0 |
| Est Cost Other | 0.0 |
| Est Cost Unintentional Release | 751.0 |
| Prpty | 109451.0 |
| Commercial Affected | 0.0 |
| Industrial Affected | 0.0 |
| Residences Affected | 0.0 |
| Accident Psig | 55.2 |
| Normal Psig | 60.0 |
| Mop Psig | 60.0 |
| 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 | Notification From Emergency Responder |
| Investigation Status | Yes, specify investigation result(s): (select all that apply) |
| Invest No Control Room Ind | Yes |
| Invest No Controller Ind | Yes |
| Employee Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Employees Tested | 3 |
| Num Employees Failed | 0 |
| Contractor Drug Test Ind | Yes |
| Num Contractors Tested | 4 |
| Num Contractors Failed | 0 |
| Cause | Incorrect Operation |
| Cause Details | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Type | Other Incorrect Operation |
| Operation Details | Crew Leader Released The Pressure On The Hydraulic Squeeze Off Tool At One End Of The Tie-In Prior To Making Connection At Other End. This Resulted In An Uncontrolled Release Of Gas. |
| Related Failure Follow Ind | Yes |
| Category Type | Construction |
| Operator Qualification Ind | Yes |
| Qualified Individuals | Yes, They Were Qualified For The Task(S) |
| Preparer Name | K******* M******* |
| Preparer Title | Manager Dispatch |
| Preparer Email | K**********************@us.n****.com |
| Preparer Telephone | 508-421-7450 |
| Authorizer Name | C****** D B***** |
| Authorizer Title | Principal Program Manager Federal Programs |
| Authorizer Telephone | 6317703549 |
| Authorizer Email | C*************@n***********.com |
| Narrative | The event occurred during a reinforcement project requiring the replacement of approx. 2800ft of existing 3'/4' coated steel and plastic main with an 8'plastic pipe at high pressure (60psi) and associated tie-ins along middlesex turnpike, bedford, ma. The new 8' main was installed by new england utility constructors inc. (neuco) with gassing in and associated tie-ins performed by a national grid crew. On august 14, 2013, during the operation by a national grid's crew to tie-in the existing 8' main on plank street to the new 8' main on middlesex turnpike, the crew leader released the pressure on the hydraulic squeeze off at one end of the tie-in prior making the connection at the other end. This resulted in an uncontrolled release of gas through the open ended pipe which ignited and burned for approx. 70 minutes before being brought under control and extinguished there was no loss of life or significant injury but there was damage to third party apparatus in the vicinity including overhead wires and street lighting and company equipment including a back hoe. There was significant media attention |
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